Describe an online video in which you learned something new: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When and where you watched it
What it was
Why you watched it
And explain what you have learned from it

21 unique answers with expert feedback

What other skills have you learned online?

Apart from coding, I've learned graphic design and video editing through various online tutorials. These skills have also been beneficial in my projects and personal interests.

How do you evaluate the quality of online learning resources?

I usually check the number of views, likes, and comments on videos. I also look for creators who have a good reputation in their field and read reviews or recommendations from others.

Do you think online learning is better than traditional methods?

Online learning offers flexibility and a wide range of resources, which can be more engaging. However, traditional methods provide structured guidance and personal interaction, which are also valuable.

Band 7

00:00

I was sitting at my study table and all of a sudden I stumbled upon a video about online gaming. It captivated my interest because I was really into games and I used to play them a lot as a kid. So I stumbled upon that video and I saw that there's a new game called Call of War Ragnarok and I continued to watch that video. It showed me how perfectly a game developer can mimic the mythology and depict it in such a beautiful and pictorial format. So the game revolves around the idea of Norse Gods Kratos, Thor, Odin where Kratos' son Atreus who is Loki is set on a mission to achieve and stop Ragnarok from happening. And in his journey he is accomplished by his father Kratos and during the journey he manages to learn more about his ancestry, more about his parents and hones his skills and finally manages to achieve his goal. And I learned how to be better at that game watching that video because it's a role playing game and you have to make your own builds, you have to make your own set of armor, set of swords. So it was a wonderful experience to watch and it was so informative and I learned a lot from that video which helped me throughout my playthrough of that game.

Follow up questions

What other online videos have you found helpful for learning new skills?

I've watched several videos on cooking and photography. Each one provided unique tips and techniques that improved my skills significantly. For instance, a cooking channel taught me how to make pasta from scratch, which was both fun and rewarding.

How do you think online videos compare to traditional learning methods?

Online videos are often more engaging and accessible than traditional methods. They allow for visual learning and can be paused or replayed, which is helpful. However, traditional learning can provide more structured guidance and direct interaction with instructors.

Do you think online gaming can be educational? Why or why not?

Yes, online gaming can be educational as it often involves strategic thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. Games like Call of War Ragnarok also teach players about mythology and history, making learning enjoyable and interactive.

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

Social media is gaining popularity day by day and we can learn many things through the social media. One of the important dish I learned through the YouTube channel is how to prepare a Hyderabad chicken biryani. It is one of the dish I learned it through the YouTube channel. It is through a famous cooking channel called as Kabita's Chicken, where she teach a different types of cuisines, how to prepare and what are the ingredients required for that. She will teach that in a step by step manner so that we can learn it very easily and we can do it at home also. So how I learned chicken biryani is I followed the step or the instruction what she has given in her channel and exactly I followed the same method. Initially I started by preparing only a small amount of a biryani. So when my whole family like that one, then in the next time I have prepared that in a large quantity. So why I was keen to learn this dish is it is my husband's favorite dish. So he used to like biryani, but whatever the biryani I was preparing before, it was not that much tasty or something was missing. So then I goggled.

Follow up questions

What other dishes have you learned to cook from online videos?

I have learned to cook several other dishes from online videos, including pasta, pizza, and various Indian curries. Each video provides unique tips and techniques that help me improve my cooking skills. I enjoy experimenting with different cuisines and flavors.

How do you think online cooking videos compare to traditional cooking classes?

Online cooking videos offer flexibility and convenience, allowing me to learn at my own pace. However, traditional cooking classes provide hands-on experience and immediate feedback from instructors. Both have their advantages, but I prefer the accessibility of online videos.

Have you ever faced any challenges while following online recipes?

Yes, I have faced challenges such as missing ingredients or not understanding certain cooking techniques. Sometimes, the video might skip steps or assume prior knowledge. However, I usually find solutions by searching for additional resources or asking for help online.

Band 6-7

00:00

I've always wanted to learn how to do pottery but I've always struggled so there was this one day where I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw a video on five tips on how to be a pro in pottery and I watched it and then I went straight up to the supermarket got all the stuff I needed and started trying to learn how to make a simple cup of course it was hard in the beginning but with time I started seeing such good improvement and now I could say I'm a pro a year later I can make anything from spoons to plates to dolls to anything with pottery not just that but this opened my mind to multiple stuff that if I wanted to learn something it's really easy if I were just to watch a video scroll and it could be so random like scrolling through Instagram or tik-tok or watching a YouTube video so it was really easy for me on like how to learn of course with practice because as we know practice makes perfect

Follow up questions

What other skills would you like to learn through online videos?

I would love to learn cooking and photography through online videos. There are so many tutorials available that can help me improve my skills in these areas. I think it's a great way to learn at my own pace and explore my interests.

How do you think online videos compare to traditional learning methods?

I believe online videos are more accessible and flexible than traditional methods. You can learn anytime and anywhere, and you can pause or replay sections as needed. However, traditional classes offer more direct interaction with instructors, which can be beneficial for some learners.

Have you ever faced challenges while learning from online videos?

Yes, sometimes the videos can be too fast-paced or not detailed enough, which makes it hard to follow along. Additionally, without immediate feedback, it can be difficult to know if I'm doing things correctly. However, I try to find videos that are well-explained and easy to understand.

Band 6-7

00:00

Nowadays people are curious to learn something new and they want to show their passion to other person. But today I would like to talk about a recipe which I learned from YouTube before 6 months ago. Before 6 months ago we don't have cookies in my home and there was an emergency condition in India because that time was coronavirus time. Then I decided to learn to make cookies at my home so I decided to watch the video on YouTube and then I watched the video and the video maker, the chef tell me that there are ingredients which are used to make the cookies and I learned from him about how to make cookies and he told me that first we have to take some flour and dry fruits to mix in it if we want to make a sweet cookies but if we want to make a sugar free cookies we can make without it then I that time I was making it for my mother which usually eats sugar free cookies so I learned sugar free cookies then he told me that firstly we have to mix the flour and make the desert and after that we have to bake it in oven. So I learned from him and he told me a very good and I also show this recipe to my relatives, friends and they gave me good advice and I also wish it in my mother.

Follow up questions

What other online platforms do you use for learning new skills?

Apart from YouTube, I often use platforms like Skillshare and Coursera. They offer structured courses on various topics, from cooking to photography. I find that these platforms provide more in-depth knowledge and sometimes even certification, which is beneficial for personal and professional growth.

How do you think online learning has changed the way people acquire skills?

Online learning has made acquiring new skills more accessible than ever. People can learn at their own pace, choose from a vast array of topics, and access resources from anywhere in the world. This flexibility encourages lifelong learning and allows individuals to pursue their interests without geographical limitations.

Can you share any challenges you faced while learning online?

One challenge I faced was the lack of hands-on guidance. Sometimes, it's difficult to understand techniques just by watching a video. Additionally, distractions at home can make it hard to focus. However, I overcame this by setting a dedicated time for learning and practicing the skills I learned.

Show all 21 answers

Cue 1:When and where you watched it

Begin by specifying the time and location where you viewed the video.
Mention any relevant context, such as whether it was during a break or at home.

Example

I watched the video last Saturday evening at home, sitting comfortably on my couch. It was a relaxing weekend, and I had some free time to explore new topics.

Cue 2:What it was

Clearly describe the content of the video, including its title and main subject.
Mention the platform where you found the video, such as YouTube or a specific educational website.

Example

The video was titled 'How to Cook Authentic Indian Biryani' and was available on YouTube. It featured a renowned chef demonstrating the step-by-step process of making this popular dish.

Cue 3:Why you watched it

Explain your motivation for choosing this particular video.
Share any personal connection or interest you have in the topic.

Example

I decided to watch it because I love Indian cuisine and wanted to learn how to prepare biryani for an upcoming family gathering. I had always been intimidated by the recipe, but I thought this video could help me.

Cue 4:And explain what you have learned from it

Summarize the key skills or knowledge you gained from watching the video.
Reflect on how this learning experience may impact your cooking or daily life.

Example

From the video, I learned the importance of marinating the meat and the right spices to use for authentic flavor. The chef's tips on layering rice and meat were particularly helpful, and I now feel confident to try making biryani myself.

Conclusion

Wrap up by summarizing your overall experience of watching the video.
Mention any future plans related to what you learned.

Example

In conclusion, watching this video not only taught me how to cook biryani but also sparked my interest in exploring more Indian recipes. I plan to try cooking it for my family next weekend and share the experience with them.

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 Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer unclear. It's important to provide specific details about the video to engage the listener and demonstrate your language skills.

Tip

Include specific examples from the video, such as key moments or interesting facts, to make your answer more vivid and memorable.

2: Lack of Structure

A disorganized response can confuse the listener. It's essential to follow a clear structure to ensure your answer flows logically and covers all cues.

Tip

Use the provided cues as a checklist to organize your thoughts, addressing each point in a logical order.

Overly Simple Language

Using overly simple language can limit your score. It's important to showcase a range of vocabulary and complex sentences to demonstrate your English proficiency.

Tip

Practice using varied vocabulary and sentence structures when discussing the video to enhance the richness of your response.