IELTS is a globally recognized English language proficiency test. Over 3 million test takers take IELTS yearly. IELTS has 4 modules, among which speaking has 3 sections: 1,2&3. IELTS speaking part 2 is challenging. You will be given a cue card for this. You have to prepare to talk about that topic in 1 minute and speak for 2 minutes. In this blog, let's discuss a topic: "Describe a traditional festival that is important in your country- IELTS Cue Card.
Table of Contents
The IELTS Speaking section is divided into 3 parts. The duration of the speaking section is 11 to 15 minutes. In this section, the examiner checks your fluency in English speaking. Speaking section 2 is a task-based section, which makes it challenging. In this, the examiner will give a Cue card that contains a certain topic. You have to prepare for that topic in 1 minute and speak for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, the examiner will ask you 1 question to end the section. However, in section 1, the examiner asks general questions. Section 3 is the Q & A section from the cue card.
Since you know how cue cards are important in the IELTS Speaking section, let's know how to answer the cue card. You will be given 1 minute to prepare for section 2. During this time, you have to collect all vital information for the given topic. You can also make key pointers of important points. This will help you to arrange the answer without missing any information. And hence, you will be able to speak for 1 minute without any hesitation.
However, the examiner will check your fluency in English speaking. So, you must use proper forms of verbs, phrases, and idioms when throwing your words. Thus, this will help you to speak fluently and with confidence. Additionally, this will also leave a good impression on the examiner.
Note: You must prepare all the key points wisely in proper sequence for good fluency. For example: you have to speak on the topic - Describe a traditional festival that is important in your country
You can make key pointers to speak in this manner, providing all information
Now, here are some examples of how to answer the IELTS cue card.
India is a land of abundant festivals and diverse cultures, and I celebrate many festivals each year. Each of these festivals holds its own significance and is steeped in historical narratives. I believe we can derive valuable lessons from these historical accounts, as they often carry profound moral and ethical implications. These meaningful lessons contribute to enhancing our lives and upholding cultural standards.
I like celebrating Diwali, which is well known as the festival of lights. I personally enjoy Diwali because of its rich spiritual stories. People from different religions celebrate Diwali in their unique ways, which proclaims the unity of our diverse nation. This festival is not only about lights and sweets but also about the triumph of good over evil and the importance of family and togetherness.
Diwali is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months, typically between October and November. This festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
India is a heterogeneous country, and people from different religions celebrate Diwali according to their religious persuasion. However, Diwali holds particular significance in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. As a Hindu, I celebrate Diwali to commemorate Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. While there are many other tales from different religions, this story is the most widely known.
During Diwali, some people help needy people by showing fake sympathy for them and getting public attention on social media. I personally don’t like this way of getting public attention. However, watching this disappoints me a lot.
Finally, Diwali not only obliterates darkness from our lives but also fills them with beautiful colours of joy and happiness.
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India is a land of significant festivals, and I celebrate different festivals almost every month. Each festival holds its own importance and is rooted in unique stories. Among these, Holi and Diwali are particularly notable to me. India is a diverse country with various cultures and traditions. I see that every culture celebrates festivals according to its religious practices, showcasing our nation's unity in diversity.
For me, the favorite festival is neither Holi nor Diwali. Instead, I prefer to celebrate Vijay Dashmi, also known as Dussehra. Dussehra is one of the most tremendous festivals celebrated across the nation. I cherish celebrating Dussehra because of the profound story behind it and the powerful message it conveys—the triumph of good over evil
Vijay Dashmi, or Dussehra, is celebrated annually during the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin, which usually falls in September or October according to the Gregorian calendar.
There is a long historical tail behind celebrating Vijay Dashmi. According to Valinki Ramayana, Lord Rama trounced the egregious King Ravana, stipulating the supremacy of good over evil. However, there are many things to learn from the Ramayana, like that we should never be haughty and always follow the path of truth.
However, Vijay Dashmi is as important as Diwali and Holi because it has its own significance in the victory of good over evil. However, the craze of celebrating Vijay Dashmi is vanishing every year. I don’t like this.
The story of Vijay Dashmi teaches us many life lessons. It teaches us that we should not be arrogant. This can be the major reason for one’s downfall.
I was born and raised in India, and I am proud of it. I celebrate the festival of colours, Holi, and the festival of lights, Diwali, every year. However, there are many more festivals like Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, and so on. All these festivals carry a long archival narrative. These archival narratives are unquestionable antiquity of India and its culture.
I enjoy celebrating all festivals for their spiritual significance, but I find celebrating Holi particularly joyful. During Holi, people come together to sing, dance, and play with colours, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere. The tradition of splashing water and colors on each other adds to the sense of joy and celebration. Overall, Holi embodies the spirit of joy and togetherness, making it a special and memorable occasion for me.
Holi, the festival of colours, is traditionally celebrated in March to signal the approach of spring. It lasts two days: Holika Dahan, when bonfires signify the triumph of good over evil, and Rangwali Holi, when people enjoy playing with colours, singing, and dancing.
Holi has a deep historical significance dating back to mythology. According to legend, the festival celebrates the killing of the wicked monarch Hiranyakashipu, who attempted to assassinate his son Prahlad, a devout disciple of Lord Vishnu, with the help of his sister Holika. This mythical story represents the triumph of good over evil, a prominent motif celebrated at Holi.
One aspect of Holi that can be a concern is the wastage of water and the environmental impact of synthetic colors. While water conservation efforts and eco-friendly colors are promoted, there's still room for improvement to ensure a more sustainable celebration.
It is a festival which is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm all over India.
All idioms for IELTS used in the above examples are given below with their meaning.
| Lexical Resources | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Abundant | Existing in very large quantities; more than enough |
| Commemorate | To exist or take place in order to make people remember a special event |
| Proclaim | To make something known officially or publicly |
| Obliterate | To remove all signs of something by destroying or covering it completely |
| Persuasion | The act of persuading somebody to do something or to believe something |
| Significant | Important or large enough to be noticed |
| Tremendous | Very large or great |
| Triumph | A great success or victory |
| Stipulating | To say exactly and officially what must be done |
| Trounced | To defeat somebody completely |
| Embodies | To be a very good example of something |
| Egregious | Outstandingly bad; shocking |
| Archival | Relating to or constituting archives |
| Antiquity | The ancient past |
| Assassinate | To kill a prominent person |
| Supremacy | The quality or state of having more power, authority, or status than anyone else |
| Haughty | Proud, and thinking that you are better than other people |
| Prominent | Important or famous |
| Motif | A picture or pattern on something |
| Devout disciple | Deep religious beliefs. |
| Zeal | Dedication or enthusiasm for something |
Using these idioms in your vocabulary will help you to score a good band in the IELTS exam.
Now let us see some follow-up questions that may be asked in the IELTS cue card for Describe a traditional festival that is important in your country.
Go through the following questions the examiner may ask in IELTS speaking part 2
The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a good test score in your IELTS exam.
You should follow the above tips to excel in your IELTS Exam
Related IELTS Cue Card Topics
In conclusion, we can say that preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 2 on your own can be a mess. But with proper guidance, you can achieve a good score in the IELTS exam. You must take online classes to prepare for the IELTS speaking section. However, you have read the sample answers for Describe a traditional festival that is important in your country with follow-up questions.
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