Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What was the toy?
Who gave it to you?
How often did you play with it?

78 unique answers with expert feedback

What skills did you develop while playing with your toys?

Playing with my toys, especially the remote-controlled car and Lego sets, helped me develop problem-solving skills and creativity. I learned to think critically when setting up obstacle courses and building unique structures, which sparked my interest in gadgets and engineering.

How do you think toys influence childhood development?

Toys play a crucial role in childhood development by fostering imagination, creativity, and social skills. They encourage children to explore their interests, learn to cooperate with others during play, and develop fine motor skills through manipulation and construction.

Do you think children today have different toys compared to your childhood?

Yes, children today have access to more advanced technology, like video games and interactive gadgets, which differ from the simpler toys of my childhood. While these modern toys can be educational, I believe traditional toys like Lego and board games still hold significant value in fostering creativity and social interaction.

Band 7

00:00

When I was a young child, my beloved grandfather gifted me a soft, adorable panda toy that became my most cherished companion the moment I was instantly captivated by its beautiful black and white fur, button eyes, and gentle smile. This panda wasn't just a toy, it was a symbol of my grandfather's love and affection. I would carry this special toy everywhere, to school, on family vacations, to relatives' house. Every adventurer became more exciting with my panda by my side, and I would spend countless hours playing, imagining incredible stories, and creating magical worlds. Together, the toy became my most concerned friend, providing comfort during uncertain moments and bringing joy to my childhood. Whenever I hugged the panda, I could almost feel my grandfather's warm embrace and hear his loving voice even now. Years later, this toy remains a treasured possession, representing not just a childhood memory but the beautiful, unbreakable bond I shared with my grandfather. The panda toy is a tangible reminder of his love, kindness, and the precious moments we shared during my early years.

Follow up questions

How did your relationship with your grandfather influence your childhood?

My grandfather played a significant role in my childhood. He was always there to support me, teach me valuable lessons, and share stories. His love and guidance shaped my values and helped me develop a strong sense of security and confidence, which I cherish to this day.

Do you think toys play an important role in childhood development?

Absolutely! Toys stimulate imagination, creativity, and social skills. They provide a safe space for children to explore their emotions and learn about the world. My panda toy, for instance, helped me develop empathy and companionship, which are essential skills as we grow.

What other toys did you enjoy playing with as a child?

Aside from my panda, I loved building blocks and action figures. Building blocks allowed me to create and explore my creativity, while action figures sparked my imagination through storytelling. Each toy contributed to different aspects of my development and playtime adventures.

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Band 7

00:00

My most famous toy in my childhood, as I recollect, was an elephant. It was gifted to me by my father. I played with it daily and I did carry it around with me wherever I go and whatever I was doing. I remember vaguely that I used to eat my lunch with my elephant beside me. It was this huge toy and it was very fluffy and soft. Although over the years it had become very thin and its fabric started to rip apart. Besides that, it was my favourite companion to have around. I would actually rather not share it with anyone else because he was my best friend. I also did name this elephant toy. I named it Buddy. As the meaning, it was really my buddy. It made my day bright and it made my days very much memorable. I used to play with it. I used to watch TV with it. The first thing that I remember whenever I think of my childhood was definitely this elephant. Over the years, as I said, the fabric was ripping apart. I had to say goodbye to this toy and it was very much disheartening to lose it. Although it was replaced with another toy which was a giraffe which was gifted to me by my mother this time. What I understood was that the elephant was pretty much irreplaceable because I did not have the same joy as I did with the elephant.

Follow up questions

What other toys did you enjoy as a child?

Besides my elephant Buddy, I also had a few other toys like building blocks and a toy car. I enjoyed creating structures with the blocks and racing the car around the house. Each toy had its own special place in my childhood, but none compared to the bond I had with my elephant.

How did your parents influence your choice of toys?

My parents played a significant role in my toy choices. They always encouraged imaginative play and often gifted me toys that sparked creativity. For instance, my father chose the elephant because he knew I loved animals, while my mother picked the giraffe to keep the joy alive after I lost Buddy.

Do you think toys play an important role in childhood development?

Absolutely! Toys are crucial for childhood development as they foster creativity, social skills, and emotional bonding. Playing with toys like my elephant helped me learn about companionship and sharing, while also providing comfort during my formative years.

Practice other cue cards

Describe when someone gave you something you really wanted /a gift your received

View answers

Band 7

00:00

The toy that I most liked as a kid was my remote controlled car. This car was given to me by my uncle who is my mother's brother. The thing that I found most fascinating about this whole concept of remote controlled car is that I could use a tiny remote to control a car which is far away from me and this I found really interesting as a kid. I remember that I used to play with this toy almost everyday with a bunch of my friends. There were a bunch of interesting things I used to do with this car. I remember creating racetracks, tiny little racetracks and obstacles in the path and I would make, I would control this car to go around these obstacles. So this piece of toy motivated me to know more about electronics, about remote controlled cars which also fueled my interest in science and technology as an adult. So I feel this was a really important toy to me.

Follow up questions

What other toys did you enjoy playing with as a child?

In addition to my remote-controlled car, I also loved playing with building blocks and action figures. Building blocks allowed me to create different structures, while action figures sparked my imagination as I created stories and adventures for them.

How do you think toys influence children's development?

Toys play a significant role in children's development by enhancing their creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions. For instance, playing with my remote-controlled car helped me develop hand-eye coordination and an understanding of basic mechanics.

Do you think children today have different toys compared to your childhood?

Yes, I believe children today have access to more advanced technology, such as drones and interactive video games. While these toys can be educational, I think traditional toys like my remote-controlled car still hold value in fostering creativity and physical play.

Band 6-7

00:00

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Follow up questions

What types of toys do you think are important for children's development?

I believe toys that encourage creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction are crucial. For example, building blocks can enhance spatial awareness, while board games can teach teamwork and strategy.

How do you think toys have changed from your childhood to now?

Toys today are often more technologically advanced, with many incorporating digital elements. In my childhood, toys were more physical and imaginative, like dolls and action figures, whereas now we see a mix of both traditional and high-tech toys.

Do you think parents should limit the number of toys their children have?

Yes, I think limiting toys can help children focus on quality over quantity. It encourages them to engage more deeply with fewer toys, fostering creativity and imagination rather than overwhelming them with choices.

Show all 78 answers

Cue 1:What was the toy?

Start by describing the toy in detail, including its appearance and features.
Explain why this toy was special to you and how it made you feel.

Example

The toy I cherished the most during my childhood was a bright red remote-controlled car. It was small, sleek, and had shiny wheels that sparkled in the sunlight. I loved how I could control it with a simple remote, making it zoom around the garden and perform little stunts.

Cue 2:Who gave it to you?

Mention the person who gifted you the toy and your relationship with them.
Share any memorable moments associated with receiving the toy.

Example

My uncle gave me this toy on my seventh birthday. He always knew how to pick the perfect gifts for me, and I remember the excitement on my face when I unwrapped it. He smiled and said, 'This will take you on many adventures!'

Cue 3:How often did you play with it?

Discuss the frequency of play and any specific times or occasions you enjoyed playing with it.
Reflect on how playing with this toy impacted your childhood.

Example

I played with my remote-controlled car almost every day after school. It became a routine for me to race it around the garden with my friends. Those moments were filled with laughter and joy, and it truly made my childhood memorable.

Conclusion

Summarize your feelings about the toy and its significance in your childhood.
Mention how it has influenced your interests or hobbies as you grew up.

Example

In conclusion, my remote-controlled car was not just a toy; it was a source of happiness and creativity during my childhood. It sparked my interest in technology and engineering, which I still pursue today.

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: Being Vague About the Toy

Candidates often provide unclear descriptions of the toy, which can make their answer less engaging. Specific details help the examiner understand your experience better.

Tip

Describe the toy in detail, including its color, size, and what made it special to you.

2: Neglecting Personal Connection

Failing to explain who gave you the toy and why it was meaningful can lead to a lack of personal touch in your response. Personal stories resonate more.

Tip

Share a brief story about the person who gave you the toy and what it meant to your relationship.

Not Mentioning Frequency of Play

Overlooking how often you played with the toy can make your answer feel incomplete. This detail adds depth to your childhood experience.

Tip

Include specific times or occasions when you played with the toy to illustrate its importance in your daily life.

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

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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.