An international standardized exam of English language ability for non-native English speakers is the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). For immigration, education, and employment purposes, it is frequently employed. The four sections of the IELTS exam are Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening. Scores for each section range from 0 to 9, with 9 representing the highest score. Most English-speaking institutions typically require a total score of 6.5 or above for admission.
During the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam, you will be required to complete the IELTS Cue Card exercise. You will receive a card from the examiner with a prompt on it, and you will have one minute to get ready to talk for two minutes on the subject. The Cue Card subjects can be anything, but they frequently touch on aspects of daily life like your interests, hobbies, or job. The goal of the test is for the examiner to gauge your ability to speak clearly and effectively on a range of subjects.
What is IELTS Cue Card
- During the Speaking portion of the IELTS exam, you will be required to complete the IELTS Cue Card exercise. You will receive a card from the examiner with a prompt on it, and you will have one minute to get ready to talk for two minutes on the subject.
- The Cue Card subjects can be anything, but they frequently touch on aspects of daily life like your interests, hobbies, or job. The goal of the test is for the examiner to gauge your ability to speak clearly and effectively on a range of subjects.
- Be sure to plan. Take a moment to consider your response before the examiner hands you the Cue Card. Be sure to plan out your ideas and develop a concise outline for your response.
- Be precise. Don’t merely make broad generalizations about the subject. Instead, provide precise information and examples to support your arguments.
- Make use of a range of grammatical and vocabulary options. Your proficiency with the English language is something the examiner is looking for. In your response, try to employ a range of language and grammatical constructions.
- Speak clearly and with ease. You must talk clearly and effectively to pass the exam. Stay away from long pauses and filler words like “um” and “like.”
What are the different types of IELTS Cue Card prompts?
IELTS Cue Card Prompts come in a wide variety of forms, although they can be broadly categorized into the following groups:
- People: You are asked to describe a person in these prompts, such as a friend, family member, teacher, or mentor.
- Places: For these questions, you must describe a location, such as your hometown, a favorite vacation area, or a fantasy location.
- Things: These questions ask you to describe a specific item, such as your preferred book, film, or dish.
- Experiences: You’re asked to explain an experience you’ve had, such as a time you conquered a difficulty, picked up a new skill, or visited a foreign location.
- Opinions: These questions ask you to express your thoughts on a particular subject, such as whether you think social media is beneficial or detrimental, or what you consider to be a friend’s most crucial trait.
Here are some examples of specific IELTS Cue Card prompts:
- Name a person who has had a profound influence on your life.
- Describe a location you’d like to go to and why.
- Name a skill you’d like to learn, and explain why.
- Tell a tale about a moment when you erred and what you took away from it.
- Discuss a struggle you have faced and the lessons you have taken away from it.
- What do you think about social media? Is it beneficial or bad?
- What do you consider to be a friend’s most crucial quality?
- Why is it your favorite book or movie? Describe it.
- Describe a dish you enjoy and why.
- Describe the location of your ideal getaway and why you want to go there.
How long do I have to prepare for the IELTS Cue Card task?
The IELTS Cue Card exercise gives you one minute to get ready. You should arrange your ideas and consider what you want to say during this period. You might wish to take some notes as well.
The following advice will help you get ready for the IELTS Cue Card task:
- Study the prompt thoroughly. Make sure you comprehend the topic being questioned about.
- Consider your personal experiences. If the writing prompt requests that you describe a person, place, thing, or experience, consider your own experiences and provide a concrete example from them.
- Prepare your ideas. Take a moment to consider how you want to arrange your response before you respond. You’ll communicate more clearly and fluently as a result of this.
Identify a person who has had a major influence on your life.
Preparation:
- Consider your own life. Who is someone who has significantly influenced your life? What traits do they possess that you find admirable? What have you taken away from them?
- Prepare your ideas. What format do you wish to use for your reply? Will you begin by describing the individual and their connection to you? When you can discuss their influence on your life with particular examples, please. Will you summarize your main points and state why the subject is so essential to you in your conclusion?
What is the examiner looking for in the IELTS Cue Card task?
The examiner is looking for the following in the IELTS Cue Card task:
- Coherence and fluency: The examiner is looking for evidence that you can speak for two minutes without taking significant pauses or resorting to filler words.
- Lexical resource: The examiner is looking to determine if you have a solid vocabulary and know how to apply it.
- Grammatical range and accuracy: The examiner is looking for evidence that you are proficient in English grammar.
- Relevance: The examiner is looking for evidence that you can stay on topic and include pertinent details and examples.
- Pronounce: The examiner wants to hear if you can pronounce words and sentences in English correctly.
Fluency and coherence:
- Fluency is the capacity to speak naturally and without stuttering.
- Coherence: This describes your capacity to arrange your ideas and thoughts logically so that your response is simple to understand.
Lexical resource:
- Lexical range: This describes the breadth of your vocabulary.
- Lexical accuracy: This is the precision with which you use words.
Grammatical range and accuracy:
- The variety of grammatical structures you employ is referred to as your grammatical range.
- Grammar accuracy: This refers to how correctly you use the language.
What are some tips for doing well on the IELTS Cue Card task?
Before the exam:
- Learn about the numerous categories of Cue Card prompts. This will assist you in being ready for whatever topic that is assigned to you for the exam.
- Learn to talk on a range of subjects. You can improve your coherence and fluency by doing this.
- Take voice recordings of yourself speaking and play them again. You can use this to pinpoint any areas where you need to get better.
On the day of the exam:
- Make sure you comprehend the topic being questioned about by carefully reading the Cue Card prompt.
- Spend a moment composing your reply. Prepare your response by considering what you want to say and how you want to present it.
- Spend two minutes speaking clearly and eloquently. Stay away from long pauses and filler words like “um” and “like.”
- Make use of a range of grammatical and vocabulary options. This will demonstrate to the examiner that you are proficient in English.
- Give precise details and examples to support your arguments. Your reaction will become more intriguing and educational as a result.
Here are some additional tips:
- Don’t be reluctant to make errors. Nobody is flawless, so the examiner is not counting on you to be faultless. Don’t worry if you speak incorrectly; instead, concentrate on communicating clearly and effectively.
- Do not freak out if you get stuck. Try to come up with a different method to phrase what you want to say after taking a long breath. You can also request a repeat of the question from the test taker.
- The two-minute time limit must not be exceeded. When your allotted time is over, the examiner will stop you. Don’t worry if you don’t complete your response. The examiner has heard enough for them to evaluate your speaking abilities.
Frequently Asked Question
Yes, you can use notes on the IELTS Cue Card task. However, you should not rely on your notes too heavily. The examiner is more interested in your ability to speak fluently and coherently without relying on notes.
Yes, you can ask the examiner for help if you get stuck on a question. For example, you can ask the examiner to repeat the question or to give you a synonym for a word that you are struggling to remember.
If you finish your response early, you can ask the examiner if they have any follow-up questions. You can also use the remaining time to elaborate on your response or to give more specific examples.
