Describe An Interesting Neighbour: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

How long have you known this neighbour?
What do you think of your neighbour?
Do you hang out with your neighbour often?
What kind of relationship do you have with your neighbour?

34 unique answers with expert feedback

What qualities make Kiran an interesting neighbor?

Kiran is not only hardworking but also dedicated to his profession. His journey from a junior lawyer to a respected advocate shows his perseverance. Additionally, his role as a legal guider for a prestigious institute like SRM college reflects his expertise and commitment to helping others.

How has Kiran influenced your perspective on career success?

Kiran's story has inspired me to value hard work and determination. Seeing someone rise through challenges motivates me to pursue my own goals with the same dedication. It emphasizes that success is achievable with persistence and a strong work ethic.

Do you think having successful neighbors impacts the community?

Absolutely! Successful neighbors like Kiran can inspire others in the community to strive for their own goals. They often serve as role models, creating a positive environment where people are encouraged to work hard and support each other in their pursuits.

Band 7

00:00

I grew up in a very small village in Andhra Pradesh by name Rampisherla it has very few families living over there. Our locality used to have families with varied cultural backgrounds and religions. Out of all, Mrs. Soumya stands out because she is very close to our family and she is an interesting person. She is very friendly and she has a very cheerful and charming personality. She is a self-reliant person running a small business on her own. Being a divorced woman she did not seek anybody's help but made a decision to stand on her own will. She started a business and she's successfully running it over the past 20 years. She is taking care of her own her three children and providing them with good education. She is really inspiring and she is providing employment to three other women. And personally she is such a good family friend that we used to celebrate festivities together and go to small picnics now-a-days.

Follow up questions

What qualities make Mrs. Soumya an interesting person?

Mrs. Soumya's cheerful personality, self-reliance, and her ability to run a successful business while raising her children make her truly interesting. Her resilience as a divorced woman and her commitment to providing for her family and employing others adds to her inspiring character.

How has Mrs. Soumya influenced your life?

Mrs. Soumya has influenced my life by showing me the importance of independence and hard work. Her journey inspires me to pursue my goals and not rely on others. Celebrating festivals and picnics with her family has also taught me the value of community and friendship.

What role do neighbors play in our lives?

Neighbors play a significant role in our lives by providing support, friendship, and a sense of community. They can be a source of inspiration, as in the case of Mrs. Soumya, and can help create a safe and enjoyable environment for families to thrive together.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

Band 6-7

00:00

An interesting neighbor I called, for me it is one of my friend called Amit. Though he is my neighbor, he was also in my school as well from 7th standard. We were in the same school called 7th Day Adventist. Later from the school we got to know that we do stay nearby that is like there and my home was just almost 2 meters away. He also had his sister called Divya. She was my sister's friend. So we all developed a very good bond. It was so fun that we always engaged in playing games. We used to go to school all together by the bicycle in the morning around 8.30 and come back all together by 4.30 to the home. And then we used to take some rest and then have some fun at home. And then we all used to gather outside in the streets to play some games. We usually played hide and seek and coco games all together. Them with my other school and my neighbor friends. It was such a good bond to explain like though we are friends and neighbors we all had developed a feeling of oneness and a family. So it was really very interesting for us. We used to go to their homes. We used to cook all together and then we used to have so much fun. One very good incident I remember is it was his birthday time. During his birthday time we celebrated first in the school. We both were in the same school. And then after coming back we all arranged a surprise birthday party for him at his home. And then we called all our school friends. It was so fun like we had also even some games like we did the painting and we had so much fun.

Follow up questions

What activities did you enjoy doing with your neighbor?

We enjoyed playing games like hide and seek and coco. We also rode our bicycles to school together and spent time cooking and having fun at each other's homes.

How did your friendship with Amit influence your childhood?

Amit's friendship made my childhood memorable. We felt like family, sharing experiences and creating lasting memories together, which enriched my social life and helped me develop strong bonds.

What is your favorite memory with your neighbor?

My favorite memory is celebrating Amit's birthday. We organized a surprise party with our friends, played games, and had a great time together, which strengthened our friendship.

Band 6-7

00:00

I have a neighbor, one of the most interesting neighbors I have is Mr. Thompson, who lives two houses down the street. I have known Mr. Thompson for about five years now. We first met when I moved into the neighborhood and he was one of the person to introduce himself. At that time he was new to the area and I didn't know much about the people. I think Mr. Thompson is an incredibly inspiring person. Despite his age, he is full of energy and curiosity, which I find is really admirable. He has such a positive outlook on his life. Not as often as I'd like, but we do spend time together from time to time. Since Mr. Thompson is quite busy with his gardening and his community activities, our meetings tend to be more spontaneous rather than regular. I would describe my relationship with Mr. Thompson as friendly and respectful. Although we are neighbors, I feel like we have developed more of a mental-mentee dynamic over time. He is someone I can always turn to for advice, especially when it comes to gardening or life in general. I really value his wisdom and perspective.

Follow up questions

What qualities make Mr. Thompson an inspiring person to you?

Mr. Thompson's energy and curiosity are truly inspiring. He approaches life with a positive attitude and is always eager to learn new things, which motivates me to adopt a similar mindset. His ability to stay active and engaged, despite his age, is something I deeply admire.

Can you share a memorable experience you had with Mr. Thompson?

One memorable experience was when he invited me to help him with his garden. I learned a lot about different plants and gardening techniques. We spent the afternoon chatting, and I appreciated his stories about his life and experiences, which made me feel more connected to him.

How has your relationship with Mr. Thompson influenced your life?

My relationship with Mr. Thompson has positively influenced my perspective on life. His wisdom and advice have helped me navigate challenges, especially in gardening and personal growth. I feel more confident in seeking guidance and have learned the importance of mentorship.

Band 6-7

00:00

We had neighbors of age group from 50 to 60 years old approximately and I found them interesting because every morning they used to take a newspaper and go for a morning walk and coincidentally that was my time for a morning walk as well. I remember they used to discuss interesting news with me and discuss new developments in India and used to story tell me about how this all was changed during that time and how that is different in current times. They left our neighbor around 5 years ago and they were neighbors in my current housing property where I stay right now. I used to find them really friendly and I used to love how they used to treat me like their own child and that's why that is one of my favorite childhood memories I would say. That was a neighbor couple and I remember the lady being an awesome cook because she used to cook various kinds of non-vegetarian and vegetarian recipes for me and it was a true delight to get fed by her. It is an amazing and very nostalgic experience when I recall those things and I would love to relive in that moment again. I really felt bad when they left our neighborhood which was because they could not afford to pay rent because staying next to my house used to be expensive for them because this is a developed area and that's why I cherish those memories of staying next to my house.

Follow up questions

What qualities made your neighbors interesting to you?

Their engaging conversations about current events and their storytelling about the past made them fascinating. They shared their experiences and insights, which enriched my understanding of history and culture.

How did your relationship with them impact your childhood?

Their kindness and the way they treated me like family created a sense of belonging. It taught me the value of community and friendship, which has influenced my relationships with others as I grew up.

What do you miss the most about your neighbors?

I miss their warm hospitality and the delicious meals the lady would cook. The nostalgia of our morning walks and conversations is something I cherish deeply, as it brought joy and connection to my daily routine.

Show all 34 answers

Cue 1:How long have you known this neighbour?

Start by mentioning how long you have lived in your current place and when you first met your neighbour.
Include any memorable first impressions or experiences that highlight your initial interactions.

Example

I have known my neighbour, Mr. Sharma, for about five years now. We first met when I moved into the apartment next door. I remember he came over with a plate of homemade sweets to welcome me, which made me feel really at home.

Cue 2:What do you think of your neighbour?

Share your overall impression of your neighbour, focusing on their personality traits.
Mention specific qualities that you admire or appreciate about them.

Example

I think Mr. Sharma is a very kind and helpful person. He is always ready to lend a hand, whether it’s helping with groceries or giving advice on home repairs. His positive attitude and warm smile make him a joy to be around.

Cue 3:Do you hang out with your neighbour often?

Explain how often you interact with your neighbour and the types of activities you do together.
Mention any special occasions or regular meet-ups that strengthen your bond.

Example

We don’t hang out every day, but we often meet during the weekends. Sometimes we have tea together in the evenings, and occasionally, we go for walks in the nearby park. Last month, we even celebrated Diwali together, which was a lot of fun.

Cue 4:What kind of relationship do you have with your neighbour?

Describe the nature of your relationship, whether it’s friendly, supportive, or more like family.
Include any specific instances that illustrate the depth of your relationship.

Example

Our relationship is very friendly and supportive. I consider Mr. Sharma not just a neighbour but a good friend. He has been there for me during tough times, like when I was unwell last year, and he checked on me regularly. It feels like having an extended family member nearby.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, having Mr. Sharma as my neighbour has enriched my life in many ways. His kindness and support have made my experience in this neighborhood much more enjoyable, and I truly value our friendship.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Avoid Vague Responses

Giving vague or general answers can make your response less engaging and informative. It may leave the examiner with more questions than answers.

Tip

Provide specific examples and details about your neighbor to make your response more vivid and interesting.

2: Don't Overlook Relationship Dynamics

Failing to explain the nature of your relationship with your neighbor can lead to an incomplete answer. It's important to convey how you interact with them.

Tip

Discuss the frequency and type of interactions you have, such as casual chats or shared activities, to clarify your relationship.