Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test, generally known as the ‘cue card’ section, is widely perceived as one of the most challenging parts of the IELTS exam.
It is because you are expected to speak for a longer period with less time to prepare.
We are here to help, so we have included sample answers for this article’s cue card topic, ‘Describe an activity that you find enjoyable’. Please keep reading to learn more.
What is the IELTS Cue Card Question?
In the IELTS Cue Card Section, you are given a subject card with a theme and a few subjects to cover.
This is referred to as a ‘cue card’. You are also given a piece of paper and a pen to help you prepare for your speech.
You have one minute to plan and around 1-2 minutes to explain the topic allocated to you.
Usually, the topic is something close to your heart. You can be asked to recall an incident or explain why you like or dislike something.
This task lasts about 3-4 minutes, and the examiner may ask you one or two follow-up questions based on the content of your speech.
How to Answer this Specific Cue Card Question: “Describe an Activity that You Find Enjoyable”?
Topic/Question
Describe an Activity that You Find Enjoyable
Guidelines to answer this question
You should say:
- What this activity is
- How you know about this activity
- When you usually do this activity
And explain how you feel when you do this activity.
- Think of an activity that you are fond of doing. It could be any activity as long as you can share and discuss it later on.
- Once you have chosen a specific activity, stick to it. You do not have a lot of time to change your mind as you only have 60 seconds to plan for your speech.
- Start taking notes. Write what activity it is and how you come to know about this activity. Include how often you do this activity. You may also discuss with whom you do this activity with.Furthermore, explain how you feel when you are doing this activity.
- Because you only have very little time to prepare, do not write sentences. Just write keywords and phrases to help you save time.
- Employ a wide range of advanced vocabulary and complex grammar structures. This will impress the examiner and eventually help you land a great score.
- Be quick when you take notes but make it a point that you will be able to understand what you have written later on. If your handwriting is not comprehensible by the examiner, it is okay. You are evaluated on the content of your speech and not on how you have written on your notes.
- You may opt to look at your notes every now and then. This is to ensure that you discuss everything you plan to cover. The examiner will not prohibit you from doing so.
Sample Responses: “Describe an Activity that You Find Enjoyable”
Sample Response 1:
“It’s simple to describe a favorite hobby! I could mention other ideas, but I’ll focus on one in particular: writing essays with my buddies. It’s fantastic since it helps us improve our English while also allowing us to have fun discussing together. We also utilize Cambridge University vocabulary lists to help us remember new words and phrases rapidly. We usually devote a few hours of free time every day to IELTS preparation, therefore we make an effort not to get distracted by other activities such as social media browsing or chatting on WhatsApp.
Aside from that, we make it a point to exercise every day in order to maintain our physical health and eat nutritious foods. Yoga is something I enjoy practicing in the morning. When studying and learning, staying healthy is essential! And, of course, to avoid stress! For example, if I’m writing an essay about the Great Depression, my friends will tell me about their favorite memories of 1930s America while I type it out in Microsoft Word. We keep each other entertained!
Recently, someone asked me, “What happens if you don’t have enough free time each week to cover all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing?” It’s a typical issue because it might be challenging when we have a hectic schedule or are suffering from work commitments. However, we strive to practice all of our abilities in short bursts of spare time.
We are really lucky to be able to communicate in English, which is a talent that most people cannot grasp without living abroad for years and learning from native speakers. I believe it is critical to remember this when you are scared or anxious about your forthcoming IELTS exam! You’ve already accomplished something that many others will never be able to do: you’ve learned another language so well because you didn’t have access to a native teacher as a youngster or never had the opportunity to take an English course.
Preparing for IELTS takes a lot of work, but it’s worth it because if I obtain the band score I need, I’ll be able to study at Cambridge University in the future!”
Follow-up Question 1:
How important do you think it is to learn English?
Response:
“Being the universal language, learning English is extremely significant. I can say it is as important as learning your native language. We need English not only when we travel or go to other countries but in our everyday lives as well. You go to the supermarket and products and directions on how to use them are in English. Also, news channels that inform us of what’s happening around the world are in English, so I strongly believe that learning the English language is highly essential.”
Follow-up Question 2:
Which do you prefer, doing your hobbies with your friends, or doing it alone?
Response:
“It depends, there are hobbies that I enjoy doing with my friends while there are also those that I would rather be alone. Shopping for example, is something I like doing with my friends because I get to ask them what they think about something that I want to buy. On the other hand, when I want to paint, I’d rather be by myself because then, I can think clearly on what I want to paint.”
Sample Response 2:
“Well, there are a variety of activities that I enjoy doing. Working in my home’s kitchen garden, reading a book, cleaning my bedroom, surfing the internet, watching documentaries or YouTube videos, and so on. But, in this case, I’d like to discuss a hobby of mine that I enjoy doing while I’m alone at home: cooking. I enjoy cooking for myself as well as my lovely family. My mother is an excellent cook, and I learned how to cook from her. When I’m bored, I go to the kitchen and experiment with different recipes.
To be honest, I don’t want to eat at a food stand in a market because I know that many times food is produced in unsanitary conditions that are harmful to anyone. So, I cook in my kitchen at home. I enjoy experimenting with new dishes. For example, I can make any kind of cake, Chinese food, Italian food, Dhokla, Thai, and so on.
Furthermore, I occasionally prepare special foods for my family members based on their preferences and surprise them. They are overjoyed when they see their favorite foods. I recall being alone at home a few weeks back when other family members went outside for work or school. That day was a holiday for me. I was bored. I walked into the kitchen and began preparing a healthy supper. I chose to create a special meal called “Gajar Ka Halwa,” which is a favorite of my mother’s. It was made with milk, sugar, butter, carrots, and dried fruits. I tasted it after I had cooked it. It was delectable.
I showed it to my mom when she returned home. She ate it and felt ecstatic. She kissed me as a result of this. I was on cloud nine at the time since a smile on her face brightened my day. So, when I’m alone at home, I like to cook.
Follow-up Question 1:
Is it important for someone to have a hobby? Why do you think so?
Response:
“Absolutely! I think that doing something you enjoy during your free time is important, especially if you are a student or an employee. You need to have some time where you can take a break from school or from work. We need to do something relaxing or our health might get affected.”
Follow-up Question 2:
What do you think about those who prefer extreme activities as their hobby?
Response:
“I have so much admiration for them. I’m certain it takes a lot of courage and confidence for them to do the things that they do. Life is short, and if that’s what they want to do, they are free to do so. I, on the other hand, wouldn’t opt to go skydiving or bungee jumping as a hobby. I think they’re dangerous, and I’m just too scared.”
Vocabulary List to Answer this Question: “Describe an Activity that You Find Enjoyable”
Below are some terms from the sample responses for the cue card topic ‘Describe an activity that you find enjoyable.’ with their meanings and sample sentences for your reference.
Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Usage of the Word in a Sentence |
---|---|---|---|
access | noun | A method of accessing or entering a location | “The papers are only available for access to senior management.” |
admiration | noun | Adoration and warm approval | “My initial skepticism was quickly transformed by admiration.” |
anxious | adjective | Experiencing anxiety, uneasiness, or nervousness, usually in response to an impending event or anything having an unclear consequence | “We were quite anxious till we learned they were safe.” |
cloud nine | idiom | Extremely pleased | “The newlyweds were on cloud nine after the birth of their son.” |
devote | verb | To dedicate all or a substantial portion of one’s time or resources to a person, activity, or cause | “He resolved to devote the remainder of his life to scientific research.” |
distracted | adjective | Unable to concentrate due to mental distraction | “The street noise distracted my attention away from my reading.” |
ecstatic | adjective | Feeling or displaying intense joy or joyous exhilaration | “An ecstatic audience greeted them with cheers.” |
forthcoming | adjective | Anticipated to occur or is set to occur in the near future | “His message could indicate his forthcoming arrival.” |
grasp | verb | To seize and securely hold | “I yanked the envelope away from his grasp.” |
hobby | noun | A recreational activity done on a regular basis in one’s spare time | “Many retirees like horticulture as a hobby.” |
overjoyed | adjective | Incredibly satisfied | “Everyone in the family was overjoyed to hear the wonderful news.” |
preference | noun | A preference for one option over another or others | “Parents can declare their preference for the school where their child will attend.” |
rapidly | adverb | Extremely fast; at a quick rate | “The house was rapidly engulfed in flames.” |
supper | noun | An evening dinner, usually light or casual | “We had to accept potluck because we had arrived unannounced for supper.” |
unsanitary | adjective | Unclean or unhealthy, and so prone to causing disease | “Rosie suffered a severe infection as a result of an improper and unsanitary surgery.” |
Additional Reading — IELTS Speaking Cue Card Questions
- Describe a Person You Admire
- Describe Your Best Friend
- Describe Someone Famous that You Want to Meet
- Describe a Person Who You Think is a Good Leader
- Describe a Neighbor You Like
- Describe a Place You Want to Travel Next
- Describe a Historical Place that You Have Been to
- Describe a Place You and Your Friend Went to Recently
- Describe a Place Where You Spend Most of Your Free Time
- Describe a Country that You Want to Visit
- Describe a Gift that You Have Received Recently
- Describe an Item of Clothing that You Bought for Someone
- Describe a Piece of Art that You Want to Buy
- Describe Something that You Recently Lost
- Describe a Vehicle that You Want to Buy
- Describe a Place Where You Love to Shop
- Describe an Event that You Recently Attended
- Describe One of the Busiest Days of Your Life
- Describe a Hobby that You Do with Your Family
- Describe a Difficult Decision that You Made
- Describe a Time When You Felt Lucky
- Describe the First Time You Had a Mobile Phone
- Describe a Time When You Helped a Stranger
- Describe a Time When You Tried to Do Something but Weren’t Successful
- Describe Your Favorite Teacher
- Describe Your Favorite Subject in School
- Describe a Situation that Made You Upset
- Describe a Time When You Had an Argument with Someone
- Describe One of the Happiest Travels You Ever Had
- Describe an Incident When You Got Scared
- Describe a Time When You Felt Relieved
- Describe a Workaholic Person You Know
- Describe an Interesting Course You Took
- Describe a Time When Someone at Work Gave You a Compliment
- Describe a Quiet Place at School Where You Like Spending Your Free Time
- Describe a Time When Something Unfortunate Happened at Work