Describe an Unusual Holiday You Had - IELTS Cue Card

Introduction to IELTS Cue Cards 

The IELTS speaking section is a face-to-face interview between the examiner and the candidate. The cue card section is the IELTS speaking part 2 and lasts about 1-2 minutes. Moreover, it is the same for the IELTS Academic and IELTS General exams. A specific topic will be provided, along with a few pointers around which the candidate must frame their response. Further, you must prepare your thoughts and share your experience about a person, a place, or an object that is meaningful to you. Next, let us see how to answer cue cards in the IELTS speaking section and what they look like.

How to Answer the Cue Card?

To answer cue cards, it is important to follow a proper structure and strategy. The ideal way to draft an answer is to divide them into parts. These include an introduction, the body wherein you mention the key highlights, and then the conclusion. Moreover, to ace the IELTS speaking part 2, the content of the response must be in proper flow. Besides, your answer will be assessed and evaluated based on four major criteria. These include fluency and coherence, grammar, and pronunciation. Thus, it is essential to use appropriate phrases and grammar in your response.

The pointers that you must explain in “Describe an Unusual Holiday You Had” are as follows:

• What Holiday Was It?
• Who Were You With?
• What Did You Do?
• and Explain Why It Was Unusual

You will get a minute to prepare your thoughts and then speak for a minute or two on the topic. Now, let us see what the cue card looks like.

Describe an Unusual Holiday You Had- Sample 1

Here is the first sample response for achieving 8+ band scores in your IELTS speaking part 2 round.

Introduction

One of the most memorable holidays that I had was when I visited a village when we went on a road trip. The destination was not as planned, but we enjoyed it a lot.

What Holiday Was It?

Although the initial plan was to visit a famous tourist destination by mistake, we took a wrong turn. The turn took us to an unknown village. It was a chilly, cold night during my school winter break. My family and I decided to take a road trip.

Who Were You With?

I was accompanied by my parents and my sister. Besides, the villagers also become our family. Those people truly made our holiday worthwhile, so much so that we decided to stay there for 2 days. They were very warm and welcoming towards us. It becomes difficult for us to bid goodbyes.

What Did You Do?

The night we reached there, we were welcomed by the native people. They offered us mouthwatering food and sweets. After dinner, we witnessed the folk dance by women and children in the village and then called it a night. Further, we also became a part of the carnival that took place in the village on the following day. The event consisted of a magic show, games, rides, and much more. We truly had a great time.

Explain Why It Was Unusual

It was an unusual holiday because none of us planned for this. However, it turned out to be an eventful holiday for all of us.

Conclusion

Overall, the trip to that village was quite impromptu and memorable. Moreover, I and my family had a great time there.

Describe an Unusual Holiday You Had- Sample 2

Read the second sample below that will help you in achieving a great band score in the IELTS speaking section - cue card.

Introduction

One of the most unusual holidays that I had was Holi at Govind Devji temple in Jaipur, India. I witnessed “Faagutsav”, a unique way of celebrating the festival. It is usually celebrated with Gulal, a type of colored powder. The festival celebrates good over evil and the heavenly love shared by Lord Krishna and Radha.

What Holiday Was It?

An unusual holiday that I had was on Holi. It is known for its vibrant colors and joyous atmosphere.

Who Were You With?

I was with my family and friends at the temple, who joined me for this special occasion, Holi.

What Did You Do?

We arrived early at the temple to participate in all the festivities. Beginning with Aarti, followed by a unique flower, Holi. Instead of the usual coloured powders, we experienced a celebration filled with flowers, creating a beautiful and fragrant environment.

Explain Why It Was Unusual

What made this celebration unusual was the flowers. Holi is typically a colour festival that is usually played by throwing coloured powders on one another. However, this event focused on flowers. The atmosphere was filled with joy and a sense of community as people from all over India came together to celebrate. Everyone shared sweets and food along the way. Moreover, the floral theme celebration made it quite an exceptional experience.

Conclusion

Overall, for me, it wasn’t just a regular holiday; it was a lot more. The floral celebration made the festive more enjoyable and unique for all of us.

Describe an Unusual Holiday You Had - Sample 3

Here is another sample response for your reference. This will help you to ace the speaking section of the exam.

Introduction

The most unusual holiday that I had was a trip to Vieques Island about two years ago. The place is known for its unique biodiversity and stunning landscapes.

What Holiday Was It?

I went on this trip in July 2024; I saw various photographs and was fascinated by the bioluminescence. This is basically the production and emission of light by a living organism. These creatures are found throughout the marine habitat, from the ocean surface to the deep seafloor.

Who Were You With?

I travelled with a small group of friends who shared my passion for exploring the beautiful scenery. We were all eager to experience the island's natural beauty and culture.

What Did You Do?

At night, we went to the ocean to witness the bioluminescence and were awestruck by the beauty. It was indeed an amazing experience. Moreover, during our stay, we engaged in several unique daytime activities as well. These included hiking and trekking to the mountain tops, where we encountered breathtaking and unique views. Although the hiking trails were challenging, they were incredibly rewarding.

Explain Why It Was Unusual

This holiday was unusual for several reasons. Firstly, I had never experienced this kind of beauty before. Secondly, hiking and trekking added an element of adventure, making the trip more exciting. The combination of stunning natural beauty and rich cultural experiences made this trip unlike any other I had taken. Lastly, the island was not so crowded, making every moment feel deep.

Conclusion

Overall, my holiday in Vieques Island was an unforgettable experience that broadened my horizons and deepened my appreciation for nature. It taught me that the most rewarding adventures sometimes come from exploring experiences.

Lexical Resources

Here are some of the words from the sample above that will help you enhance your vocabulary for IELTS exam. This list of lexical resources, along with the meanings.

Now that the words and the meanings are clear. Let us look at some follow-up questions that may appear in the IELTS cue cards task.

Follow-up Questions with Answers

After you are done with the cue card round, the next part of the IELTS speaking section begins. This consists of a few follow-up questions, the difficulty ranging from easy and medium to hard. These are the follow-up questions related to the cue card topic that you were given. Generally, the examiner asks about 5-7 follow-up questions. This round is used to assess your speaking skills and 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 that you can encounter for this topic.

1. In What Ways Did an Unusual Holiday Challenge Your Expectations or Perceptions About Travel?

My holidays and trips have been truly surprising and unique in their own way. Moreover, a few of them have even exceeded my expectations. The trip that I took last year to Vieques Island has taught me a lot. This includes the importance of venturing beyond the usual tourist destinations and exploring diversity. It has made me realize that our world is filled with a multitude of captivating locations that are waiting to be uncovered.

2. How Can the Tourism Industry Encourage More People to Explore Unique and Offbeat Destinations?

There are a lot of strategies that the tourism industry can use to encourage people to explore. However, one of the most attractive ways is to promote unique and offbeat destinations as hidden gems. Moreover, this may be achieved by offering various deals and discounts on travel packages. Besides, social media can also help in creating curiosity about uncovered and unique destinations. Lastly, providing safety, amenities, and ease of navigation will also encourage people.

3. How Do Unusual Holidays Contribute to Personal Growth and Understanding of Different Cultures?

According to me, unusual holidays have a significant impact on your personal growth and mindset. I believe this is because it exposes you to different perspectives and diversity of people from various cultures. However, some may argue that unusual holidays may not contribute to personal growth and cultural understanding. Unusual holidays encourage you to be adaptable and tolerant and also have a broader worldview. These trips help you get out of your comfort zone and learn something new.

4. Would You Recommend Your Holiday to Others? Why or Why Not?

Yes, I would highly recommend others to take holidays and trips. This is because a holiday helps you break free from the usual patterns and routine life. It gives you time to relax and take a beat. Moreover, if I share my experiences and the trips that I have taken, it is truly what I am today. However, views on how you use your holiday can be objective. They could be for personal development or merely just for relaxing.

Tips to Excel in IELTS Cue Card

In this section, we have mentioned some of the tips and tricks that will help you excel in the cue card with an 8+band score. Let us have a glance at the following pointer.

• The focus must be on clarity. Maintaining a steady pace of thinking is important. Moreover, it avoids errors.
• Practice with a timer of 2 minutes and speak about a specific topic without hesitating. This will help you in improving your fluency.
• Read more to enhance your vocabulary and understand more terms.
• Regularly engage in conversations in English with your friends and family. Making conversations to express your thoughts is a great way to learn.
• Use stress and intonation to emphasize important points in your speech.

Conclusion

To conclude, the IELTS speaking section is considered one of the toughest parts of the IELTS exam. Thus, in this blog, we have discussed the cue card topic “Describe an Unusual Holiday You Had” with its three sample answers. Further, the blog also contains lexical resources along with useful tips for you to excel in the IELTS speaking cue card round. Moreover, if you are facing issues or want to explore the speaking section more, then join our online IELTS classes or offline.