Ace IELTS: 30 IELTS Cue Card Topics With Their Answers

The IELTS speaking section holds significant value as it evaluates a candidate’s speech, vocabulary, fluency, and grammar. Divided into three parts, this test requires you to respond using IELTS cue cards. It focuses on assessing your speaking abilities rather than testing your memory on specific topics. While some topics in the IELTS speaking cue cards may repeat, it’s crucial to note that they do change periodically after a few months. Stay prepared and adaptable to tackle the evolving topics in this section.

 

What is an IELTS cue card?

An IELTS cue card is a small card given to candidates in the speaking part of the IELTS exam. It contains a topic or question that the candidate must speak about for two minutes. The purpose of the cue card is to assess the candidate’s ability to speak English fluently and coherently on a range of topics.

The speaking part of the IELTS test is worth 25% of the overall score, so it is important to do well in this section. If you are planning to take the IELTS test, there are many resources available to help you prepare for the speaking part, including sample cue cards and practice tests.

 

What is the IELTS speaking section syllabus?

The IELTS speaking section syllabus covers the format of the test, the types of questions you can expect, and the criteria you will be assessed on. Here’s a breakdown:

 

Format:

• • The speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner and lasts for 11-14 minutes.

• It is divided into three parts:

• • Part 1: Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes) – You’ll answer general questions about yourself, such as your family, home, studies, hobbies, and interests.
  • Part 2: Long turn (2-3 minutes) – You’ll be given a cue card with a topic and have one minute to prepare before speaking for 1-2 minutes.
  • Part 3: Discussion (5-6 minutes) – The examiner will ask you follow-up questions on the topic from Part 2, leading to a more in-depth discussion.

 

Types of questions:

• Part 1: The questions in Part 1 are general and personal. They are designed to get you talking and help the examiner assess your fluency and pronunciation.
• Part 2: The cue card topic can be on a wide range of everyday or general interest subjects. For example, you might be asked to describe a place you like to visit, a person you admire, or a challenge you have overcome.
• Part 3: The follow-up questions in Part 3 are more abstract and challenging. They are designed to assess your ability to express yourself in a more complex and sophisticated way.

 

Assessment criteria:

You will be assessed on the following four criteria:

• Fluency and coherence: How smoothly and naturally you speak
• Lexical resource: The range of vocabulary you use
• Grammar range and accuracy: How well you use grammar structures
• Pronunciation: How clearly and understandably you speak

 

What are the common IELTS cue card topics?

Skim through the following table to learn about the common IELTS cue card topics.

Category	Sample topics
People	Describe someone you admire Describe a person who has had a significant impact on your life Describe someone you find interesting Describe a time you met someone famous Describe a friend you would recommend to others
Places	Describe a place you would like to visit Describe a place you consider special Describe a place that is important to your community Describe a place you went to that surprised you Describe a place you often go to relax
Experiences	Describe a memorable experience from your childhood Describe a challenging situation you faced and how you dealt with it Describe a time you helped someone Describe a time you achieved something you were proud of Describe a time you made a mistake and learned from it
Things	Describe a technological device you find useful Describe a possession that is important to you Describe a gift you gave or received that was meaningful Describe a problem you solved with creativity Describe something you wish you had invented
Events	Describe a cultural event or festival you have attended Describe a sporting event you enjoyed watching or participating in Describe a current event that interests you Describe a historical event that has had a lasting impact Describe a fictional event that has stayed with you
Hobbies and Interests	Describe a hobby or activity you enjoy Describe a skill you are learning Describe a sport you like to play or watch Describe a type of music you enjoy Describe a type of movie you enjoy
Opinions and Values	Discuss a social issue that is important to you Discuss a current event that has sparked debate Discuss a quality you admire in others Discuss a challenge facing the world today Discuss a piece of advice you would give to someone younger than you
Future	Describe your plans for the future Describe your dream job Describe a place you would like to live in the future Describe a change you would like to see in the world Describe a goal you are working towards

 

List of 30 IELTS cue card topics with answer samples

 

1.  Describe a person you know who likes to talk a lot.

You should say:

• Who is this person?
• How do you know him/her?
• What did he or she like to talk about?
• And explain how you feel about this person.

 

2. Describe a place where you would like to go to relax (future tenses).

You should say:

• Where is it?
• When would you like to go there?
• What would you like to do there?
• And explain why you would like to go to this place.

 

3. Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve.

You should say:

• What is the goal?
• How long have you had this goal?
• How would you achieve it?
• And explain why you set this goal.

 

4. Describe a uniform you wear (at your school or company) or that you wore at school.

You should say:

• When do you wear it?
• Who bought it for you?
• What does it look like?
• How do you feel about it?

 

5. Describe a sportsperson or athlete that you admire.

You should say:

• Who is the person?
• What is his or her achievement?
• Why do you admire him?

 

6. Describe a job you would not like to do in the future.

You should say:

• What is the job?
• How did you hear about it?
• Why don’t you want to do it?
• How do you feel about the job?

 

7. Describe an interesting conversation you had with a very old person.

You should say:

• Who is this person?
• Where did you have the conversation?
• What do you talk about?
• Explain how you felt about the experience.

 

8. Describe a period when you were busy.

You should say:

• When was it?
• What did you do during the period?
• What made you busy?
• Explain how you felt about the experience.

 

9. Describe a time when you used a map.

You should say:

• When was it?
• Where were you?
• What did you do?
• And explain how you felt about it.

 

10. Describe a time you successfully did something difficult.

You should say:

• When was it?
• What did you do?
• Where did it happen?
• And explain how you felt about it.

 

11. Describe a situation when you helped someone.

You should say:

• What was the situation?
• Who was the person?
• How do you help them?
• And explain how you felt after helping him or her.

 

12. Describe an occasion when someone or something made noise.

You should say:

• Who or what made the noise?
• What was the noise like?
• What did you do?
• And explain how you felt about it.

 

13. Describe something in your country that you are interested in.

You should say:

• What is it?
• How do you know about it?
• Why you are interested in it?
• And explain whether you would like to know more about it.

 

14. Describe something you do regularly that helps you work and study better.

You should say:

• What is it?
• When do you do it?
• How does it help you?
• And explain how you feel when you do it.

 

15. Describe a photo that you took and are proud of, or explain a photo that makes you smile.

You should say:

• I am not very interested in photography.
• The photos I take normally don’t come out that well.
• However, recently, I visited Sikkim with my family, and there I took a photograph of my mother and father sitting on a bench with the beautiful, picturesque mountains in the background.

 

16. Describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without.

You should say:

• What is it?
• How often do you use it?
• How do you use it?
• And explain why you can’t live without it.

 

17. Describe a film you watched or a film that impressed you a lot.

You should say:

• I’ve seen many movies in my life.
• Here, I would like to talk about a movie that I watched recently and that left a lasting impression on me.
• The movie is ‘Pihu’
• It is based on a true story.
• I watched this movie on Netflix.

 

18. Describe an unusual holiday you had.

You should say:

Usually, I spend my vacations at my grandparents’ place in Mohali.

• Two years ago, my cousin Rajat from Canada also came during the summers.
• He is very adventurous and wanted to have some fun during his visit to India.
• My uncle suggested a trekking holiday
•  Kasauli is a hill station very near Chandigarh
• We had never before experienced such a holiday, so it was very unusual for us.
• We packed our things and drove to Kasauli

 

19. Describe something that you picked up that was thrown by someone else.

You should say:

• I play with my friends in a park near my house every Saturday and Sunday.
• Last Sunday, it was a sunny day, and the park was full of people.
• We played on the swings and had a lot of fun.
• Suddenly, I noticed a boy throw a plastic bottle near the bench.
• I felt sad seeing the litter in such a nice place.
• I decided to do something about it
• I walked over and picked up the bottle

 

20. Describe a person who is good at making people feel welcome in his or her home.

You should say:

• She has a way of making everyone feel special and valued.
• She ensures that guests feel comfortable and at ease

 

21. Describe a skill that you learned in your childhood.

You should say:

• What was the skill?
• Who taught you this skill?
• How do they teach you?
• And explain why you think it is important.

 

22. Describe an exciting activity that you experienced with someone else.

You should say:

• What was the activity?
• Who were you with?
• When and where it happened?
• Why you went for it?
• And explain how you felt about it. 

 

23. Describe a successful person who you once studied or worked with.

You should say:

• Who is this person?
• When did you study or work with this person?
• What did you do together?
• What does this person do to become successful?
• Explain how you felt about studying or working with this person.

 

24. Describe a park or a garden in your city.

You should say:

• When do you often go there?
• Where is it?
• Who do you often go there with?
• What is it like?
• And explain why you like to visit it.

 

25. Describe a beautiful city.

You should say:

• Where is the city?
• How do you know the city?
• What buildings does the city have?
• What is it famous for?
• And explain why you think this city is beautiful.

 

26. Describe a difficult task that you completed at work or school that you felt proud of.

You should say:

• What was the task?
• How do you complete it?
• Why the task was difficult?
• Why were you proud of the completion of the task?

 

27. Describe a time when something changed your life in good ways.

You should say:

• When and where it happened?
• What happened?
• How do you feel about it?
• and explain how it changed your life in good ways.

 

28. Describe an interesting person that you have not met in person and would like to know more about.

You should say:

• Who is this person?
• How do you know him/her?
• What interesting things he/she has done?
• And explain what you would like to know more about.

 

29. Describe a foreigner who speaks your native language (Hindi) very well.

You should say:

• Who is this person?
• Where he/she is from?
• How did he or she learn Hindi?
• And explain why he can speak Hindi well.

 

30. Describe a person who always has interesting ideas or opinions.

You should say:

• Who is this person?
• What did this person do?
• How do you know him/her?
• And explain why you think his or her ideas or opinions are interesting.

 

What are the tips for acing IELTS cue card rounds?

Here are some key tips to help you conquer the IELTS cue card section and boost your speaking score:

• Practice each day: Don’t underestimate the power of practice! Aim for at least 2-3 sessions per week, speaking for 2 minutes on diverse topics similar to the IELTS cue cards.
• Learn time management: Utilize the 1-minute preparation time effectively. Jot down key points and structure your answer before speaking. Use a practice timer to ensure you stay within the 2-minute speaking limit.
• Master in vocabulary and grammar: Expand your vocabulary and practice using a variety of sentence structures. This adds depth and fluency to your speech.

• Be confident and fluent: Speak confidently and clearly, avoiding long pauses or fillers. Vary your intonation and pace for engaging speech.

• Always think beyond: Don’t just describe; analyze, express opinions, and connect your response to broader themes.
• Try using examples and anecdotes: Share personal experiences or relevant examples to illustrate your points and make your response engaging.

Should you require additional guidance or have any inquiries? Please contact our MSM Unify counselors who are available to assist you at any time.

 

FAQs

What is Qcard in IELTS?

A Cue Card contains a topic or task you must talk about for 2 minutes, followed by a discussion with the examiner for another minute.

Is 7.5 a good score for IELTS?

Yes, 7.5 is a good IELTS score. Scoring 7.5 means you are a good user of the language and can handle complex usage of the language.

Is the cue card repeated?

IELTS cue cards might be repeated. Cue cards usually get replaced every 4 months.

How can I improve my cue card?

Practice English speaking with a partner or a teacher.

Why is it called a cue card?

They are called cue cards because they help you to remember what to say by giving you a ‘cue’ or prompt.