Describe an occasion when you helped a family member/relative with something: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When it happened
Who you helped
How you helped
And explain how you felt about the experience

15 unique answers with expert feedback

How do you think helping others impacts your own life?

Helping others not only brings joy and satisfaction but also creates a supportive network. When you assist someone, it fosters a sense of community and belonging. This can lead to stronger relationships and a more positive outlook on life, as you realize the importance of mutual support.

What qualities do you think are important when helping someone in need?

Empathy, patience, and understanding are crucial qualities. It's important to listen to the person and understand their feelings. Being supportive without judgment can help them feel safe and more open to accepting help. Additionally, providing practical advice and encouragement can make a significant difference.

Can you share another experience where you helped someone and what you learned from it?

I once helped a friend who was struggling with anxiety. I learned the importance of being present and offering a listening ear. It taught me that sometimes, just being there for someone can be more impactful than giving advice. It reinforced the idea that emotional support is vital in difficult times.

Band 6-7

00:00

I would like to describe an instance that I helped my family relative who recently graduated from college and he is actively seeking for job opportunities related to data analysis. So I helped him by giving a referral in my organization and that was a requirement in data analytics sector. So he utilized that opportunity and he was preparing well for that interview and he took use of all the resources and materials which I used for my job interviews. I am glad that I could refer him for an opportunity and finally he ended up with a job offer in my organization where I am currently working now. I feel great for him that he got placed in a company in his own area of interest. I wish him best of luck and I hope he would succeed and land in a good place where he wants to build his career.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you helped your relative with their job search?

I felt a sense of pride and happiness knowing that I could assist him during a crucial time in his life. Helping him gave me a sense of fulfillment, especially since I understand how challenging job searching can be after graduation.

What other ways can you support family members in their career pursuits?

Apart from referrals, I can help by reviewing their resumes, conducting mock interviews, or sharing useful resources and networking opportunities. Emotional support is also vital, as job searching can be stressful.

What skills do you think are important for someone in data analysis?

Key skills for data analysis include proficiency in statistical software, strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication. Additionally, being able to interpret data and present findings clearly is crucial in this field.

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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.

Yes, I have helped my cousin with his English. He struggled with writing and comprehension, so I spent time with him practicing. It was rewarding to see him gain confidence and improve his skills, just like with my brother.

Show all 15 answers

Cue 1:When it happened

Mention a specific time frame, such as a recent event or a memorable occasion from the past.
Provide context about what was happening in your life at that time.

Example

This happened last summer during the monsoon season when my cousin was preparing for her final exams. She was feeling overwhelmed with her studies and needed some extra help.

Cue 2:Who you helped

Introduce the family member or relative you assisted, including their relationship to you.
Share a little background about them to make the story relatable.

Example

I helped my cousin, Priya, who is in her final year of college. She has always been a bright student, but this particular semester was challenging for her due to the heavy syllabus and the pressure of upcoming exams.

Cue 3:How you helped

Describe the specific actions you took to assist them, such as tutoring or providing emotional support.
Highlight any particular strategies or methods you used to make the process effective.

Example

I decided to tutor her in subjects she found difficult, especially mathematics and science. We created a study schedule together, and I helped her understand complex topics by breaking them down into simpler concepts. We also practiced past exam papers to build her confidence.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt about the experience

Share your emotions during the experience, such as satisfaction or pride.
Reflect on what you learned from helping your family member.

Example

I felt a great sense of satisfaction seeing Priya gradually regain her confidence and improve in her studies. It was rewarding to know that I could make a difference in her life. This experience also taught me the importance of family support during challenging times.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, helping my cousin not only strengthened our bond but also reminded me of the value of supporting each other in times of need. It was a fulfilling experience that I cherish, and I believe it brought us closer as a family.

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: Vague Responses

Providing vague or unclear answers can make it difficult for the examiner to understand your experience. Specific details are essential for a strong response.