In the IELTS Speaking exam, you may be asked to describe a traditional product from your country. This question allows you to showcase your knowledge of cultural heritage while demonstrating your ability to describe objects in detail. By explaining the significance, craftsmanship, and usage of a traditional product, you can impress the examiner with your vocabulary and structured response. In this IELTS speaking practice test, you will find a sample answer to the cue card prompt "Describe a Traditional Product in Your Country," along with follow-up questions that an examiner may ask.
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The cue card is one of the most important parts of the IELTS speaking section, where you get a card with a situation or a topic that you have to describe in your own words. You have to talk about the particular topic for 2 minutes. Moreover, you will get a minute to prepare your response apart from those 2 minutes. So, let us now understand the correct way to answer a cue card.
The cue card is a medium by which the examiner checks your fluency in the English language. So, you must practice your speaking skills to be fluent in the exam. Moreover, it also checks your ability to think on a topic and how you present it in front of the examiner. Also, when you start speaking, remember to introduce the topic first and then continue with the response. Also, you will get a minute to prepare your answer. So, use that time to write the main keywords and sequence the points you will be speaking about. By doing this, you will stay on track and also be able to keep the examiner engaged. So, to understand the correct way of answering a cue card, let us discuss the topic ‘Describe a Traditional Product in Your Country’ with sample answers and follow-up questions.
You can use the following pointers in your response:
And Explain Why Do You Like It?
Let us show you what how your IELTS cue card may look like in the IELTS exam. Refer to the image below.
In this blog, you will find 3 samples of the topic Describe a Traditional Product in Your Country’ with possible follow-up questions based on your response.
Here is the first example of the cue card. You can use the structure and tone of the response to score well in the IELTS exam.
Introduction
People today completely rely on technology and machine-made things to live a comfortable life. However, I would like to talk about a traditional product that has retained its value despite the passage of time.
What Is It?
Charpai is the traditional product of my country that I think is presently as valuable as it was in the past. A charpai is kind of a single bed, but far better than that. It is usually used in the rural areas of India and I believe is the most comfortable place to sleep.
How Is It Made?
Charpai is a very well-known organic product, which is believed to be good for the skin as well. Because I am a part of rural India, I have seen people making charpai. It is made by combining the weaving and woodworking skills. The border and legs are made by beautifully intersecting and joining the wooden structures with each other. The base on which people sleep is made of Moonj, a historically cultivated grass, made in the form of a rope to tie around the wooden structure.
When Did You First Try It?
There is no such first time for me to try the Charpai because as said earlier, I belong to rural India. Therefore, I used to sleep on the Charpai before I even knew what it was called. Thus, it has been a part of my life since my birth.
And Explain Why Do You Like It?
The reason that I like Charpai is because of its comfort and health benefits. Believe it or not, the use of organic grass and the handmade process make it good for the skin and it is very comfortable. It molds into my body shape and makes me fall in love with seeping.
Here is another sample response to the cue card. This will help you with variations in the cue card answer.
Introduction
We as a society are going through a lot of changes in the way people live, think, and dress. The way people dress today is totally different from what our indigenous people used to wear. So, I am going to talk about one such peace of cloth that is the traditional product of my country.
What Is It?
Saree is one of the best traditional products of my country and is something that our women are proud of. Saree is a complete set of clothing, that graces the beauty of women in India. It is very decent, yet the most beautiful dress that women wear.
How Is It Made?
The saree is made of various types, such as cotton, silk, linen, chiffon, and many more. Moreover, it comes with a blouse as the top, and then saree is a long piece of cloth that is wrapped around the entire body, making it very beautiful. Furthermore, jewelry such as necklaces, bangles, and earrings serves as cherry on top.
When Did You First Try It?
I first tried it when was a kid and was fascinated by how beautiful my mother looked when she used to wear it occasionally. I asked her to help me wear one when she used a smaller saree.
And Explain Why Do You Like It?
The reason that I like it is that saree makes women more beautiful, embraces their beauty, and goes perfectly with the decency of society.
This is the last sample response of the cue card. By these 3 samples, you will learn how you can do variations in the responses.
Introduction
India is a country known for its traditions and diverse cultures. Furthermore, the traditional products in several states of India are also illustrious. Today, I will talk about one such product that is famous mainly in Punjab among females.
What Is It?
Phulkari is one such product that is famous in my country. Phulkari directly translates to ‘flower work’. Thus, it is the embroidery work on clothes, that is done by hand and is very beautiful, especially when people wear the final piece of cloth.
How Is It Made?
Phulkari is the flower design or embroidery made on the cloth using vibrant colors of thread and needle. This is traditionally made with hands, but today people started using machines for the same. But if you ask me, I believe that handmade designs are ameliorated than the machinery products.
When Did You First Try It?
I remember that my grandmother used to make Phulkari and she gave me a kurta, where there were 18 flowers designed with different colors and each one with complete detailing. I used to wear that on special occasions and jamboree for around 3 years, when I grew up and my mother gave it to my cousin.
And Explain Why Do You Like It?
I like this design so much for several reasons. Firstly, it is very beautiful and the thread used to make the design is very colorful. Secondly, because the designs are hand-made. it reflects the struggle of that person who added their love in making that design more beautiful and surely no machine-made design can match its beauty.
So, these were the samples of the cue card ‘Describe a Traditional Product in Your Country’. You can follow the tone of the response to score well in IELTS speaking part 2. Now, you will go through the hard words that were used in these samples, which are known as lexical resources.
While submitting your response, it is important to use advanced vocabulary for IELTS to impress the examiner. Thus, the table below shows some of the advanced words used in the IELTS cue card sample above.
| Lexical Resources | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Retained | Continue to have (something); keep possession of |
| Weaving | The craft or action of forming fabric by interlacing threads |
| Intersecting | Pass or lie across each other |
| Indigenous | Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native |
| Graces | Smoothness and elegance |
| Chiffon | A light, transparent fabric typically made of silk or nylon |
| Fascinated | Strongly attracted and interested |
| Embraces | Accept (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically |
| Illustrious | Well-known, respected, and admired for past achievements |
| Embroidery | The art or pastime of embroidering cloth |
| Ameliorate | Make something better |
| Jamboree | A large celebration or party, typically a lavish and boisterous one |
These were the advanced vocabulary used in the samples. You can use the same words in your response to make a positive impression on the examiner.
Once you finish the IELTS speaking part 2, the examiner will ask you the follow-up questions based on your response to the topic. Thus, you must know what you said in your response and be ready for the cross-questioning. Moreover, the total time for this activity is around 4-5 minutes.
Thus, the below mentioned are some of the possible follow-up questions that the examiner can ask you.
1. Why is it important for children to learn about traditional products?
It is important for children to learn about traditional products because these products show the history and skills of their ancestors. They also teach children to value their heritage and keep their traditions alive.
2. What other traditional products are popular in your country?
Some other traditional Indian products are clay pots, spices, wooden furniture, handmade jewelry, and paintings. These products show India’s rich culture and creativity. Moreover, the beauty of these products is hard to match.
3. How do you think traditional products impact modern fashion?
There are machines that make some of the traditional products. For example, Saree or the phulkari designs are made with machines. These are carrying the traditional products ahead, but can not match the efforts and beauty of handmade products.
4. Do you think people should be proud of their own culture? Why?
Yes, people should be proud of their culture because it is a part of their identity. It helps them feel connected to their roots and gives them confidence. Being proud of their culture also helps them respect other cultures.
Now that you are completely aware of what the cue card is and how to answer it, let us discuss some of the tips that will improve your score in the IELTS exam.
The IELTS exam needs extra effort and regular practice to score well. Moreover, there are a few other tips that will help you overall.
In conclusion, there are some strategies and efforts that you need to score well in IELTS speaking part 2. The above-mentioned samples and follow-up questions of ‘Describe a Traditional Product in Your Country’ will help you understand the tone and approach that you need to carry out while submitting your response. Also, the tips mentioned above will help you in getting a better score. So, this blog has everything you need to understand the IELTS speaking section. Moreover, if you still face any issues in your IELTS preparation, there is an option to opt for online IELTS classes, which will help you with expert guidance. So, start your IELTS journey now to make your dream of studying abroad come true.
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