The IELTS exam is one of the most crucial tests when planning to study abroad. The cue card task is the second part of the IELTS speaking section after the introduction round. This task assesses your spoken language skills, thus, it is essential to prepare well for this part. Read the blog, which contains IELTS cue card “Describe a Movie You Watched Recently” samples, along with the follow-up question. In addition to that, the write-up also mentioned how to answer the cue card and some helpful tips to excel in this task. So let us first begin by understanding all about cue cards.
Table of Contents
The cue card section is the IELTS speaking part 2 and goes on for about 2-3 minutes. A prompt on a specific topic will be provided along with a few pointers around which the candidate must frame their response. The answer may consist of your experience with a person, a place, an object, or anything that is meaningful to you. Besides, the cue card task remains the same for the IELTS Academic and IELTS General exams. Further, let us see how to answer cue cards in the IELTS speaking section and what they look like.
Answering the cue cards requires a proper structure and strategy. Moreover, the ideal way to answer is by dividing the topic into a few parts. Besides, it is vital to draft a well-organized answer that includes an introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The introduction of the IELTS speaking part 2 must be short and crisp suggesting what you will be talking about, basically setting out the base and outline. Further, the body discusses the main points, providing details, examples, and explanations. And finally, the conclusion summarizes the topic and the key highlights.
The IELTS speaking section response is evaluated on the basis of the flow of the content, grammatical range, punctuation, fluency, and coherence. Thus, it is essential to use appropriate phrases and grammar in your response. Moreover, your answer to “Describe a Movie You Watched Recently” must include the following pointers:
You will get a minute to prepare your thoughts and then speak for two minutes on the topic. Now, let us see what the cue card looks like.
Here is the first sample response for achieving 8+ band scores in your IELTS cue card round.
A movie that I watched recently was Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh. An Indian historical courtroom drama film which was directed by Karan Singh Tyagi and produced by Dharma Productions.
A few days ago, I watched the movie Kesari Chapter 2 at the PVR cinema in Jaipur.
I went to see it on a Sunday evening with my friends. We all enjoy heartwarming historical films. We were excited to experience a film that explores the dynamics of Indian history and untold stories.
Kesari Chapter 2 is a movie set against the backdrop of the pre-independence era. It explores the repercussions of the tragic 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The story plot revolves around the struggles for independence. An Indian advocate and his co-counsel fight in the courtroom against the crown and the British governor who did injustice to thousands of people.
I chose to watch Kesari chapter 2 because I had heard wonderful things about its cast, especially the performances of Ananya Pandey, who played the role of a co-counsel, and Akshay Kumar, playing C. Sankaran Nair, the lawyer who fought. Besides, my friends were also intrigued by its engaging storyline and characters. Another reason why I chose this film was because I belong to a law background. Hence, I was interested and eager to watch it.
I felt truly satisfied after watching Kesari chapter 2 because it made me believe in the justice system, and brought a few tears to my eyes. The film left me with a sense of patriotism.
Overall, the film was a must-watch, and I would definitely recommend it to others. I hope to watch more such historical movies in the future.
Read the second sample below that will help you in achieving a great band score in the IELTS speaking section - cue card.
A movie that I watched recently was Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara which typically translates Life Will Never Come Again. An Indian road comedy-drama film that was directed by Zoya Akhtar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Excel Entertainment.
Although it is an old film, I watched it last weekend on the OTT platform in my home theater. It was a Friday afternoon, my friends came over to my house and we enjoyed watching the movie together. Besides, we wanted to relive our old days and enjoy a light-hearted film that explores the dynamics of friendship, which we could relate to.
The movie tells the story of three childhood friends who reunite after many years for a three-week road trip to experience each other's favorite things. Moreover, the trip turns into an opportunity to mend friendships, heal wounds, fall in love with life, and face their worst fears. It beautifully highlights themes of friendship, the importance of enjoying life, and the present day.
I chose to watch Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara after hearing positive reviews from a lot of people around me. Apart from that, I watched the trailer and loved the storyline. Also, the presence of actors like Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif, and Kalki Koechlin also drew my interest.
Indeed, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is an engaging, interesting, and entertaining film. I felt free-spirited and gained a new perspective about living life. Moreover, the movie teaches us to forgive each other and accept the flaws that we have. This will help you strengthen your friendship and bonds.
Overall, I would highly recommend it to others and would love to watch it again to enjoy it even more.
Here is another sample response for your reference. This will help you to ace the speaking section of the exam.
I recently watched Dil Dhadakne Do. An Indian family comedy-drama film that is directed by Zoya Akhtar and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under Excel Entertainment.
A few days ago, I watched the film in a cinema in Delhi when it was re-released. It was a Sunday afternoon, my family and I went for an outing and ended up watching Dil Dhadakne Do in Inox in a local mall. Besides, we wanted to enjoy our time together, watching a family movie.
The film tells the story of the Mehra’s, a dysfunctional family who invite their family and friends on a long cruise trip to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Dil Dhadakne Do is a comedy family drama portraying the relationship of husband-wife and their children. The story revolves around their everyday life and the challenges they face, particularly their marital lives.
I decided to watch the movie since I had heard great things regarding the plot. I particularly enjoy the cast of the film, which features Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, and Farhan Akhtar. Moreover, I was intrigued by the fact that the story is narrated by a dog (Pluto) in the film. The voice-over narration for the dog in the movie was done by Aamir Khan.
I felt thoroughly entertained and impressed by Dil Dhadakne Do as it exceeded my expectations with its simple yet exceptional acting. Besides, the film left me with valuable lessons about the importance of family and following your heart. Additionally, the characters in the movie also teach us the freedom to choose our path.
To sum up, I really enjoyed the movie and hope that the makers of the film introduce a sequel in the future.
Here are some of the words from the sample above that will help you enhance your vocabulary for IELTS exam. This list of lexical resources along with the meanings.
| Lexical Resources | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Historical | That really lived or happened; connected with real people or events in the past. |
| Heartwarming | Causing feelings of pleasure and happiness. |
| Backdrop | A painted piece of material that is hung behind the stage in a theatre as part of the scenery. |
| Repercussions | An unpleasant effect or result of something you do. |
| Massacre | The killing of a large number of people or animals. |
| Co-Counsel | One or more lawyers working together on a legal case. |
| Intrigued | To make somebody very interested and wanting to know more. |
| Patriotism | The feeling of love, devotion, and a sense of attachment to a country or state. |
| OTT Platform | A digital distribution service that delivers video and audio content directly to viewers via the internet, bypassing traditional cable or satellite providers. |
| Reunite | To come together again; to join two or more people, groups, etc. together again. |
| Free-Spirited | Independent and not constrained by convention. |
| Dysfunctional | Not following the usual patterns or norms of social behaviour. |
| Portraying | To show somebody/something in a picture; to describe somebody/something in a piece of writing. |
| Voice-Over Narration | A technique in media where a voice, typically not part of the visual narrative, narrates or provides commentary over a scene or presentation. |
| Sequel | A book, film, etc. that continues the story of the one before. |
Now that the words and the meanings are clear. Let us look at some follow-up questions that may appear in the IELTS cue cards task.
Post the cue card round is the next part of the IELTS speaking section, which is a follow-up questions with answers. This consists of a few questions related to the cue card provided. Besides, the difficulty of questions may range from easy and medium to hard. Generally, there are about 5-7 follow-up questions.
This round evaluates your speaking skills and impacts your score. Thus, you must give a detailed answer with examples and your own experiences. Now let’s discuss some possible follow-up questions that you can encounter for this topic.
1. What Kinds of Films Do Young People Particularly Like in Your Country?
Young people are generally interested in watching films that relate to their own lives. These could be several genres like horror, comedy, romance, and drama. Besides, movies are a mix of entertainment, a sense of escape, and relaxation. I personally appreciate films that explore themes of real-life challenges.
2. Do You Think That Certain Movies Are Not Meant for Each And Every Age Group?
Yes, I believe many movies are not suitable for every age group due to their content. For example, films that have violence, mature themes, or horror content might not be suitable for young people. In fact, children may be sensitive to these types of movies, which may also result in causing fear and confusion in their minds.
3. How Would You Define a Good Movie?
Cinema is all about storytelling. According to me, good films are those that deliver a significant message to the audience. Besides, stories must have a point, and mindless entertainment is neither great nor art. Thus, for a film to be good, there are factors to be considered, such as the plot, script, cast, and lesson.
4. Is It Important to Have Famous Actors in the Movie If the Movie Wants to Be Successful?
Yes, choosing a well-known actor can be an effective and significant strategy to boost the chances of success of a film. This is because famous actors tend to attract more audience. However, it's not certain that the film will be a hit. There are, of course, other factors like the script, marketing, and overall quality of the film that play a role in the success of the movie.
In this section, we have mentioned some of the tips and tricks that will help you excel in the cue card with an 8+ band score. Let us have a glance at the following pointer.
1. Practice with the IELTS speaking mock test before appearing for the actual test.
2. Utilize the preparation time well to jot down key points and organize your thoughts before speaking on the topic.
3. While preparing, record and analyze yourself to understand areas of improvement.
4. Use the bullet points provided in the cue card to frame and structure your response.
5. Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or IELTS experts to refine your cue card answers.
6. Be descriptive by adding personal stories or examples to make your answer authentic.
7. Don't rush your speech; try to be calm and confident with your response.
8. Do not take long pauses or stop in the middle of your IELTS speaking section
Overall, the IELTS speaking section is considered one of the toughest parts of the IELTS exam. Thus, aspirants must practice well for this particular part, We have covered the cue card topic “Describe a Movie You Watched Recently” for reference, along with its three samples. Further, the blog also contains lexical resources along with useful tips for you to excel in the IELTS speaking cue card round. If you are facing issues or want to explore more about the speaking section, then join our online IELTS classes or attend our offline course.
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