arrow back icon Top Answers

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.

bulb icon

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.

bulb icon

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.

bulb icon

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.

calendar icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

location icon

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
anonymous person icon

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

location icon

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 6-7

I don't exactly remember my first day of school as a child, but I can tell you a story about the first day of my new school when I transferred my school in 5th standard. So, I had completed my 4th standard in Shreya school and we had to change the school due to few reasons and I was already late for my new school that is Utkam school for children by a month and this was because we had spent some 15 days in Kashmir after my 4th year in school and we had a vacation there. So, telling about my first day in Utkam school for children in my 5th standard. Well, I was a very silent kid that time and I didn't have any friend in that school. So, when my class teacher came in and saw me, he immediately asked me that are you Arya and I replied her with a yes and she asked me that why are you so late in the school and stuff and then I explained her the reason of my coming late to school. Then she asked me to sit with the class topper Rohan who was a very brilliant child and my teacher enforced me that I should learn with Rohan so that I can have a good friendship with a person who is really intellectual. Due to this reason, I and Rohan became good friends and my journey of school began.

Band 6-7

During my first day of my higher secondary schooling, I went to a new school called Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Pudupalli, which is located in Kottayam, Pudupalli. I went there, it was early morning, my father dropped me and I remember I took the stairs to the classroom and suddenly when I entered the classroom, I saw a familiar face, a girl who was my childhood friend, I saw her and I was really happy and I feel relaxed because I don't know anyone, I didn't know anyone there but after seeing her, I was more happy and I sat next to her and I waited other students to come and then teacher came and we all greeted her and she gave a short introduction about herself and she asked us to introduce ourselves and I was really happy, there were 2-3 familiar faces and also some of the students knew my parents and I knew their family even though we didn't knew personally, so I was relaxed. So moreover, coming back from school, I feel good because I went there alone and I didn't had any friends there, seeing familiar faces made me a motivation to go again and I didn't have to put much effort to make friends.

Band 6-7

Well, I don't think I remember my first day at school as I was a very little kid. I think when I was three or three and a half when I first went to my school. And I don't really remember any of that. But I think after every year, even though we jump to new classes, you know, all the staff and children, I mean, my friends would be the same. So I don't think I found it much different. But I think when I went from my primary to secondary, I think I felt overwhelmed by seeing the new staff and friends. I think it's a different environment for me compared to the environment which I grew and saw earlier. And I think it's the moment which anyone won't forget in their life.

Band 6-7

My first day of school was when I was four years old. My school name was Delhi Public School, Indirapur. I studied there till my high school. This place is two kilometers away from my home and it was accessible through bus, car or two-wheeler vehicle. I still remember I was very excited for my first day. I wore my school uniform which was a frock with blue shirt and white socks and shoes. I was very happy and excited. I got my first picture clicked outside my home when I was boarding the bus. As soon as I reached, I was very thrilled to meet new people. Although I could see many children of my age were crying on their first day, unlike them I was looking forward for the day to start. My first class was dance class. I enjoyed a lot. I spent time with various different students where I connected instantly. I made my first best friend Anya who I still share the same bond after 23 years. I helped others to cope up with their anxiety and I shared my tiffin with them. It was one of many ways of bonding with other co-batchmates.

Band 6-7

I remember back in 2020, after the lockdown, I switched my school for a stream that I wanted, which was not available at my old convent school. So I joined the public school in my society for humanities with psychology. I was so anxious. Also losing the touch with humanity, no context, wearing masks, using sanitizers, very scared of how people will treat me because, yay, even in class 11, I was still a new student who was shifting their school, coming out of their comfort zone, and all because they wanted to learn a subject that was not available initially to them. I genuinely fought with everyone that, yes, I want to study this, and I will. And that was pretty amazing of me. I'm proud of the old Amina. School brings back memories. The teachers welcomed me. They were very heartwarming. And their hospitality made me understand that, yeah, sometimes taking hard decisions is not easy, but always rewarding.

Band 6-7

I still remember my first day of school. That was a great experience. When I was in first standard, I went to school for the first time. My school name was Kilbill National School in Ahmedpur in Maharashtra, at India. I was quite nervous on that day because I went to school for the first time. I went to school with my parents, with both parents on the first day. First I saw the school with some colleagues and our teachers was helping us. I was quite nervous on that day. I sat in classroom and I was remembering my home. I was quite homesick. My parents stood outside the school. I made new friends on that day. It was also a good experience. That was a chance for me to make new friends. My parents brought new books for me on that day. I attended the lectures, I attended the classes and there was a lunch break. I took food and tiffin with all my schoolmates, with all my friends on that day. And after attending remaining classes, I went home with my parents. When I reached home, I told all the experience on that day to my parents.

Band 6-7

Yeah, I remember the first day of my school, I think where I'm a second standard, joined in Kalki Ranganathan Monkhood School, which is located in Parambur. So that was the first day in my second standard. It's very nervous to leave my parents in my home. So that was the first day I felt I'm leaving my parents. After some hours it changes, seeing lots of friends there and teachers are very kind to us. Then a learning stage has started. It starts a little bit of tough at those days, but it is very easy for me now over all the things that have been already done for me. In second standard I've done many things. I'm the one, the topper for the whole second standard. I've got prize. At that time I've done yoga in the state level. So far that I've got 5th place in the state level yoga championship. I mean both eagerly in sports as well as in studies on those days. So every teacher likes me for doing every studies and extracurricular activities on that days. After that I've got lots of friends in helping of studying when I'm going to sports. So it is very very tremendous days on the period where I've started in my schooling. After that I've been carrying on those both studies.

Band 6-7

So, it was in 2005, the exact date I remember was 5th May 2005 when my family shifted to Mumbai from Rajasthan. We were very young when all three of us children, my siblings had shifted to Borevali, a place in Mumbai and my father suggested to go to this ICSC school in Malad. Okay, now it was our first day and I had to go to the school in Mumbai where I didn't know how to speak in English. It was very embarrassing. My principal called me inside and asked me to answer certain questions in English and to which I was surprised. I didn't know how to speak in English. So I told her, ma'am I would love to learn in English but could you teach me. She was very happy to know that we wanted to learn something from her school. So all three of us, our siblings got admission in that school. It was so so happy, I was so joyous and it just made me feel so proud of my parents that they took such a wonderful step towards us in getting into that school. My first day, even though after I thought could be a little embarrassing but made me really happy towards the end of the day. Thank you.

Band 6-7

My first day of school that I remember is from the 10th grade. That day was actually not the first day of school. The school already started 10 days before. I was still on my vacation, so I joined 10 days later. My first day was when others had already started, and they had gone on track. They have started studying, or they have started attending lectures, and they have started making friends and everything. So, first day was a little hectic for me, and it was a bit difficult to cope up with the lessons and everything. It was a little difficult to understand what was really going on. But I had a friend who helped me out with all the notes, and he helped me with all the details with what has been covered and what the portions were for the upcoming tests. I was really happy that day because I remember I got elected to be the house captain of my class. So, that leadership position was really important for me because I have always dreamt of getting one since my 8th grade. So, that was really memorable. My first day was very fun, and I had a lot to catch up to with my friends, and I had a lot of stories to tell to my friends.

Band 6-7

It was my first day of 11th grade. I had changed school after my 10th grade, so I was really nervous. I was kind of an introvert girl, so talking to people and getting to talk something with them was really hard for me. I usually get nervous when I talk to new people. I have a very good personality, but I don't get used to people really. The first day when I entered into the college, I was really nervous. My blood pressure was high. I was sweating. I just went and sat next to this girl. I thought she was also an introvert, judging by her face, but it turns out she began to talk to me. She asked me about my past schools, and I got to know that she had also changed her school after 10th grade, so it was good knowing her. After that, we became friends with many other people, and we had this small group in our classroom. We had really fun the first day. We had our PE classes, and our accounts, economics, and English too. It was fun knowing all the people, and it was not as nerve-wracking as I thought it would be.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Master IELTS Speaking with Leap's Self-Prep Course

student enroll count

Students Enrolled

review count

2,411 Reviews

app download banner image
See Course Details

Master IELTS Speaking with Leap's Self-Prep Course

student enroll count

Students Enrolled

review count

2,411 Reviews

app download banner image
See Course Details