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 Something You Did That Made You Feel Proud” 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 section 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.
Moreover, your answer to “Describe Something You Did That Made You Feel Proud” must include the following pointers:
and explain why you felt proud of it
The IELTS speaking part 2 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 grammar, such as idioms, phrases, and more, in your response. 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.
Organizing a charity fundraiser event is the one thing that has made me feel very proud of myself. My objective behind the event was to help the poor and underprivileged children.
It was a fundraiser and my objective was to give to supply important items for kids of low-income families. My friends and I organized a number of activities for children and the attending audience. These included food stalls, games, and an auction for donated items.
To start with, my friends and I established individual groups of volunteers and allocated duties to each of them. We arranged sponsorship and donations from local businesses. We created posters and advertised them using social media. On the actual day, we established stalls early in the morning and made sure everything is ready to host the event successfully.
Though this was a real challenge. It required a lot of persuading to get the local businesses to sponsor and donate to our cause. They were all reluctant to give, and it was difficult for us to meet our fundraising goals. Other than that, dealing with volunteers was also a challenge, as some dropped out at the last minute.
In order to overcome these problems, personally I went to many businesses and spoke about our cause in depth, and we received support. I also designed a flexible volunteer schedule so the volunteers are not obligated.
I felt proud because our initiative served to needy children directly. The event helped us provide kids with the necessary school supplies.
Overall, this charity event was a very distinct experience for me as it assisted me in making a big and positive impact on several lives.
Read the second sample below that will help you in achieving a great band score in the IELTS speaking section - cue card.
One thing that I did - overcome my fear of public speaking, has made me feel proud of myself. It was personal challenge that took a lot of determination and persistence.
I had always feared speaking in public in front of an audience. But last month, I was presented with the opportunity to become the anchor for the annual seminar of my college. This certainly was a giant step out of my comfort zone.
I utilized it as a test of myself and in order to pass that, I read extensively and practiced my script a number of times in front of the mirror. Besides that, I practiced reading aloud in front of my family members, close friends, and college professors. They gave me advice and valuable suggestions on how to read it out better.
However, one of the biggest obstacle was that I had to face was anxiety. I used to get nervous while practising and even forgot lines at times. The thought of performing in front of a huge gathering scared me.
To cope with this problem, my mother suggested that I practice deep breathing exercises to calm myself. On the seminar day, I was reminding myself that errors are made in learning and simply followed the flow.
I was proud since I firmly anchored on the stage and received compliments from my peers and professors.
To wrap up, overcoming the fear of speaking in public was quite a significant achievement. This specific experience in my life also helped me learn a valuable lesson that with practice and focused mind, I can conquer even my greatest fears.
Here is another sample response for your reference. This will help you to ace the IELTS speaking part 2 of the exam.
One thing that made me super proud of myself is learning French from the basics. Although learning a new language is a bit challenging at first but it opens new opportunities.
I decided to learn French, a few years back. I had always been interested in the language. In fact, I even planned to visit France. Although I had no previous knowledge of the language, so I had to begin with basic vocabulary and grammar.
I joined an online course which lasted for 6 months. Besides, I even used online study material and tutorials to get the pronunciation right. I practiced daily, even if it was just for ten minutes. This helped me learn French accent, improving my skills.
At first, I struggled to correctly pronounce and understand the language, especially when I heard the native speakers speak quickly. Moreover, memorizing vocabulary and grammar in French was a daunting task.
I tackled these challenges by listening to French native speakers, podcasts and watching movies with subtitles. I also made notes of my own and reviewed them regularly.
I felt proud because I after a few weeks of training I could hold conversations in French. In fact, even during my trip to Paris I felt confident in making a conversation with the natives. This experience not only boosted my self-esteem but also showed me that with persistence it is easy.
Overall, mastering French was a great achievement that not only enhanced my travel experience but also taught me the importance of learning a new language.
Here are some of the words from the sample above that will help you enhance your vocabulary. The list of lexical resources, along with the meanings, is as follows.
| Words | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Charity fundraiser | Raising money for a charitable cause or an event organized to collect funds for a charity. |
| Underprivileged | Having less money, and fewer rights, opportunities, etc. than other people in society. |
| Auction | A public sale at which items are sold to the person who offers to pay the most money. |
| Sponsorship | The act of supporting a person, organization, or activity by giving money, encouragement, or other help. |
| Persuading | To make somebody do something by giving him/her good reasons. |
| Reluctant | Not wanting to do something because you are not sure it is the right thing to do. |
| Obligated | Require or compel (someone) to undertake a legal or moral duty. |
| Distinct | Clear; easily seen, heard, or understood. |
| Determination | The quality of having firmly decided to do something, even if it is very difficult |
| Persistence | Sticking with something, even when it's hard or you face obstacles. |
| Giant | Something that is very large or huge. |
| Extensively | In a far-reaching, comprehensive way; thoroughly. |
| Obstacle | Something that makes it difficult for you to do something or go somewhere. |
| Accent | A particular way of pronouncing words that is connected with the country, area, or social class that you come from. |
| Daunting task | One that seems intimidating, difficult, or overwhelming, potentially causing fear or anxiety about one's ability to complete it. |
| Native speakers | A person who speaks a language as his/her first language and has not learned it as a foreign language. |
After you complete the IELTS speaking part 2, the next part of the speaking section is the follow-up questions. This consists of 5-7 questions related to the cue card provided. Besides, the difficulty of questions may range from easy and medium to hard.
This particular round evaluates your speaking skills and also 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 along with their answers for your reference.
1. What Types of Achievements Make People Feel Proud?
From my personal experience, people generally feel proud of accomplishments requiring effort, skill, courage, and yielding positive results often lead to feelings of pride. These achievements can enhance self-esteem, provide a sense of purpose, and have a lasting impact.
2. Do You Think Personal Achievements Are More Important Than Professional Ones?
The importance of personal and professional achievements is subjective and may vary from one individual to another. Both types of achievements contribute to a fulfilling life, but they serve different purposes. Besides, it is a matter of priorities and is weighed differently by individuals. Some may prioritize personal growth and relationships, while others may focus on career advancement and recognition.
3. Do External Factors, Like Recognition and Rewards, Affect How Proud Someone Feels?
Although external factors like recognition and rewards can significantly influence someone's feeling of pride, it is important to foster a healthy balance where both internal and external validation play a key role in building a robust sense of self-worth.
4. Is It Important to Set Goals to Achieve Something Meaningful?
Yes, setting goals is crucial for achieving meaningful outcomes in life. Goals provide direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose, helping individuals to focus their efforts and track progress toward desired results. Besides, it also gives a sense of accomplishment and contributes to overall well-being.
To excel in the IELTS speaking section you must reading the following tips. These will help you score an 8+band in the IELTS cue card.
To wrap up, IELTS speaking part 2 is considered one of the toughest parts of the exam, as the aspirant has to immediately respond to the cue. Thus, aspirants must practice well for this particular part. We have covered the cue card topic “Describe Something You Did That Made You Feel Proud” 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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