The IELTS speaking part 2 of the exam consists of the cue card round. After the introduction, the cue card task takes place where the candidate must speak on the topic provided. Further, in the next part, there are a few follow-up questions related to the topic. The blog covers the samples of the IELTS cue card on “Describe Your Dream House”, along with the follow-up questions and lexical resources. In addition to that, we have also mentioned how to answer the cue card and some helpful tips to excel in this task. So let us first begin by understanding all about cue cards.
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The cue card round is a part of the IELTS speaking section that lasts for about 1-2 minutes. Moreover, it is the same for both 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 Describe Your Dream House cue card and what it looks like.
Answering cue cards requires a proper structure and strategy. Moreover, the ideal way to draft an answer is to divide the sections into parts. These include an introduction, the body wherein you mention the key highlights and the conclusion. Moreover, to score well in the IELTS speaking part 2, the content in the response must be structured. Besides, your answer will be assessed and evaluated on majorly four criteria. These include fluency and coherence, grammar, and pronunciation.
The pointers that you must explain in the Describe Your Dream House essay are as follows:
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.
Here is the first sample response for achieving 8+ band scores in your IELTS speaking section task.
My dream house will be a beautiful tree house, away from the hassle and hardships of city life. I have always wanted to live in a solitary place with my loved ones.
The location of the house would be a tranquil, green forest, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty and peaceful solitude. A place where I can reconnect with nature. The picturesque views of the forest make it an ideal retreat from the busy urban lifestyle.
My dream house would be a perfect blend of elegant streamlined styles and rustic beauty. The exterior will be embellished with natural stones and an aisle surrounded by lush green flora and fauna. There will be floor-to-ceiling glass windows, enabling sunlight to enter the home, and offer scenic views of the landscape. Moreover, this creates a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors.
I would like to stay in my dream house during the weekends. It would be a perfect vacation spot for me and my family. Especially during spring when nature shows its beautiful magic with vibrant colorful flowers and a gentle breeze refreshing environment.
It's an ideal location with elegant architecture, the perfect place where I can relax and create memories. Whether enjoying the beauty of nature from the comfort of my home or exploring the forest surroundings, this house truly is an ideal living environment for me.
To wrap up, my dream house is more than just a living place for me. It illustrates my desire for peace amidst the chaos. Besides, it represents my desire to connect with nature where I can be myself, a place for my retreat.
Here is another sample response for your reference. This will help you to ace the IELTS speaking part 2 task.
My dream house is a beautiful sea-facing bungalow, ideally situated in the heart of a vibrant city. I visualize a spacious duplex house with large windows that offer breathtaking views of nature. It would be pained with splendid solid colors and subtle background.
I adore sea views and the sound of the waves. Therefore the location of the house would be somewhere near the ocean, providing the comfort of being close to the urban setting. Moreover, it will have accessibility to markets, restaurants, entertainment venues, and healthcare services as well. The diversity of the cityscape provides an inspiring backdrop for my dream house.
My dream house will have a modern design. The interior will be designed with minimalist aesthetics. It would have large, elegant white curtains that flutter when the windows are open from the fresh ocean breezes. It would be a private place, reflecting my appreciation for contemporary life with modern amenities.
I would like to move into this dream house within the next five years after I have achieved financial stability. Besides, the timeline allows me to ensure that I can furnish it according to my preferences, demands, and needs.
The reason why this house is perfect for me is because it indicates my aspirations for a balanced lifestyle where I can enjoy nature with modern conveniences. Moreover, it would reflect my values of simplicity and natural beauty.
In conclusion, my dream house symbolizes my aspiration for a modern lifestyle with a blend of convenience and style.
Read the sample below to achieve a great band score in the IELTS speaking section, cue card round.
The house of my dreams would be a perfect blend of comfort, functionality, and beauty. I envision a spacious four-bedroom modern bungalow with sloped roofs. The exterior would be well-lit with warm lighting.
The house would be located in the prime colony surrounded by more such bungalows. Besides, there are various factors that make the location ideal, such as security, proximity to key amenities, workspace, and more.
My dream house would have a beautiful living room with a huge cozy couch with a fireplace. There would be a separate study with a bookshelf filled with my favorite books. In addition to that, there will be a comfortable chair for me to sit and read. Besides, there will be a walking wardrobe wherein I will keep my collection of perfumes, watches, and shoes. The bathrooms would be luxurious, with a spa-like feel, offering a sense of relaxation.
I along with my family would like to move into this dream house in a year or two. I believe that I have achieved stability in my life both financially and mentally.
There are several reasons why this dream house is perfect for me. This is the place where I can feel at peace with my loved ones. It would provide a sense of security and comfort.
In conclusion, my dream house depicts my desire for a modern-day lifestyle. Additionally, it reflects my values of simplicity, beauty, and harmony.
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.
| Lexical Resources | Meaning |
| Solitary | Enjoying being alone; frequently spending time alone |
| Tranquil | Quiet and peaceful |
| Picturesque | Usually used about for an attractive place |
| Streamlined | Designed or arranged in a way that makes movement easier |
| Rustic | Typical of the country or of country people; simple |
| Embellished | To make something more beautiful by adding decoration to it |
| Lush Green | A lush area has a lot of green, healthy plants, grass, and trees |
| Seamless | Continuous, without any spaces, |
| Breathtaking | Extremely surprising, beautiful, etc. |
| Splendid | Very impressive; excellent |
| Accessibility | The fact of being able to be reached or obtained easily |
| Cityscape | The visual appearance of a city or urban area; a city landscape. |
| Backdrop | A painted piece of material that is hung behind the stage in a theatre as part of the scenery |
| Minimalist | Very few, focusing only on the needs |
| Amenities | Something that makes a place pleasant or easy to live in |
| Proximity | The state of being near to somebody/something in distance or time |
| Walking Wardrobe | A large closet, intended for storing clothes, footwear etc., and used as a changing room. |
| Luxurious | Very comfortable; full of expensive and beautiful things |
Now that you are thorough with the lexical resources and the meanings. Let us look at some follow-up questions that may appear in this task.
Post, the cue card round, the examiner asks various questions from the candidate based on the topic. It is the last part of the IELTS speaking section and it takes about 4-5 minutes. This consists of a few follow-up questions, the difficulty ranging from easy and medium to hard. 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 response with examples and also include your own experiences. Now let’s discuss some possible follow-up questions that you may encounter:
In India, the choice between apartments or houses varies depending on various factors and lifestyle preferences of people. Apartments are budget-friendly and offer amenities such as security, maintenance, and more. On the other hand, independent houses are long-term investments offering privacy and space. Thus, some people may prefer an apartment while others might choose a house, depending on a combination of factors.
Most young people in India tend to live with their parents. There are a variety of factors behind this such as cultural norms, financial support, and more. Usually, Indian children live by themselves only when they migrate to another city or country for education or work purposes. I too, used to live with my parents, before I moved to another city for studies.
The older homes in India used to have open spaces. These were known as verandas, situated in the middle of the house with no roof on the top. These houses were designed in such a manner that they could accommodate large families. On the contrary, modern architecture is made for nuclear families. However, these contemporary homes offer a lot of modern technology and eco-friendly features.
The type of home that people live in depends on various factors, such as the city, region, and more. In metropolitan cities, where land is scarce and the population is large, people prefer to live in apartments. Besides, people living in the Northeast will have houses made of natural materials such as bamboo or wood. On the other hand, houses in the Himalayan region will have sloped roofs to ensure snow slides through.
These were the few follow-up questions along with answers. Further, let us look at a few tips that will help you score well in the exam.
In this section, we have mentioned some tips and tricks to help you excel in the cue card with an 8+ band score. Let us have a glance at the following pointer:
Wrapping up, the IELTS speaking section is a crucial part of the IELTS exam that requires proper preparation. Thus, in this blog, we have discussed the cue card topic “Describe Your Dream House” with its three sample answers. In addition to that, the write-up also contains lexical resources along with a few useful tips. Besides, there are more such topics that you must practice to excel in the IELTS speaking cue card round. Moreover, if you have queries or need assistance to ace the exam then join our online IELTS classes by experts.
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