The IELTS exam is famous for its unique tasks in the IELTS speaking section, such as the cue card. In this task, you need to elaborate upon a topic that is given to you on the ielts cue card. It further gives the examiners an insight into your ability and skills to speak English. Thus, this blog aims to explore an example of a cue card that will help you ace the IELTS speaking part 2 in the actual exam.
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The speaking segment in the IELTS exam consists of three parts. Out of these, the second one is commonly known as the cue card. This question requires the test taker to talk about a given topic for 1 to 2 minutes. For instance, in the 'Describe a Person Who Enjoys Cooking for Others', you will need to talk about someone who is very keen on cooking and feeding others. Thus, in this blog, understand how to answer this cue card type.
If you wish to master the IELTS speaking part 2 or cue cards, you first need to fathom the exam format for this task. In this, you will get the questions on a cue card, as seen in the image below. This question will comprise three subtopics you must include in your speech. You also get a paper and pen for writing and drafting your ideas in the given 1 minute for preparation. After that, you need to talk about the topic on the cue card for over a minute or two. The questions on the cue card for 'Describe a Person Who Enjoys Cooking for Others' can be as given below:
And explain why he/she enjoys cooking.
Here is an image that you can refer to to help you visualise what the IELTS cue cards look like in the real exam.
The following is a sample answer that will help you understand the template for describing a person who likes cooking:
I consider myself fortunate to have been assigned this topic, and upon first glance, I knew I wanted to discuss my friend Erin, who is an amazing chef.
I met Erin during our first year of college and became close friends. We've experienced many special times together over the years, including many get-togethers where she's shown off her culinary prowess.
Erin can cook various foods from different cultures and is quite proficient in the kitchen. Erin's repertoire is extensive, ranging from delectable Italian pasta meals to Asian stir-fries and from Mexican tacos to French desserts.
She has consistently volunteered to oversee the culinary activities at our family get-togethers and celebrations, so she cooks for all present.
Every meal is a celebration because of her cuisine, which is about more than simply the food—it's about fostering relationships. This is also the reason why she gives her all to any meal she cooks.
To put it briefly, Erin truly enjoys using her culinary skills to improve the lives of others around her and to make the celebrations special.
Here is another way in which you can attempt this cue card during your IELTS exam:
In my opinion, nobody can ever detest someone who is exceptionally skilled at cooking, particularly when prepared by a "passionate and expert" chef, about whom I will be speaking today.
My aunt is the one that I would like to discuss today. Until I met my aunt, I had no clue that someone could dedicate so much of their time and energy to cooking and elevate it to the level of "art".
She is practically an expert at cooking a wide variety of cuisines from around the world, whether they are Mexican, Italian, Chinese, or Mediterranean, to the delight of foodies of all ages and backgrounds.
Her continuous commitment to cooking for the people she loves truly makes her unique. She is always up for a treat, whether it's for close relatives or acquaintances dropping by for a gathering.
The fact that my aunt enjoys trying new recipes, many of which are her own, and experimenting with them for hours until she is completely satisfied makes me believe that she is an exceptionally talented cook.
In the end, she makes "cooking" seem incredibly simple, regardless of the cuisines she prepares or the number of guests she serves, which is why I believe she loves being a chef.
This is another of the alternatives that can be a good way for you to attempt the IELTS cue card task:
I'm lucky to know someone who enjoys cooking because I get to try a variety of delicious dishes.
The person I am referring to is my sister. She is always coming up with new recipes in the kitchen and likes to test them on others.
She enjoys cooking from all around the world, even though her forte is North Indian food.
She mostly prepares meals for the family. In addition, she is a proud owner of a restaurant. Here, her main responsibility is to create something unique for her patrons by combining Indian specialities with other cuisines.
She likes to design meals and watch us eat joyfully at the table. She is someone who simply adores cooking, even though it takes a lot of time.
Not only is the food she prepares for other people good, but it also brings her immense joy. Her cooking makes them feel warm and loved, so people who taste it never forget her.
Having a good vocabulary for IELTS can be helpful for you in the speaking section as well as other segments. Thus, given below is a list of some of the words and phrases from the above samples that you can use to enhance your word bank for the test:
| Lexical Resources | Meaning |
| Fortunate | Having unexpected good fortune or lucky |
| Get-togethers | A casual social gathering |
| Prowess | Excellence, goodness |
| Repertoire | Special accomplishments of a particular person or group |
| Delectable | Greatly pleasing to the taste; delicious |
| Fostering | To promote the growth and development |
| Gives her all | Putting in the utmost effort |
| Detest | To hate |
| Exceptionally | Well above average; extraordinary |
| Passionate | dominated by powerful emotions |
| Elevate | To promote to a higher rank |
| Practically | Almost; nearly |
| Commitment | The act or an instance of committing |
| Acquaintances | A person whom one knows |
| Incredibly | To a great extent |
| Forte | An asset of special worth or utility |
| Patrons | A customer, especially a regular customer |
| Cuisines | The manner or style of cooking |
| Adores | To like very much |
| Immense | So great as to be beyond measurement |
Once you complete the cue card question, you will be assigned the third and last task. This task from the IELTS speaking section, consists of follow-up questions that aim further to discuss the topic of the cue card task. Therefore, the following are some of the examples of questions that you can get in this part of the test:
1. Is there any difference between cooking today and earlier?
Cooking today and in the past differs in a few ways. In the past, the emphasis was on nutrition. Moreover, cooking was done using very basic traditional methods. The majority of ingredients used to be organic as well. But now, the emphasis is more on status and comfort. Cooking is now convenient and accessible because of the increased availability of ingredients and kitchen tools.
2. How often do Indian people cook at home?
Cooking at home is a treasured custom in India. The majority of Indians cook every day at home, making their breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition, the value of eating nutritious, fresh food is engrained in the culture. Majorly, Indians choose home-cooked meals because they value their nutritional intake and genuine flavour.
3. Do you think cooking should be a compulsory or optional course? Why?
Cooking ought to be a choice rather than a requirement. If the cooking lessons are elective, people can decide to study them only if they are interested, making the learning process more meaningful and enjoyable. Moreover, it might take a lot of resources, such as specialized facilities, equipment, and qualified teachers, to make cooking lessons mandatory.
4. What do we need to prepare when we need to cook?
We need different ingredients and utensils for the various dishes. We should make a list of the ingredients required for the dish and make sure that the kitchen has them on hand. Finally, we should collect the culinary supplies and prepare a delectable meal.
5. Which dishes are a must at festivals?
During these joyous events, food symbolizes prosperity, good fortune, and cultural legacy. It unites families and communities while upholding customs and encouraging harmony. A lot of food is required for celebrations, such as desserts.
Preparation for the IELTS speaking part 2, or cue cards requires you to follow a strategic plan. Therefore, given below are a few tricks and tips that can help you with this question:
Suggested to read:
Describe The Place Where You Live Ielts Cue Card
Describe A Useful Object In Your Home That You Cant Live Without Ielts Cue Card
Describe An Interesting Conversation You Had With A Very Old Person Ielts Cue Card
Describe A Person Who Always Has Interesting Ideas Or Opinions Ielts Cue Card
To sum up, the IELTS speaking section may look demanding, but with the right kind of planning, it is possible to complete this module. In addition, when you are solving samples such as 'describe a person who likes cooking for others', it will help you become familiar with the structure of the exam and the pattern of the questions. You can also get offline or online IELTS classes offered by coaching, such as Gradding, which can help you get good band scores on the exam. In addition, they can also provide you with resources and expert guidance.
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