A cue card is regarded as one of the toughest parts of the IELTS exam. Why? Because they are required to speak continuously for one minute precisely on a random topic. This topic can be anything and candidates cannot pass it.
Therefore candidates are advised to practice different cue card topics to get familiar with them. This can help them to score better in it. As one says that action speaks louder than words therefore here is a solved example of the cue card topic. You can read them and analyze how we answer them. Then you will get a clear idea of how to answer it.
IELTS Speaking Module
IELTS Speaking Module consists of a face-to-face interview with the examiner.
# Part 1: Introduction and Interview
| This section lasts for 4-5 minutes.
Candidates will have to introduce themselves and answer questions related to their daily routine or lifestyle such as work, family, hobby, leisure time, pet, friends, hometown, country, etc. |
# Part 2: Long Turn or Cue Card
| This section lasts around 3-4 minutes. Candidates are given 1 minute to think, 2 minutes to speak and 1-2 minutes to answer follow-up questions.
In this section, candidates are given a random cue card topic. They will then have 1-2 minutes to carefully think about it, construct the sentence and then get ready to speak. They will also be provided with pen and paper to write down their throat or topics to be covered. Then they have to speak continuously for 2 minutes and then answer some follow-up questions related to what they have just spoken. |
# Part 3: Debates or Discussion
| This minute lasts for 4-5 minutes.
This last part involves a discussion between the examiner and candidate on a similar theme to what they have spoken about in the second part. The examiner generally asks around 4-5 questions in 2 sets. |
Also Read: General Questions for IELTS Speaking 2021: List of Must-come Questions in IELTS 2021
Describe a Skill that was Difficult for You to Learn: IELTS Cue Card Topic
Following are the points that you must cover while answering.
When did you Learn It?
Why did you Learn It?
How did you Learn It?
How did you Feel When you Learned It?
Sample Answer One: Describe a Skill that was Difficult for You to Learn
I love learning new skills and adding them to my to-do list. Now that I am given this opportunity to describe a skill that I have learned with difficulty, I can remember an incident when I started cooking.
When did You Learn It?
I am quite a big food lover and love to try different dishes. I remember this incident when I was 14 years old. One day my parents went out for some work and my sister went to school. My uncle was responsible for taking care of me.
Why did You Learn It?
I was playing with my toys when he exclaimed that I should make tea for him. I thought he was telling me to make it using my toys but then he laughed and said he wanted to teach me how to cook.
How did You Learn It?
He turned the burner on and instructed me to add 2 cups of water and a piece of crushed ginger then I had to wait for a minute for it to boil and then add sugar and tea leaves. Suddenly he got a call and went out to attend it. As the water boiled I added 1 teaspoon of tea leaves and 3 teaspoons of salt. I mistook it for powdered sugar. Then I added milk and waited for it to boil.
My uncle was delighted to see that I proceeded so far alone. Then we sat and as soon as he took a sip of it, he spurted it out. I was confused and shocked. Then he started laughing.
Then he narrated the incident to my parents and sister and they all shared laughter. I was shocked at my silly mistake but somewhere I had to make up my mind to master the skill.
Next Sunday I asked my mother to teach me how to cook and at first, she denied it but after seeing my determination she gave up and agreed.
First, she instructed me to learn the basic dish Pulav. This is a dish of spiced rice. It can be eaten with curry or alone. She gave me the boring work of picking out stones or any other unwanted object from the rice. It took 10 minutes to remove it.
Then she instructed me on the whole recipe. She asked me to learn to chop vegetables and peel pears. Then she instructed me to add oil. But then my mother stopped and said that I was adding extra. She said that each dish has its requirement of oil.
I was puzzled about how I could remember the exact amount of oil for every dish. Then I had to add one teaspoon of cumin and a pinch of asafoetida. They crackled as soon as I added them and it splashed on my face. Ouch! I screamed. Then my mother scolded me and said after adding them I should not take my face so close to it.
Then I added chilli, garlic, and ginger. Then I had to wait for 5 minutes then add other vegetables and then wait for 15 minutes. At one point I was really irritated as to why I had to wait so much and why I couldn’t add all the ingredients at once. My mother explained that food cooked in low heat turns out to be delicious. So I had to wait patiently. After that, I added spices, sauteed it for 5 minutes, and then added rice finally.
How did You Feel when You Learned It?
It was a long and tiring process. I never knew that our mother had to go through such stress and overcome hurdles to cook a meal. She has to stand in the kitchen for hours to make a complete meal.
I was tired but satisfied after all this mess as everyone liked my dish.
Also Read: Describe an Old Friend You Got in Contact with Again: Sample IELTS Cue Card for 2021-22
Sample Answer Two: Describe a Skill That was Difficult for You to Learn
Today I would like to share my experience of learning to ride.
When did You Learn It?
Last year as I turned 18 my father decided to teach me how to ride a Scooty. Usually my sister and father had to drop me wherever I needed to go but this was not convenient every time.
Why did You Learn It?
I also have to use public transportation. But now that I was eligible for a license my father didn’t want to take any reason to start my driving lessons.
How did You Learn It?
First I was taught to handle scooty on my own. I had to pull it 10 minutes to and from. According to my dad, this will help me if in any case, the scooty runs out of fuel or stops for some reason.
Then after one day, my actual lesson started. My father took me to a free road in the early morning. Then I had to ride it while he was sitting behind for better instruction. This session again took 3 days.
After that, I was instructed to ride by myself. Everything was fine until a white car appeared suddenly and I got disbalanced. I fell from the Scooty and my father helped me. Luckily I wasn’t injured badly but I had to take a one day rest.
How did You Feel When You Learned It?
After that, I was again on the road with the scooty. This time on a busy road and yes it was challenging yet I somehow tried not to lose faith and luckily got successful.
Also Read: Describe a Family which You Like and are Happy to Know: IELTS Cue Card Sample Answers 2021-2022
Sample Answer Three: Describe a Skill That was Difficult for You to Learn
Today I would like to share my experience of learning badminton.I am good with other sports but badminton has always been my weakness. On the other hand, my sister was a great badminton player.
When did You Learn It?
Last year I asked her to teach me. My sister agreed to this and hence my training began.
Why did You Learn It?
I wanted to be able to play with her one day. I was really fascinated by how she plays so fast and long without dropping it.
How did You Learn It?
I had to learn how to balance the shuttle on the racket. I had to bounce the shuttle on the racket without dropping it. I somehow managed it but my hands were in pain. But still, I was determined to stop. After one day of balancing the shuttle, the next lesson started. My sister then instructed me to learn to serve.
How did You Feel when You Learned It?
Then the toughest part came, hitting the shuttle with badminton. After 10 cumulative drops, I was disappointed. But my sister came forward and explained that I should focus on the shuttle rather than on the racket. After two more drops, I was able to hit the shuttle for the first time. I was delighted and from then on I practiced this every day. And the day came when I was able to play with my sister.
Also Read: Describe an Interesting Animal: IELTS Speaking Cue Card Topic 2021-22
Sample Answer Four: Describe a Skill That was Difficult for You to Learn
Today I would like to speak about my experience of learning how to code.
When did You Learn It?
Last year when everyone was forced to lock themselves in their home, I started learning it. I had enough time and hence decided to use it for some productive purpose
Why did You Learn It?
From childhood, I wanted to learn to code. I was fascinated by how hackers can break the defense system of any company and download the information.
How did You Learn It?
First I started reading a basic book on coding. Also, I worked on my programming language skill. Then I enrolled myself in an online class. At first, everything was really interesting and easy but as the day passed the difficulty increased.
There were times when I had to spend hours coding a program and then another hour to find fault in it. Also at one moment, I decided to quit it but still, I continued.
How did You Feel When You Learned It?
At last, after 2 months I could finally understand the basics of coding. I know I have to learn more but I think I am ready for this challenge.
Sample Answer Five: Describe a Skill That was Difficult for You to Learn
Today I would like to speak about my experience of learning a new language.
When did You Learn It?
I always wanted to be multilingual and in 2019 I got the chance to learn it.
Why did You Learn It?
My university was offering a diploma in German and I grabbed the opportunity. At first, I was excited to start learning a new language. In my first class, my teacher explained different things about Germans and their lifestyle.
How did You Learn It?
Then the next class was about accents. According to him, before learning a language one should understand the accent. Afterward, we were given a book from which we had to start learning.
First I learned about the basic alphabet and numbers. It was similar to English alphabets but the pronunciation was similar to Hindi. Similar to Hindi we had to stress each alphabet. Moreover, there were no silent ones like that in English.
How did You Feel when You Learned It?
It was a really exciting experience. For learning a new language we all had to become kids again. Repeating words after teacher, murmuring the same words again and again. Ask the teacher what was written and how to pronounce it. I also took help from Duolingo.
Vocabulary to Use to Ace IELTS Cue Card Answers
| Craft
Unskilled Skilled Cunning Hand Mastery Dexterity Artless Artful Art Expertise Prowess Handicraft Awkward Expert Finesse Feat Diplomacy Ability Masterly Artistry Proficiency Artistic Inept Sleight Teach Able Generalship Chops Technique Nice Address Masterful Ship Seamanship Marksmanship Practice Workmanship Salesmanship Facility Trick Stunt Tricky horsemanship Skillful Learning Talent Fancy Learn Knowledge Clumsy Quack Master Craftsmanship Amateurish Sleight of hand Dexterous Study Masterpiece Knack Repartee Fine art Clever Watercraft Skillful Adept Stagecraft Aptitude Artist Skill-less Weak Accomplishment Manoeuvre Competent Penmanship Navarchy Experience Talented Incapable Skilfully Trade Maneuver Techno- Tactical Acquirement Workmanlike Experienced Amateur Swordplay Woodcraft Footwork Inapt Haunt Stuff Crafty Can Artifice Deft Virtuosity Nose Wizardry Virtuoso Difficult Examination Science Subtilty Know-how Inexpert Crude Pencraft Artly Bookcraft Capable Subskill Oratory Ringcraft Brilliance Specialty Literate Bailiwick Bravura Musicianship Mastership Legerdemain Delicate Subtle |
Cue Card to Practice
# Describe a vacation where you learned a lesson.
# Describe a restaurant you like to visit in your locality.
# Describe a skill that you learned recently.
# Describe a dream destination where you would like to visit.
# Describe the tallest building in your locality.
Also Read: Describe a Good Service You Received: Check this to Ace Your IELTS Cue Card 2021-2022
Conclusion
I hope this gave you a clear idea of how to solve cue card topics. For more such solved topics and tips you can visit the IELTS Ninja website.
This website is devoted to IELTS preparation. Here you will find customized courses, interactive videos, one on one interaction with the mentors and also IELTS and other tests related materials.
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