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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?
Show all 179 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.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Avoid Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your response less engaging and informative. Specific details help the examiner understand your experience better.

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Tip

Include specific details about the location, activities, and people you encountered on your first day to create a vivid picture.

2: Don't Rush Your Response

Speaking too quickly can lead to unclear communication and missed details. It's important to pace yourself for better clarity.

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Tip

Take a moment to organize your thoughts before speaking, and practice speaking slowly to ensure your ideas are conveyed clearly.

Neglecting Emotions

Failing to express your feelings can make your answer less relatable. Emotions add depth to your story and engage the listener.

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Tip

Share how you felt during your first day, whether it was excitement, nervousness, or joy, to connect with the examiner on a personal level.

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IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

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

Anonymous student Band 7.5

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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
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

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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
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

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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
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

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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
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

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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.

All Answers

Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

Band 7

My first day of school was rather overwhelming. It was in Hyderabad, Telangana. I was newly enrolled into third grade and we had just moved to that city, hence it was a completely different environment, culture, language. My parents felt that I must learn to fend for myself and hence I was sent alone on the school bus. When I reached the school, we were taken to the auditorium where the sight put me into tears because every other student had a parent alongside and I felt completely left out, secluded and alone. I was almost at the verge of crying when a random kid approached me, introduced himself and handed me a roll of chapati and since then we became friends. We are still in contact. I stayed alongside him and his mother the entire time until we were allotted classes. Thankfully, we were in the same class. It was a mix of emotions as I learned that I could handle myself in situations where I was alone, I could fend for myself and I had the ability to make friends. I did always bring up this topic and complain to my parents but I was also very grateful for the fact that they trusted me enough to send me alone on the first day of school.

Band 7

My first day at school was a very special day. It was when I joined the Rosario school for the first time. I went there with my parents in the morning. When I entered the classroom, I saw many new students. Some were crying and some were smiling. Our teacher welcomed us kindly and gave us chocolate. We sang poems, played games and introduced ourselves. I also made a new friend on that day. At first I was a little nervous, but later I felt very happy and comfortable. It was a really memorable day for me. Thank you for watching my video.

Band 7

My first day at school was when I was around 5 years old and I went to a nearby public school in my town. I still remember walking into the classroom holding my mother's hand. The teacher welcomed me and helped me find a seat. I met a few new classmates and we spent the day learning basic alphabets and playing simple games. At first, I felt a little nervous and shy, but after some time I became comfortable and exercised. Overall, it was a memorable and happy day for me. Thanks. Thank you for watching!

Band 7

My first day at school was when I was about 6 years old and it took place at a small primary in my hometown. I remember walking into the classroom and feeling very nervous because everything was new to me. On that day, the teacher introduced herself and asked each of us to say our names. We also sang a few songs and colored some pictures. I didn't talk much because I was shy, but I met one friend during the break. We shared a snack and that made me feel a lot more comfortable. At first, I felt scared and confused, but by the day of the end, I was excited about going back. I still remember these days clearly because it was my first experience of being away from home for a morning and it marked the beginning of my childhood life.

Band 7

My first day at school was at one of the best schools in Delhi called Sachdeva Global School. As I walked in, my parents said goodbye. Once they bid me goodbye, I moved forward and met my teachers. It was mesmerizing to see a cohesive and coordinative crowd. People are generally very kind to others on their first day. So my teacher made me sit with the sweetest person in the class. Her name was Nidhi. Nidhi was my first friend. Her presence felt like a breath of fresh air. Even though everybody was beautiful in their own way, Nidhi was special. She used to not talk in words. She used to decode what I wanted even before I could say it. And that was special because I was totally new. While others would keep bickering in the background, she would ignore the harp of people and continue to talk to me. In her presence, I would feel valued and heard. Nidhi never felt like she was oblivious of the world. She made my first day special by plucking me a captivating white flower from the school's garden. And later we had some delicious omelette together. The conversations were so memorable.

Band 7

So, my first day at school was very scary because as I entered into the school, everything was so clumsy. Everyone was rushing out, everyone was moving around and I was like, whoa, what's going on here? And suddenly, I entered into a classroom which my teacher told me to go there and I went into that and people were shouting out so loud and it was so noisy. It's my first time joining an Indian school because I studied in America. It was so quiet out there, but here, they were too loud and it was very noisy for me even though somehow I managed that and every bench was full, no one had any space left. There was a boy who made space for me and told me to sit there and I don't know why but I was connected to him as a friend and then it turned out to be love and now I'm married to him at the age of 60 and it's like 30 years of marriage for us. Amazing. That's how my school first day was and especially, I was interested in trying out different things, meeting new people and getting to know other mindsets. It was amazing memories for me. I love school and everyone should, in their life, have wonderful memories in school.

Band 7

My first day at school was not really a day where I attended the classes. It was the first day when I went for the orientation program for the admission to the school. So firstly I must say that I was shocked and awestruck by the immensity of the building. I have never been to that kind of a large building where there are so many rooms and long balconies and corridors. So I thought I will I felt so little within that building. So that was my first impression on the architectural building of the of my school. But also then I met a lot of boys. It was a boys school and they became very close friends immediately and we were close friends for a long time after that. And during the orientation I met one of my favorite teachers in the school who was a geography teacher and he taught a lot about how we can scientifically understand the happenings of the natural world. For example how rain is created, how earthquakes work. So that was very interesting first day for me and that actually set the tone for my rest of my years in the school. And my school is also a colonial era school. It was built during the colonial period. So in that orientation program I got to learn the history of my school and eventually I got to also know that my parents relatives were also taught there. So that kind of a revelation really made my day.

Band 7

My first day at school is something I still remember very clearly, even though I was very young. I went to a small primary school in my hometown and it was the first time I was going somewhere without my parents staying with me the whole time. I remember holding my mother's hand very tightly while walking through the school gate. Everything looked so big, the classrooms, the playground, even the other children who seemed so confident compared to me. When I entered my classroom, I saw many new faces. Some children were crying, some were busy talking and a few were just quietly looking around just like me. Our class teacher came in with a warm smile and welcomed all of us. She introduced herself and told us that it was perfectly normal to feel a little scared on the first day. Her voice was very calm and that made me feel slightly more comfortable. We were asked to sit in a circle and introduce ourselves. When it was my turn, I felt really nervous and my voice was shaking a bit, but I still managed to say my name and a few things about myself. After that, the teacher showed us around the school, the library, playground and activity room. The moment I liked the most was when she gave each of us a small chocolate to make us feel at home. By the end of the day, I had already spoken to a few children and one of them became my best ever school friend. Even though I was scared in the morning, I slowly started enjoying the activities, the colors on the classroom walls and the friendly environment. When my parents came to pick me up, I actually didn't want to leave. So overall, my first day at school was a mix of fear, excitement and curiosity. It taught me that new beginnings may feel scary at first, but they often turn into beautiful memories.

Band 7

I still remember my first day at school as clearly as day, even though it was two decades ago, I was around five years old and I was enrolled at St. Stephen's Primary School in central London. I recall the morning being a blur of activity, my mother, trying her best to appear calm, walked me through the main entrance. The school itself seemed absolutely enormous to my little self, a towering imposing building filled with the sounds of the children's chatter and nervous excitement. Initially, I felt a deep sense of trepidation. The sheet novently of the environment was quite overwhelming. The most vivid event of the day was the introduction to the classroom. Our teacher, a very gentle woman named Mrs. Davis, has us all sit in a circle on the floor. I remember holding onto my new pencil case, clutching it tightly as a kind of a security blanket. We spent the first hour doing an incredible icebreaker, drawing pictures of our families. It was at that point that my apprehension began to dissipate. I quickly realised that all the other children were just as nervous and excited as I was. The key moment that shifted my mood was lunchtime, sharing a massive table with twenty other children and trying to figure out which colourful lunchbox belonged to me. It was an adventure in itself. In conclusion, by the time the final bell rang, my initial apprehension had been entirely replaced by sheer exhilaration. I felt feeling utterly exhausted but profoundly proud of myself for navigating a completely new world. I could not wait to go back the next day.

Band 7

My first day at school was still crystal clear in my mind, even though it happened when I was just five years old. It was a bright July morning and I remember wearing a brand new blue uniform that my mother had ironed at least three times the previous night. I felt both excited and terrified at the same. My tiny hand was gripping my father's finger so tightly that he kept joking my palm would leave marks on his skin. When we reached the school gate, there were hundreds of children crying, some clinging to their parents, others were running around happily. The building looked enormous to me, with colorful charts on the walls and the smell of fresh paint everywhere. My classroom was on the ground floor, decorated with balloons and animal posters. Our class teacher, Mrs. Arora, had the kindest smile. She welcomed each student with a small toffee, which instantly calmed me down. The first activity was drawing our family on a sheet of paper. I drew stick figures with huge heads and even bigger smiles. And when the teacher painted my drawing on the board, I felt so proud. During the break, I made my first school friend, Rohan. We bonded over sharing lunch. By the time the final bell rang, I didn't want to leave on the way home. Instead of feeling shy, I kept talking non-stop about everything I had seen and done.
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