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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 183 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

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

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

So, the first day of my school, it was very memorable, I still remember to this day that it was back on 18th March 2006 when I first visited my school, the name of my school is Matridi school. So, there is a girls convent school and it is located in Tilak lane near India gate and it is situated in the capital of our country India, Delhi. So, what happened on that day is that firstly, I felt extremely nervous and was hesitant in talking to my peers as well as interacting with the class teacher, but later as the day progressed my hesitation disappeared and my nervousness reduced since the class teacher and my other subject teachers were extremely polite and kind towards every student. The walls of the classroom were very colourful and creative chart papers were stuck on the boards. We were introduced to various subjects, I remember carrying a school bag that was bigger than me, I was wearing neat uniform and my hair was tied up tightly as the instructions were given a day before to our parents. So, my parents dropped me off to the school at sharp 7.30 am, we were introduced to our various section, I remember I made two best friends in 2006 in my first class and till date they are my very close friends. I felt really very excited after the day ended because I felt proud that my first day of school is over. I played a lot of games and I shared a lot of stories with my friends on that day. I remember the classroom atmosphere was very friendly.

Band 7

I still vividly remember my first day at school, and it feels like it happened just yesterday. I was extremely excited, but at the same time a little nervous, because it was the first time I was stepping into such a structured environment away from my home. My parents accompanied me, and they tried to reassure me, but I could feel butterflies in my stomach as we entered the school gates. The moment I walked into the classroom, I was both amazed and intimidated. Everything looked so new, the colorful walls, neatly arranged desk, and the blackboard at the front. I remember meeting my classmates for the first time, and while some of them seemed confident and outgoing, I felt shy and hesitant. Fortunately, my teacher was very kind and welcoming, and she made me an effort to introduce herself and help everyone feel comfortable. She started with simple activities, like asking our names and letting us draw, which helped to break the ice and ease my little anxiety. One thing that stands out in my memory is how I made my first friend that day. We were paired for a small activity, and we quickly discovered that we had similar interests, which made the initial awkwardness fade and turn into a fun experience. I explored the playgrounds, listened to my first lessons, and even participated in a little singing activity. Looking back now, that first day taught me about the courage, adaptation, and social interaction. Overall, it remains one of the most memorable and formative days of my life.

Band 7

My first day at school was very interesting and fun. There were a lot of new people such as students and teachers that I had interacted with. However, during the first day, the first half, I was very nervous because it was difficult for me to leave my old school and it was very tough. The teachers were very nice on the first day as they interacted with me and made me feel like home. Furthermore, in the afternoon, the food was also very good. It had a variety of vegetables and proteins. Personally, I liked the roti with lentils. During the free time, I think it was very fun because I got to socialize and connect with my new friends. I made a new friend. His name was Aman. He was very kind and very interesting as he knew a lot about my interests and I think our interests matched each other. The school was very huge with a lot of amenities such as a big swimming pool, a big playground in which people were playing basketball and football. I think sports is very important in a school because it helps to maintain the physical and mental well-being. Also, there was a teacher named Amisha ma'am. She was very kind to me and she made me talk to various people so that it's not difficult for me to connect with other people.

Band 7

I was an eight-year-old child who was dropped off by her parents at a school near her home called St. Mary's. This was my first day in a big school in this new city. I was very nervous and thought that I would not make any new friends as I was an introvert. But that thought soon came to an end as I stepped into the classroom. The teacher embraced me with welcoming arms and introduced me to the class. I was astounded at the fact that people so readily accepted me into their circles and befriended this unknown person.

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.
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