Describe a Game You Played in your Childhood - IELTS Cue Card

Introduction to IELTS Cue Cards

A cue is a prompt or a small signal that is a guide for the further plan of action. Thus, as per the IELTS cue cards task, a cue can be any topic on which you need to speak for a few minutes. Hence, a cue is the brief of the theme or the topic you will be speaking on. Besides a cue card is the small card on which the cue will be mentioned. Moreover, this card will also contain a few questions that you must address while explaining the topic. Furthermore, this task will evaluate your ability to express your thoughts on the given topic in the English language. So, if you are thinking about how to do it, go through the upcoming segment of the blog and get your query resolved.

How to Answer the Cue Card?

Confidence and fluency are the key elements to unlock good grades in IELTS speaking part 2 smoothly. Besides, cracking this section also required you to arrange your answers in a logical and organized manner. In this task, you will be provided a cue card where a theme and three questions will be listed. So, you need to answer these three questions while speaking on the given topic. Moreover, after presenting the card, you will be allotted a minute to prepare. Thus, you must use this effectively to arrange your thoughts so you do not get stuck while speaking.

Furthermore, you can structure your answer for the cue card topic: “Describe a game you played in your childhood” based on the points enlisted:

• What the Game Was?
• Who You Played with?
• How You Played It?
• How You Felt About the Game?

Let us provide you with a glimpse of what the IELTS cue card looks like. Refer to the image below:

Now that you have an idea of what an original cue card looks like move ahead and explore the sample to determine the type of answers you can give to the topic: “Describe a game you played in your childhood.”

Sample1 - Describe a Game You Played in Your Childhood

Here is a sample answer that will help you to ace the cue card task of IELTS.

Introduction

Childhood games have always held a special place in my heart, filled with countless hours of joy and excitement. Among the various games I played, hide and seek stands out vividly. This game was a fundamental part of my growing-up years, providing endless fun and memorable indoor and outdoor experiences.

What the Game Was?

Just like any other child, I have also played a myriad of games in my childhood. So, to kick off things, one from the tapestry of my childhood memories, hide and seek was one of the most prominent ones that stood out from the other games. This game is something that can be played both indoors and outdoors, so as a child, we do not have to even have to move out of our house as I and my siblings start the game at random times. Although the game was simple but, the rules were complex, so if the newbies judged the book by its cover, then they would have lost the game.

Who You Played with?

I used to play the game with my siblings majorly, but this game world was more interesting when played with plenty of people. So, I used to play this game with my neighbourhood children. In the summer breaks, we would wake up earlier just to play this game, and the one who arrived late would be chosen as the seeker.

How You Played It?

The game is played by one chosen player, who would be counting numbers by closing their eyes. Moreover, the chosen player has to find the hidden players one by one. On the other hand, the other players would be scattered in a frenzied environment to find the ideal hiding spot.

How You Felt About the Game?

The game is not just a memory of my golden days, but it was my entire childhood. Besides the thrilling nature of the game, the time after the dawn makes it more intriguing. This also gives a sense of fear when playing in a park with dim lights. So, the entire feeling was enough to give goosebumps to each of us.

Conclusion

Hide and seek was a cherished part of my childhood, bringing joy and unforgettable memories with every game. The thrill of hiding and seeking, the laughter with friends and siblings, and the sense of adventure made it an experience I will always treasure.

Sample 2 - Describe a Game You Played in your Childhood

Here is a sample answer so you can have an idea to frame your answer in the IELTS speaking task 2 without facing issues.

Introduction

Childhood games hold a special place in our memories, and they often teach us valuable life lessons while providing endless fun. One such game from my childhood is "Capture the Flag."

What the Game Was?

A game that stands out from my childhood is "Capture the Flag." It's an exciting outdoor game that combines elements of strategy, teamwork, and physical activity.

Who You Played with?

I played this game with my school friends and neighbourhood kids. We usually formed two teams, each consisting of around five to eight players. It was a popular choice during picnics, school field days, and summer vacations.

How You Played it?

The game requires a large outdoor area and two flags. Each team hides their flag in their territory. The objective is to capture the opposing team's flag and bring it back to your own side without being tagged. Tagged players go to "jail" and can be freed by teammates.

How You Felt About the Game?

I loved playing Capture the Flag. The mix of physical activity and strategy made it thrilling. It taught me teamwork and sportsmanship. The excitement of dodging opponents and capturing the flag created unforgettable memories.

Conclusion

Capture the Flag was more than just a game; it was a significant part of my childhood. The lessons in strategy and teamwork, along with the joyful memories, have stayed with me and continue to bring a smile to my face when I think about those times.

Sample 3 - Describe a Game You Played in Your Childhood

Here is an example answer to help you structure your response for the IELTS speaking task 2, ensuring you can respond confidently and effectively.

Introduction

Childhood games often leave us with cherished memories and life lessons. One such game from my childhood is cricket, which I played frequently with friends and family.

What the Game Was?

The game that I played extensively during my childhood was cricket. Cricket is a bat-and-ball game that is immensely popular in many countries, including mine.

Who You Played with?

I played cricket with my neighbourhood friends and sometimes with my cousins when they visited. We would gather in the evenings or on weekends to set up makeshift pitches in open spaces or backyards.

How You Played it?

We played cricket using a basic set of rules. Two teams were formed, with each team taking turns to bat and bowl. The batting team tried to score as many runs as possible by hitting the ball and running between the wickets, while the bowling team aimed to dismiss the batsmen by hitting the stumps or catching the ball. We often used tennis balls and improvised stumps made from sticks or even bricks. The game could last for hours, filled with exciting moments of hitting boundaries and making incredible catches.

How You Felt About the Game?

I thoroughly enjoyed playing cricket. It was not only a physical activity but also a strategic game that required skill and teamwork. The thrill of hitting a six or taking a wicket was unmatched. Playing cricket also helped me develop a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship, as well as improving my hand-eye coordination and physical fitness.

Conclusion

Cricket was more than just a pastime; it was an integral part of my childhood that brought joy, taught valuable lessons, and created lasting friendships. The memories of those games continue to bring a smile to my face and remind me of the carefree and joyous days of my youth.

Lexical Resources

Here, in this section, we have curated the list of words and idioms that are used in the above sample answers with their meaning for you to better understand them and use wisely while framing your answers.

This list will help you to enhance your vocabulary range and accuracy to use them in your answers. Thus, it will be helpful in clearing the IELTS speaking section without much ado and fumbling around.

Follow-up Questions

Follow-up questions are those which an examiner asks you after you have completed the speaking on the given topic. Thus, we have listed a few here that can come-up for the topic; describe a game you played in your childhood.

• Do you think the games in your childhood are relevant in today’s time?
• Do parents encourage their children to play games?
• Which types of games are popular in your country?

These are the follow-up questions that the interviewer might ask you after you have completed your speaking part. Moving ahead to explore the tactics to handle the IELTS speaking part 2 without struggling much.

Tips to Excel in IELTS Cue Card

Although you have gone through the samples to ace the IELTS speaking section, if you implement the strategies, you can reduce the hurdles as well. Thus, in this segment, we have listed a handful of tips that are proven by experts in the field so you do not struggle much and score well. Here are the tricks mentioned below:

• Read the cue card carefully to understand what is asked in it. This includes the topic, instructions, and questions.
• Plan your response in the given time so you do not miss any crucial pointers while speaking.
• Speak coherently and fluently to showcase your language skills and confidence.
• Include apt grammar and vocabulary for IELTS to leave an impact on the interviewer.
• Learn effective time management so you do not struggle to justify your response.

Indeed, childhood is the most cherished period of everyone’s life, and games add to its beauty. Thus, the topic: describe a game you played in your childhood that takes you back to the golden days. You can speak on the topic for hours, but while appearing for the IELTS, you need to be careful with your words and pronunciation. This is why we have provided you with the samples for the topic, which would be helpful to ace the test in your first attempt. However, you can also take our IELTS mock test to practice more and evaluate where you stand.

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