The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a commonly accepted test for measuring the skills of people in English. It’s specially made to check non-native speakers’ ability to understand and use the language correctly. This worldwide examination looks at four main parts: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English are all together responsible for this exam.
Scores for IELTS go from 1 to 9, where higher numbers mean better ability in English. This test is accepted by universities, employers, and immigration authorities all over the world as a dependable way to measure how well someone knows English. People who want to study, work, or move to an English-speaking country often need this test.
For IELTS, there are two kinds: Academic and General Training. The first one is for people planning to study at a university or college in an English-speaking country, or who need it for professional registration like doctors and nurses. On the other hand, the second type called “General Training” suits those who want to work abroad or migrate where English is used in daily life.
IELTS Test Format
The IELTS test format includes four sections, each one aimed at testing a particular language skill: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. People usually finish the Listening and Reading parts first, then do the Writing task, and end with the Speaking section.
The Listening part has four recorded monologues and conversations. It checks if you can comprehend the main points, particular information, opinions, or objectives. The Reading part consists of three passages taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers that evaluate your comprehension skills along with interpretation and analysis abilities as well.
In Academic IELTS, the Writing task is about explaining a graph, table, or diagram and then writing an essay. The General Training Writing task includes letter writing and an essay. The Speaking section is a personal interview where they test your speaking skills. They check how fluent you are if there’s a good connection between ideas (coherence), variety in words (lexical resources), grammar range plus accuracy, and finally pronunciation too.
Test takers are given a score for each part, and also an overall band score from 1 to 9 where 9 is the maximum.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card Section
The IELTS Speaking Part 2, which is called the Cue Card section, makes up a significant part of the IELTS Speaking test. In this component, candidates are handed a cue card that contains a topic along with some prompts to talk about. They get one minute for preparation and after that, they have to speak for 1-2 minutes on the given subject.
Usually, the cue card requests candidates to talk about an experience, object, person, or situation in a detailed manner. This part tests the ability of candidates to speak for a longer duration, use suitable vocabulary and grammar correctly, arrange their thoughts logically, and give related examples or reasons. The examiner will also ask additional questions about the topic to evaluate the candidate’s speaking skills more thoroughly. Good preparation for this part, like practicing with example cue cards and making plans on how to arrange and give a well-structured response, helps a lot in getting good band scores for the IELTS Speaking test.
Example 1: Describe a subject/Course you would like to learn in the future.
Introduction
Education gives chances for fresh opportunities and self-improvement. When I think about the future, it makes me excited to follow a path that matches well with what I love and my working goals. Going deep into complicated details of science, and humanities, studying all about human knowledge or getting useful abilities for certain professional areas – these are ways that can offer a good base for an enjoyable and significant trip ahead. For the cue card topic “Describe a subject/course you would like to learn in the future”, I will talk about the subject I am interested in.
What is this course?
Learning is a never-ending journey, and I think that pursuing courses, whether they are online or offline, gives the ultimate method of learning one subject comprehensively. So, one course that I might take in the future could be marketing.
Where would you do it?
I desire to study this course as my core specialization and wish to study it at NMIMS. This private university is located in Mumbai but it also possesses campuses in Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Indore. This course will necessitate diligent work on my profile. Therefore, if I can obtain admission, I must make increased efforts to excel in line with the university’s standing.
What would you learn in that course?
In the marketing course, my focus would be on consumer behavior. With the worldwide digital shift taking place, various companies are shifting online and concentrating on social media as well. So, an extra supplementary course about social media and digital marketing would help me to prosper in my profession.
Explain why you would like to do this course.
I am interested in this course for many reasons. One main reason is that the world of advertising excites me and then, and I don’t think this course can become irrelevant as long as humans are living with a capitalist mindset.
Conclusion
Pursuing this course is my dream and I aspire to create a bright future for myself in this course.
Example 2: Describe a subject/course you would like to learn in the future.
Introduction
Education provides opportunities for new chances and bettering oneself. When I ponder about the future, it makes me enthusiastic to pursue a route that aligns with my passion and working objectives. Delving into intricate intricacies of science, humanities, studying everything about human knowledge, or acquiring practical skills for specific professional domains – these are avenues that could provide a solid foundation for an enjoyable and meaningful journey ahead. Thank you for providing me with this cue card topic as today I am going to talk about a subject I always liked to study.
What is this course?
Yes, I would like to do an English course. In today’s time, English has gained the status of being the most crucial language in the world. It is for this reason that it became a subject one must learn and thus, we are now required to study English from elementary school onwards.
Where would you do it?
I want to join the Foreign Trade University. They have a professional class for Business English. This school is known well because of their good way of teaching and high standard in this course. Since I already have other classes in the morning, I prefer to study during the afternoon course. Moreover, the course fee is affordable in a way that aligns with my salary.
What would you learn in that course?
An English course is something I want to join for many reasons. Firstly, the English language is like a global tool; it assists individuals from different nations in communicating with each other more effectively. Second, knowing this language also provides a lot of occasions for us to learn about other cultures and societies.
Explain why you would like to do this course.
We rely on English to stay current with news from everywhere because almost all books and magazines are written in this language. At last, it could be useful to learn English for our profession and improve our CV. As is the case now, several firms need good office employees who can do international business well.
Example 3: Describe a subject/course you would like to learn in the future.
Introduction
Education is like a key that unlocks doors to new chances and self-improvement. When I think about the future, it excites me to choose a route that matches my passion and working objectives. Studying complex details of science, and humanities studying everything about human knowledge, or gaining skills for specific professional areas – could be good ways to set up enjoyable and meaningful paths in life ahead. It’s very thoughtful of you to give me this cue card topic. Today, I want to discuss a subject that I have always wanted to study.
What is this course?
Today, everything is becoming digital and marketing is no exception. Many businesses require experts who can effectively promote their products and services online. So, I am quite excited to learn more about digital marketing.
Where would you do it?
I will choose to take this course online, using platforms like Coursera or Udemy. These sites provide numerous digital marketing courses taught by professionals in the field. With these online classes, I can learn comfortably at my preferred speed from any location.
What would you learn in the course?
From this class, my comprehension of different digital marketing tactics such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media promotion, email advertising, content marketing, and more will be enhanced. I would also learn to make successful digital marketing campaigns, study data to assess their effectiveness, and alter strategies accordingly for better outcomes, etc.
Explain why you would like to do this course.
This digital marketing course is appealing to me because of its expanding scope. If I become skilled in this area, it may be simple for me to find a good-paying job where I assist businesses in enhancing their online presence, enlarging their clientele, and boosting revenue. In addition to that, the field of digital marketing provides various career possibilities such as working at an agency or becoming a self-employed freelancer or even starting my own business online.
Other Cue card:
Describe A Tourist Place No One Visits: IELTS Cue card
Describe a time when you were sleepy but had to stay awake: IELTS Cue card
Describe a time when you were in a public place and you overhead a stranger talking on the phone
Describe Some Technology That You Decided To Stop Using: IELTS Cue Card
Describe a Library you have Visited Cue Card
Follow-up Questions for IELTS Cue Card topic: Describe a subject/ course you would like to learn in the future.
1. What motivated you to choose this particular course of study?
The reason behind my motivation for this field is a strong interest and wish to give back to the community. I have always found it fascinating, and from studying about it initially, I saw how much good can come from working in this area. This subject also matches what I am good at and like doing, so it will give me more reason to work hard and succeed.
2. How do you envision this course preparing you for your future career goals?
Understanding what the course contains, gives me a full program that will help me to have the needed knowledge, abilities, and real-life experience for success in my chosen professional route. From basic theories to practical methods, I will get a balanced comprehension of this area. The course also concentrates on abilities needed by businesses, so I can start working after finishing it.
3. Have you considered the potential challenges you might face while pursuing this course?
Yes, I understand that this course will be intellectually challenging and time-consuming. But, I am prepared to study hard and handle my time properly. Moreover, I get that there could be intricate ideas or methods that might pose challenges. Nevertheless, I am prepared to ask for help and assistance from my professors and classmates to deal with any difficulties that come up.
4. How will you manage your study time against other parts of your life?
Balancing work and personal life is critical. I plan to make an organized timetable that sets specific times for studying, going to classes, and doing tasks. At the same time, I will reserve some time for taking care of myself, meeting friends, and engaging in extracurricular activities that match my passions. Making sure to manage time well and give importance to certain things will help me find this equilibrium.
5. In what manner can this course possibly enhance your personal development, beyond just academic understanding?
Taking this course will encourage personal development that goes beyond mere academic understanding. I could interact with a mix of students and teachers, which would help expand my viewpoints and cultural knowledge. Working on projects together and group tasks could also improve skills for teamwork and communication, useful in professional settings later on. Furthermore, the thinking challenges and brainpower needed in this field will develop toughness and flexibility, which are important qualities for accomplishment in every pursuit.
The answers in this interview are thoughtful and detailed. They show the candidate’s capability to give well-thought-out answers, display their motivation and readiness for the course, and highlight their capacity for critical thinking and personal development.
Aakriti Kumari is a passionate content writer who finds solace in the world of books. An avid reader from a young age, she has cultivated a deep love for the written word. When she’s not crafting compelling content, you can find her lost in the pages of a captivating novel. Aakriti shares her literary adventures and book recommendations on her Instagram account, @aakthereader, dedicated to her love of reading. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, she brings words to life, inviting readers on a journey through her writing.
