The IELTS speaking section is the fourth section of the IELTS exam. This is the section with 3 parts. The second part is called the cue card. This blog will cover the second part of this section. Here, you can explore the samples of the cue card on “Describe your first day at school”. Moreover, you will also get follow-up questions with answers. Finally, you will learn some tips on how to ace the cue card part of IELTS speaking.
Table of Contents
The IELTS speaking part 2 or the cue card assesses your speaking skills in English. The first part is about a topic you are familiar with. Then, you are given a cue card or prompt with a random topic. This topic can be anything from travel, books, home, family, trips, etc. There are 3 to 4 pointers under the main topic to help you understand what is being asked in the task.
Moreover, you will get a minute to prepare for this and 2 minutes to speak. Additionally, they will provide a pen and paper for you to note down the keywords.
To answer the IELTS speaking part 2 correctly, you must understand the process. For this, online IELTS classes ensure you cover several topics to understand what the examiner wants. Every cue card comes with 3-4 pointers related to the topic.
However, you can also choose to leave some of them. Here is how to answer the IELTS cue card on “Describe your first day at school”:
Here is what the cue card on “Describe your first day at school” will actually look like:
This was generic information on the cue card of the IELTS speaking sub-test. Now, let us look at some samples to understand in depth.
Here is the first sample for cue card on “Describe your first day at school” for scoring 8.0 bands in IELTS speaking:
The memories of that day have surely gone blurry. However, I do remember the glimpses of what made that day special.
It was my first day of primary school. I was left in the reception area by my parents, like all the other kids. My school used to be around 4 km away from my residence.
As soon as we entered the premises, the teachers took various queues of children towards their respective classrooms. Upon reaching the door of my class, we all were given floral garlands with fresh flowers. Moreover, every individual was asked which section they would like to be in. I also remember students crying for their parents. However, I was eager to see what was to come next.
Thankfully, the first day was not about the alphabet or numbers. The day was spent introducing ourselves to each other. However, it was the very day I learned to introduce myself in three sentences. This included my name, age, and my present school and class.
I am unable to recall the exact emotions my curious self experienced that day. However, currently, I am feeling very nostalgic and jolly. I am grateful for my pleasant experiences at school as a child. My foundations have been showered with mercy and care.
To conclude, the first day of my school was not emotional but blessed and warm!
Here is the sample 2 for cue card on “Describe your first day at school” for scoring 8.0 bands in IELTS speaking:
I would like to recall the time when I changed school and city due to my father’s transfer.
I was born and brought up in Jaipur. Thus, up until my secondary education, I studied in one school. However, my family and I had to shift to Delhi due to my father’s profession. I was admitted to a school in that city. I completed my remaining education from that school.
On my first day in this new school, I was made to stand and present in front of the entire class. I remember a class full of students and a stomach full of butterflies. This was the second time, as the first had been a brief self-introduction upon entering the classroom for the first time.
When I joined the class in the middle of the semester, I missed the first lectures on all the subjects that were taught that day. However, I was able to grasp it as I was being home-schooled by my parents during the shifting phase. My initial impressions on my teachers and classmates was great. However, I did not make any friends that day.
I was enthusiastic and ecstatic, yet timid and edgy. This was a combination of emotions I had never felt before. It was one of the factors that made the day so memorable.
To wrap up, it was not the best day of my school life. Yet, it was well spent and most of it was unforgettable.
Here is the sample 3 for cue card on “Describe your first day at school” for scoring 8.0 bands in IELTS speaking:
My first day of school was an unforgettable experience.
It was my first day spent away from my parents. My pre primary school was a vibrant place. I saw children playing in the ground and some studying in the classroom.
I could see other students crying as well. Their loud cries halted my sobbing and I could not help but stare at them with awe. Moreover, we all performed several activities and got introduced to computers.
I learned the first lesson of abacus and grasped the basics of turning on a personal computer (PC). However, I soon realized that all power buttons don’t look the same. This was a hilarious realization.
It was unbearable for me to see my mother leaving me with strangers. My naive brain perceived it a forever separation. Thus, I kept weeping for her to come back and take me. This was the case until a teacher held my hand and asked me to join her in the class.
To sum up, I was a child and felt lonely without my mother at school. But it didn’t take much time for me to realize that I was growing up. Thus, as a whole, the experience was full of learning, laughter, and tears.
Now, you will see the marked words above and their meanings in the vocabulary list below.
Here is a list of vocabulary for IELTS that can be helpful for you to score 8+ bands in the IELTS exam:
| WORD | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Glimpses | A very quick and not complete view of somebody/something |
| Premises | The building and the land around it that a business owns or uses |
| Garlands | A circle of flowers and leaves that is worn on the head or around the neck or is hung in a room, etc. as decoration |
| Nostalgic | Feeling happy and also slightly sad when you think about things that happened in the past |
| Jolly | Happy |
| Foundations | The idea, principle, or fact on which something is based |
| Home Schooled | To teach a child at home rather than sending him or her to school |
| Ecstatic | Extremely happy |
| Timid | Shy and nervous |
| Edgy | Nervous and anxious, and seem likely to lose control of themselves. |
| Memorable | Worth remembering or easy to remember |
| Vibrant | Full of life and energy; exciting |
| Halted | To bring it to a stop |
| Sobbing | To cry while taking in sudden, sharp breaths; to speak while you are crying |
| Awe | Feelings of respect and either fear or admiration |
| Hilarious | Extremely funny |
| Naive | Without enough experience of life and too ready to believe or trust other people |
These were the words and their meanings that you can also use in daily life. Now, let us look at follow-up questions with answers in the section below.
Here are the follow-up questions with answers for the above IELTS speaking part 2:
I think they should try new ways to make it interesting for their kids. Also, they must have a bedtime routine to help them get used to rising early. Moreover, educating the kids on what they can expect is also a great way to ensure their children have a good first day.
Children get into socializing when they are together. They are usually curious by nature and dive into situations by themselves only. However, schools and play schools conduct several activities for these kids to engage in. Moreover, this helps children socialize and aims to uplift even the not-so-social children in the room!
I believe these changes have their own pros and cons on the mind of a growing child. On the one hand, they might get a better and new life with opportunities, teachers, and new friends. On the other hand, they are being separated from their previous life, which is surrounded by bonds with other children. These experiences can also impact a child’s ability to socialize and cause uncertainty if it happens too many times.
In my opinion, children develop a thought structure only when they socialize with each other. They get introduced to new perspectives and their mind and perspectives broaden. Similarly, for adults, quality socialization is what benefits them. Unnecessary engagement has minimal merits.
Now, let us look at some expert tips to ace the IELTS cue cards in one go.
Here are a few tips to learn to perform better in the second part of the IELTS speaking section:
To sum up, the IELTS speaking section is not that tough. However, the scores you get add up to the overall score. Thus, you must practice different topics and online study materials well. This cue card was on “Describe your first day at school”. You can expect to practice with more topics in online IELTS classes. At Gradding, you will get support in all aspects of your study abroad journey, including test preparation. Enroll now for customized study plans!
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