In the IELTS speaking test, the cue card is also known as the long turn, which is part 2 and comes after the introduction. After reading this blog, you will have complete knowledge of this part because we will provide you with a sample “Describe an Activity That You Find Particularly Relaxing” cue card. You can read a total of three samples of the topic, along with follow-up questions and tips. So, let’s start discussing the IELTS cue card and prepare for the speaking section.
Table of Contents
As mentioned before, the cue card is the IELTS speaking part 2. In this, the examiner gives you a cue card that has a specific topic and related prompts. The test taker has to first understand the title and will have 1 minute for preparation. After this, they will have to speak about the topic for one to two minutes. In the IELTS speaking section, this part is very important because the examiner assesses students’ ability to speak fluently and coherently, and use appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
Hopefully, now you are clear with what is ielts cue card is in the speaking section. Now, it is time to step ahead and learn how to answer it.
Many students find difficulty in mastering the IELTS speaking section. But if you follow a proper strategy and implement that during your exam, you can get a good band score in the speaking section. You will have one minute to prepare for the topic, so make sure to utilize it effectively. Here are some ways to answer the cue card, which you can use in your exam.
The IELTS speaking section covers different types of familiar and unfamiliar topics. Therefore, your practice must be good enough to make a good impression in front of the examiner. You must know the right sentences and phrases to use during the test. Moreover, by discussing the topic, “Describe an Activity That You Find Particularly Relaxing” you can have more clarity in this section.
You can use the following pointers in your response to the above topic:
And explain Why You Find It Relaxing.
Your cue card of the speaking section will look like an image below, you can visualize how it will look in the real exam.
Here is the first sample answer of the cue card with appropriate structure. You can follow the same pattern during the real test.
There are different types of activities people do for relaxation. In today’s world, there are many attributes that can be used for relaxation because of the fastest technology. But I do not actually rely of wasting money for some features and finding a way to calm my mind.
An activity that I found relaxing is listening music because it is advantageous and pleasurable. I like to listen different type of music ranging from hip hop, indie, classical, and Bollywood in mix. This makes me really calm and I believe that music is the influential tool for relaxation for that I do not have to waste money as its completely free.
Mostly when I cook, I like to listen music. Apart from this, when I do exercise, work at home, help my mother, driving car, write my diary, I listen music. Basically, for me, listening music is habitual. It also help me reduce stress hormones like cortisol. It uplift my mood which makes me productive all the day.
There is a different pattern that I use to make myself feel positive and that is music. When I have stress or any personal issue I do not listen to sad and calm music. At that moment, sad music makes us more sad, so I play some cheerful songs. I have made some mix and separate playlists of different singers which also saves me time to find music according to my situation. Apart from this, when I do exercise, I play workout music, which automatically gives me strength.
When I was young, my father used to play 90s songs on television. We both used to sing together and enjoyed that moment. By the time I realized that it can turn my bad mood into good and be helpful for relaxing my mind.
Overall, music helps me find new ideas to do things in my life, contributes to personal growth, and improves focus and concentration.
Take a look to the second sample answer of the IELTS speaking part 2 which can help you find another activity helpful particularly for relaxing.
In the world of stress, finding an activity for particularly relaxing can be strenuous. The reason is there are a lot of things to do, and people use everything for different purposes.
An activity which I believe is useful for particularly relaxing is cooking. It is filled up with full of creativity, unique ideas, and satisfying experience. Basically, cooking requires a complete concentration which helps me divert my mind from things, which are actually not useful in my life.
Usually, when I go home and my mother is not there, I get the best chance to cook. I like the tranquil environment, and when there is nobody at home, I go into the kitchen, open my recipe book, and look for different dishes.
I have made a proper pattern for my cooking. When I am alone at home, I turn my phone on airplane mode and keep it aside. Then, I open my recipe book and search for two different dishes. The first one is for eating and the second for drinking. Most of the time, I experiment on drinks while cooking.
When I was 9 years old, my mother and father used to cook food together and I liked to see them. They was very happy and used to make good food and we three enjoyed to ingest together on a dining table. This thing persuaded me and when I first tried cooking, it was the best moment.
Overall, cooking help me particularly for relaxing and the process of making food help me to stay focused towards positive things.
Here is the last sample answer for the IELTS cue cards. The following sample will help to find more ideas to express your thoughts in front of the examiner.
We are living in a world of technology, AI, and social media which sometimes makes us exasperate. I truly believe that for especially relaxing, we must know the way to divert our stress.
One of the best activity which I found for relaxing is planting. This is beneficial for our nature and also valuable for mental well-being. I think this is the best thing for reducing stress and increases attention span. This single activity can help me learn concentration and while doing it, I feel a small contribution in nature.
Usually, on weekends I am free to do things I really like. Every Sunday, early morning is the best time for planting and most Saturday evenings, I buy plants and different seeds. At least thrice in a month, I spend my most of time with plants which also help me keeping the environment safe.
Every Sunday morning, watering plants, digging soil, fertilizing, checking for pests, and pruning to remove dead and damaged branches, etc is my routine which is really peaceful. My brother also help me with planting and caring. I believe that engaging with nature and seeing plants grow can have a positive impact on my mood.
In my school, we had a special session for planting when I was 10 years old. During this period, every student was taught how to grow plants, take care of them, and what are the benefits. That all was really practical, I still remember when it was my turn to grow plant, I used to be a happiest person.
Overall, growing plants is not peaceful, but it also encourages me to reduce my anxiety and depression.
In the following table, you can find some of the lexical resources or vocabulary for IELTS along with their meanings that we have used in the above sample answer. You can read all of these to enhance your vocabulary skills.
| Lexical Resources | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Attributes | to believe that something was caused or done by somebody/something |
| Advantageous | that will help you or bring you a good result |
| Pleasurable | a feeling of pleasure or enjoyment |
| Influential | having power or influence |
| Productive | that makes or grows something, especially in large quantities |
| Contributes | to give a part of the total, together with others |
| Strenuous | needing or using a lot of effort or energy |
| Unnecessary | more than is needed or acceptable |
| Tranquil | quiet and peaceful |
| Ingest | to take food, drugs, etc. into your body, usually by swallowing |
| Persuaded | to make somebody do something by giving him / her good reasons |
| Exasperate | to make somebody angry; to annoy somebody very much |
| Span | The length of something from one end to the other |
| Fertilizing | to put natural or artificial substances on the soil in order to make plants grow better |
| Pruning | to cut branches or parts of branches off a tree or bush in order to make it a better shape |
| Encourage | to give hope, support, or confidence to somebody |
The above lexical resources are taken from the three sample answers. Hopefully, you noticed all while reading the solutions. Now, it is time to move on and read some follow-up questions regarding the cue card.
When the test taker completes the IELTS cue card part, they will be assigned the third and last part, which is the discussion. In this, the examiner will ask some follow-up questions related to the cue card task. In the following details, you can find some questions that you must read and find ways to answer.
1. When exactly did you get the idea that this activity can help you relax your mind?
When I was so stressed and looking for a solution, I went to meet a psychologist but it did not work for me. My psychologist suggested finding a way which I like to do. After this, I tried and it worked really well.
2. Do you think parents should plan some activities for their children? What are the benefits?
Yes, I believe parents should plan some activities for their children so they can find different ways, particularly to relax during their childhood. This will also help them in the future, whenever they face mental stress, they could survive.
3. How did you find that cooking is one of the best activities for relaxation?
Cooking is one of the beneficial activity which is a tremendous tool for relaxation and its multiple senses like smell, taste, and looks provides a sense of mindfulness and motivates me.
4. Do you think that technology can help or obstruct relaxation? If yes, why?
Yes, technology can help with relaxation if it is used systematically. There are different applications that we can use, especially for relaxing our minds. Moreover, various types of instrumental tones can help to relax ourselves. There are different trainers who help us free with their positive thoughts.
5. Is this the only activity you found best for relaxing, or there are more?
No, this is not a single activity for relaxing. For me it is one of the best but apart from this yoga, meditation, reading, writing, drawing, walking, visualizing, and spending quality time with pets can different activities for relaxation.
Many of you may find challenges to understand the IELTS speaking part 2. However, if you know the right strategy and the way to implement it, you can improve your speaking skills more effectively. Therefore, below are a few tips and tricks that can help answering the questions, so keep reading.
To conclude, we have discussed a sample cue card describe an activity that you find particularly relaxing in this blog. During the exam, you have to give a single answer, but there are three responses given above. After reading this, you might have an idea for answering in different ways. There is another section for lexical resources to enhance your vocabulary skills, along with speaking. Hopefully, the above information was helpful for you. Now it is time to practice and make a strong command of English to get the desired band score.
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