Describe your first day at school.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When & where did you go to?
What happened there?
How did you feel on that day?

54 unique answers with expert feedback

How did you feel about starting school online during COVID?

Starting school online during COVID was quite challenging for me. I felt nervous about meeting new people virtually, but it also pushed me to adapt and connect with classmates through online platforms. It was a unique experience that taught me the importance of communication and friendship, even from a distance.

What were some of the challenges you faced in your new school?

One of the main challenges I faced was making new friends in a new environment. Initially, I felt shy and overwhelmed. However, as I interacted more with my classmates, I found common interests that helped me bond with them. Overcoming my fears and adapting to the new school was a significant achievement for me.

Can you describe a memorable moment from your first day at the British school?

A memorable moment from my first day at the British school was when I finally met my friends in person after months of online classes. The joy of seeing familiar faces and sharing laughter made me feel a sense of belonging. It was a relief to connect with them face-to-face, and it marked the beginning of new friendships.

Band 7

00:00

On my first day of school, I remember being very nervous. If I have to describe myself, nervousness isn't an adjective I would associate myself with, even as a 5-year-old. I had packed my bag, ironed my school uniform a day prior because I was trembling with excitement. We used to live in a defence establishment which was located 15 km away from the school. Thus, we had a bus to pick us up and drop us at the school. My mother was a teacher in the same premises, therefore, I wasn't completely unfamiliar with my new surroundings. As soon as I stepped foot inside my school, I realised that this is going to be my home for the next 12 years. This is going to be a place where I'll make friends, which later would become my family. I've realised that this school will give me opportunities that I could not have imagined. When I went into the class, I saw a couple of familiar faces that I had known from before school that put me at ease. However, soon I realised that I was good at making friends. I did not feel alienated in these new surroundings. I got to know how we can deal and communicate with people who have different ideas than us. All in all, it was a good experience.

Follow up questions

How did your mother's presence at school affect your first day?

Having my mother at the same school made me feel more secure. I knew I could find her if I needed help or comfort. It eased my nerves and allowed me to focus on making new friends and adapting to my new environment.

What were some of the opportunities you found at school?

The school provided various opportunities such as extracurricular activities, clubs, and events that helped me explore my interests. I discovered my passion for sports and arts, which shaped my personality and skills over the years.

How did you maintain friendships from your first day throughout school?

I made an effort to stay connected with my classmates by participating in group activities and being open to new friendships. Regular communication and shared experiences helped strengthen those bonds, making them last throughout my school years.

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 7

00:00

I remember my first day at school. It was when I was this little toddler who barely knew a few words. It was B group, the class I used to go to. It was kind of a fun and horrible experience at the same time. I went up to the school with my mom. My mom left me in the class and she left. I was all alone in the class, scared, agitated and annoyed. I cried a lot. I cried a lot that day. Gradually, things got better. I made new friends and school life became my favorite. My school was a co-curricular English medium school. It used to follow the British curriculum. The name of my school is Sire International School. The most interesting thing is I have been going to the school since B group till my E levels. The entire time I was in the same school. School was my life. I still remember my school days and I have nothing but good memories in my heart. My school days were amazing. I still remember the days I used to play football on the field, open grass and beautiful skies. Nothing to worry about, just good times with my friends. My school had some amazing teachers as well. The teachability was so good. It was great. It was just like family. They used to teach me and every other student just like their own. I was a good football player back in the days. I used to play a lot of football. I got a few awards playing football back in the days. It was my life. I graduated in the year 2016. It was a very amazing year. We were at high school and the entire school was there.

Follow up questions

How did your feelings change throughout your first day at school?

Initially, I felt scared and alone when my mom left me in class. I cried a lot, but as I started to make friends, my feelings changed. I gradually became more comfortable and began to enjoy my time at school, which turned out to be a wonderful experience.

What activities did you enjoy the most during your school days?

I loved playing football the most. It was a big part of my life, and I spent a lot of time on the field with my friends. I also enjoyed participating in various co-curricular activities, which helped me bond with my classmates and teachers.

How did your teachers influence your school experience?

My teachers had a significant impact on my school experience. They were supportive and treated us like family, which made learning enjoyable. Their encouragement helped me excel in my studies and sports, and I still appreciate their dedication.

Band 7

00:00

I vividly remember my first day at school. It was an experience filled with excitement, curiosity, and a bit of nervousness. I must have been around four years old and my school was a quaint little place with colorful walls, a cheerful atmosphere, and a wall welcoming staff. The day began with my parents walking me into the classroom. I recall holding on tightly to my mother's hand, reluctant to let go. As the environment was entirely unfamiliar, the teacher, however, greeted me with a big smile and a soft voice, which immediately made me feel at ease. She introduced me to a group of children who were busy playing with blocks and drawing pictures. Although I was shy at first place, I soon found myself joining them. One of the highlights of that day was assembly. It was the first time I saw so many children gathered together, singing a song and listening to stories. It was a surreal moment that made me feel like I was a part of a larger community. Later, we were given colorful crayons and a sheet of paper to draw whatever we liked. I remember sketching a house with a garden and being so proud of my artwork that I showed it to my teacher, who praised me warmly. Lunchtime was another memorial experience. I sat at a small table with my classmates, sharing stories and snacks.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you first entered the classroom?

I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The classroom was new and unfamiliar, which made me cling to my mother's hand. However, the teacher's warm smile helped ease my anxiety.

What activities did you enjoy the most on your first day?

I really enjoyed the assembly where we sang songs and listened to stories. It was amazing to see so many children together, and it made me feel part of a community. Drawing with crayons was also a highlight, as I loved expressing my creativity.

How did your first day at school influence your feelings about school in general?

My first day was a positive experience that made me excited about school. The friendly atmosphere and engaging activities helped me overcome my shyness and look forward to learning and making new friends.

Band 7

00:00

I still remember the first day of my school, both of my parents were with me and we went to my school which is placed in Vile Parle East, Mumbai. We went to my school at about 10.30 in the morning and I was holding both of my parents' hands and I was observing everyone. Few of the students were crying, some of them were just standing there hugging their parents and I was just confused because the day before that I was extremely excited to go and attend school. I was packing my bag with all the things necessary for school but when the day arrived, I was little bit scared, it was mixed of emotions. I was little scared, little happy and mostly excited. I was holding on to my parents' hands tightly and I was looking at them. When my mom bent down, she kissed my forehead and she told me that don't worry, everything will be fine, you will have a good time in your school and my dad just picked me up, he hugged me, he kissed me on the cheek and he told me that enjoy your school, study well, have fun and don't cry and that was it. I still remember my first day as it was yesterday.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when you first entered the classroom?

When I first entered the classroom, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The classroom was filled with new faces, and I was unsure of what to expect. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed but also curious about meeting my new classmates and teacher.

What activities did you do on your first day?

On my first day, we had some introductory activities. We played icebreaker games to get to know each other, and the teacher introduced us to the school rules. We also had a short tour of the school, which helped me feel more comfortable in the new environment.

Did you make any friends on your first day?

Yes, I did make a couple of friends on my first day. I met a boy who sat next to me during class, and we started talking during the icebreaker games. We shared our interests and quickly bonded over our excitement for school, which made the day much more enjoyable.

Show all 54 answers

Cue 1:When & where did you go to?

Begin by mentioning the name of the school and its location to set the context.
Include the date or year to give a sense of time and personal significance.

Example

I started my first day at St. Xavier's School in Mumbai in June 2005. It was a bright sunny morning, and I remember feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I stepped into the school premises for the very first time.

Cue 2:What happened there?

Describe the activities that took place during your first day, such as meeting teachers and classmates.
Mention any memorable events or interactions that stood out to you.

Example

On that day, I was introduced to my class teacher, Mrs. Sharma, who was very welcoming. We had a brief orientation session where I met my classmates. I vividly remember playing games during recess, which helped break the ice and made me feel more comfortable.

Cue 3:How did you feel on that day?

Share your emotions and thoughts throughout the day, highlighting any changes in your feelings.
Reflect on how the experience shaped your view of school and learning.

Example

Initially, I felt anxious about fitting in, but as the day progressed, I started to feel more at ease. By the end of the day, I was filled with joy and anticipation for what the rest of the school year would bring.

Conclusion

Summarize your overall experience and its impact on your life.
Mention how that first day influenced your attitude towards school in general.

Example

Looking back, my first day at school was a pivotal moment in my life. It not only marked the beginning of my education but also taught me the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone. That day laid the foundation for many wonderful friendships and learning experiences.

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