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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 6-7

The first day at my school, it was so special for me, and it was so memorable day for me also. And I had studied in, I was studied in a state school, so I was so surprised to go in there. And suddenly... Yeah. While I'm thinking about my first day at school, it was so memorable day and so funniest day for me. I still remember that while I was holding my parents' hand and they were dropping me at the school, I started crying. So, it was so visualized in my memory and I could still remember that moment. I was crying so loudly along with the other students also. And I have studied in state school, so they gave me, the sisters, the teachers gave me many candies for stopping me crying. So, even though I couldn't stop the crying, because until that time I was staying with my parents, so connection with my parents. But suddenly they were dropping me somewhere, so I feel alone, I feel isolated, so that's why it's so memorable day for me. So, that's why it's so memorable day for me. I don't know where to go. I still remember that day, the first day at my school. It was in 2021 and it was very memorable and visualized for me. And I was holding my parents' both hands and they were dropping me at some place. It was so shocking place for me and it was very strange place for me also. Then I started crying, the teachers and sisters coming to me and gave me few chocolates and they sang for me also. But I couldn't resist to stop the crying, because up to that time I was with my parents and I'm so close to them. Then suddenly they were dropping me in some strange place and I feel so isolated and so alone. So, I couldn't stop the crying, even though they left me. I got many friends also that day, so it was very special memory day for me. I still remember that, I couldn't believe that I just passed that time and I'm so happy for that experience in my life. Then the teachers were so friendly with me and eventually I started to go to school. Then I was forcing my parents for going to school, even though it's a Sunday and Saturday. So, I'm so happy that it passed through my life and I'm so happy that day passes and I'm so extremely joyful and happiness with that.

Band 6-7

This takes me back several decades to to be exact. My first day in school was in the year 2001 when I joined in the first grade at my school called Arya Central School which is at Pattam, right in the middle of the city where I resided. It was a central school which had the English as the main language of teaching. I remember being scared as my parents dressed me up in new clothes, gave me new bag, gave me new umbrellas and they dropped me off at the gate of the school handed me off to a teacher and I remember looking back worried and scared that I might not survive the day. I accompanied the teachers into the classroom and they sat me at a desk in the front and I remember feeling too scared to even look around and introduce myself to my friends, introduce myself to the kids around me. Thinking of it now, I probably should have said hi to the kid right next to me. I bet she was just as scared as I was. However, this clarity was not something that I had at the time. I could barely hold my breath and I could barely sit still. I was anxious and unaware of what was about to happen. I remember feeling extremely relieved towards the end of the day when I finally saw my father standing at the gate ready to pick me up.

Band 6-7

It was in 2003 where I started my schooling and on the first day I had to go to the principal's office with my sister and my father for an interview as it is mandatory for starting our school. It was not a normal interview, it was just some basic question that has been asked by the principal to me and I was very small, three years of age. I answered all the questions, my name, where I'm from and everything. Then I remember it was a good feeling of starting something but I don't remember exactly what was going on in my mind because I was too small at that age and it has been so many years since then and it was a great experience in my school because I have completed 13 years of my life in my school and it was a different rollercoaster ride altogether because I learned the alphabets to geometry in my school and I completed my matriculation from there. The teachers know me well, I know the teachers well and it was a mutual understanding between us regarding everything. I was into debating clubs and essay clubs, drama clubs and on the very first day I never thought this could be in 13 years of journey but yes it was a beautiful experience, an enriching experience staying in my school and learning so much from it.

Band 6-7

In Nashik, the first day in Symbiosis school was so hectic. Before entering the school, I cried a lot because I didn't want to go to school. But forcefully my parents took me to the school. After entering the classroom, no one was knowing me and everyone was looking at me.

Band 6-7

I started my schooling when I was 5 years old. My first school name is M.J. Vora Prathamikshala which is situated in the Vasithodav region of my hometown Mahoba. That school was a trust school which is having standard 1 to 7 I completed my primary education there. My first day was a school was a quite what I can say is exciting. My father came to drop me there and on first class on first day I have met number of my classmates which later become my friend and teacher was also kind and genuine. On first day only I made friendship with one friend. His name is Ravi and he bring me with him for lunch and on first day teacher introduced me to the whole class and there are quite a few subject I started to learn After the lunch time I was kind of missing my parents because I was only 5 years old and

Band 6-7

well I remembered when I was in the eighth grade I changed my previous school due to some the distance due to the distance it was too far away from my location so I decided to drop that school and take new admission in another school which is very reputed and nearer to my hometown so I took admission in eighth standard and it was a quite new experience because before I used to go to Islamic school the environment was totally about Islamic Muslim culture community and now I have moved to the Christian minority school community where everything is different like uniform was different from them to this in my new school I had blue shirt blue skirt and open hairs I mean with two braids at first day when I reached to my school I saw the ground and the classes were so nicely presented the classrooms were so nice and it was a great experiencing the benches everything was so nicely arranged the teachers were good they teached us nicely and the principal was anchor so incorrigible she encouraged me a lot and made me so comfortable to the environment it helped me to focus on my studies to start a new fresh starting it it quite helped me a lot and the experience was so nice I really enjoyed and yet I remembered those days whenever I feel like down or I miss my school days I remember

Band 6-7

Describing the first day of our school is a quite interesting thing. But for me, actually, I didn't remember about the exact day that I went to my school because, as you know, it is in our childhood about, I think, three to four ages and I didn't remember or I can't recall exact things that happened. But in my memory, I remember that little things that happened in that day. At that time, I studied in little for the English middle and high school in Somnangkota. And in my memory, besides this, in my memory, I remember that I got two friends named Sandra and Reshma. And we were very friends at the first time. Moreover, there were ten children in our class and I got more friendly with everyone. Especially, I remember the names, Atush, Sachin, Achi, Reshma, Sandra. Everyone in the class, I get very attached at the very first day. And, moreover, the teachers named Sandy, Achita, Chita.

Band 6-7

I still remember that day when my father got transferred to Panipat Haryana and he had a new posting there and I had to change a school so first I had to go through the interview process for that. I still remember when my father got transferred to Panipat Haryana. It was the month of December when we shifted to Haryana. There we thought of selecting a good school so we shortlisted few public schools. One of them was DPS Panipat Haryana refinery. So there were three stages for the selection process. First was the interview, second was the writing test, third was again an interview. I was pretty nervous. I gave the interview. I wrote the test well. There were many subjects that they took the test for and after the examination, they gave the result and I was selected and from the next Monday, I had to join the school and I still remember that I was very nervous wearing those new crisp uniform, pure white going to school for my first time. I was admitted to the third standard, A division. I saw very new faces, all seeing me weirdly that who is this new boy in the middle of the term and I was pretty anxious and nervous but there was a girl that made me feel comfortable and made me welcome in her class. She sat beside me, introduced to her friends. We had the lunch together and her name was Priyamvada. She helped me throughout the day.

Band 6-7

I have a very bloody memory of my first day of school. I was very little when I went to the school for the first time. I was only three years old when my parents admitted me to St. Mary's Convent Senior Secondary School. It was located in a small town called Dhampur which was 15 kilometers away from my house. We used to take a bus to go there. On my first day of school I remember my school bus came at my door and I started crying suddenly because I was very nervous and anxious. About going there for the first time without my parents as I was not used to going anywhere without my mom or my dad. I started crying and I shouted I'm not wearing my pants when my bus driver came to pick me up and I remember everyone started laughing on hearing that. I get a little embarrassed when I think about that memory now but it also brings me a lot of joy since I have made countless very memorable and cherishable memories in my early school days. They always bring the sweet nostalgia back.

Band 6-7

On my first day of school I started with orientation where all the teachers, students and parents met at the auditorium for the orientation. After the orientation was done, everyone was asked to go to the respective classes to leave their children. When everyone reached their classes and parents started to leave, all the children cried and my parents told me that everyone cried except me. I was happy and then I was ready to start school with a refreshing mindset. I wasn't quite sure about what was happening and I knew I was going to go back home. That gave me confidence that I was just here to have fun, do a little education and then study and make a lot of friends and socialise. Overall, my first day at school was quite peaceful and then fun I would say, which is the opposite of what was expected when you're so young and you're probably four to five years old.
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