Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe a very useful skill you have learned - Cue Card # 443
- Details
- Written by IELTS Mentor
IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe a skill you have learned that you think is very useful.
You should say:
- what skill it is
- where and when you learned it
- how you use it
and explain why you think this skill is so useful.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
Learning new skills can always be helpful to become a successful person in life. I have also learned a few skills in my life already, and today I'd like to talk about one of them here.
The skill I am talking about is motorcycle driving skill. Ironically, during my childhood, I was rather afraid of riding a motorcycle, let alone driving one. And the reason I was afraid of riding a motorcycle was that I just didn’t like its loud noise at the time of its start. But, of course, things got a little interesting for me when my uncle bought a battery-operated motorcycle about 12 years ago.
By the way, I had no idea that there was some kind of battery-operated motorcycle up until that point. I became even more surprised when I found out that the battery-operated motorcycle didn’t make any sound. Needless to say, when I found out about such a unique piece of information about a battery-operated motorcycle, I became really interested in it. At some point, I even started to dream about driving it, except, of course, I just didn’t know how to drive a motorcycle.
So, I asked my uncle to teach me how to drive a motorcycle, and he gladly accepted me as an apprentice. Initially, I was way too nervous about driving it, but my uncle was just too smart and skilful to teach me how to ride a motorbike within a week. And as soon as I learned to drive it, I started to take that motorbike to all kinds of places, including the markets, my friends’ places and my university.
Anyway, I think that this skill is really useful, mainly because it allows me the freedom and peace of mind of moving to all kinds of places at will. It is a useful skill also because it saves me a lot of time by taking me to places way faster than using other kinds of larger vehicles or transports.
Sample Answer 2:
I can speak and write Spanish, and I consider it an essential skill that I have. My mother tongue is not Spanish, and it was not even my second language in our school. However, I learned it during my three-year stay with my grandmother in Spain. My grandmother admitted me to a local school, and I learned this language there. After I returned to Italy - my homeland - I had practised Spanish with some of my friends from Spain. The comprehensive online language learning materials and reference websites also helped me learn this language.
Well, I use Spanish to talk to my grandparents and three cousins I have in Spain. I also read Spanish storybooks and novels recommended by one of my university teachers, who is also from Spain. Most importantly, I use this to translate some web page content as a freelance translator. I have left a part-time job I was doing in a large grocery shop, and now I work solely on translation jobs online.
I believe that learning a new language and actually being able to use it is a great skill. It enables us to learn about a different culture, and thus enhances our overall understanding of the diverse cultural aspects of various nations. This skill also enables me to make new friends, read books written in another language and understand a different nation and its cultural aspects. Another important use of this skill is my freelancing job. I work as a translator from and to Italian, English and Spanish, and I enjoy this job. In short, I would say that this skill is quite helpful and handy to me.
Sample Answer 3:
Well, this is an interesting topic to talk about, and I am quite happy to have this topic.
Well, a skill that has been extremely useful in my life is repairing and building electronic devices. I developed this ability after completing a six-month vocational course in Delhi, and to this day, I’m really grateful I invested my time in it.
I’ve always been curious about how gadgets work. As a child, I would often unscrew radios or old mobile phones just to see what was inside. Unfortunately, more often than not, I ended up breaking them completely. That’s when I realised that curiosity alone wasn’t enough - I needed proper training. So, when I came across a local institute offering an affordable diploma in electronics, I immediately enrolled. Over six months, I learned how circuits function, how to identify faults, and even how to design simple hardware from scratch.
This skill has proved to be incredibly practical in my daily life. For example, whenever an appliance at home stops working, I don’t need to call a technician or rush to buy a new one. I can usually fix it myself. In fact, my neighbours often bring me their malfunctioning gadgets, and I’m happy to repair them. What’s more, I’ve even set up a small workshop where I provide these services professionally, and the response from the community has been very encouraging.
The best part about this skill is that it saves both time and money. Instead of discarding devices unnecessarily, I can give them a second life, which is also more environmentally friendly. Looking ahead, I’m considering turning this hobby into a full-time career, perhaps by expanding my workshop into a proper business.
Idea Generation for this Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card Topic:
This topic asks you to describe a skill you have learned that you find very useful. You need to explain what this skill is, when and where you learned it, how you use it, and why you consider it useful. To help you prepare, here are a few possible ideas expressed in a way you could use in your own answer. Read them carefully and adapt them to your personal experience.
1. Cooking:
I learned cooking from my mother during my teenage years, and I now use it almost every day to prepare healthy meals for myself. This skill is extremely useful because it saves me money, helps me eat better, and makes me more independent.
2. Typing:
I taught myself touch typing during high school using online tools. Now, I can work faster on assignments, emails, and office tasks. I find this skill indispensable because it improves my productivity and saves a lot of time.
3. Public speaking:
I learned public speaking by joining a debate club at college. These days, I use it whenever I present ideas at work or speak in front of an audience. It is very useful because it boosts my confidence and helps me influence others effectively.
4. Swimming:
I learned swimming at a local pool when I was about ten years old. I use it as a form of exercise and relaxation whenever I get the chance. This skill is useful not only for fitness but also as a life-saving ability.
5. Driving:
I learned how to drive after finishing high school by attending a driving school. Now I use it to commute, run errands, and travel with family. I find this skill useful because it gives me freedom and convenience in daily life.
6. Time management:
I learned time management during my university years when I had to juggle classes, part-time jobs, and studies. I still use it daily by planning schedules and prioritising tasks. This skill is very useful because it reduces stress and helps me achieve goals more efficiently.
7. Using Excel:
I learned Excel from an online course while doing an internship. Now, I use it at work to create spreadsheets, analyse data, and keep records. This skill is very useful because it makes me more efficient and valuable in the workplace.
8. Photography:
I learned photography from a workshop a few years ago. I now use it to capture memories, edit photos, and sometimes even for freelance projects. This skill is useful because it allows me to be creative and document important moments.
9. Sewing:
I learned sewing from my grandmother when I was a teenager. I use it occasionally to repair clothes or make small home decorations. I find this skill useful because it saves money and gives me the ability to fix things on my own.
10. Writing:
I improved my writing skills during my school years and later through constant practice. I use it to write reports, emails, and creative pieces. This skill is extremely useful because it helps me express myself clearly and professionally.
11. Gardening:
I learned gardening from my father, who is very passionate about plants. I now use it to grow vegetables and flowers at home. This skill is useful because it reduces stress, provides fresh food, and makes my surroundings more pleasant.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a useful skill you've learned, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey what the skill is, when and where you learned it, how you apply it, and why it's so beneficial. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the process of gaining proficiency, the practical applications of the skill, and its impact on your life, making your response both insightful and well-structured. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Skill: – The ability to do something well; expertise.
Example: The most useful skill I have learned is public speaking.
Acquired: – Learned or developed a skill, habit, or quality.
Example: I acquired this skill during my time working at a call center.
Proficiency: – A high degree of competence or skill; expertise.
Example: It took me a long time to reach a high level of proficiency.
Mastery: – Comprehensive knowledge or skill in a particular subject or activity.
Example: I am still working towards achieving complete mastery of this skill.
Competence: – The ability to do something successfully or efficiently.
Example: The course helped me develop the necessary competence to perform my job well.
Practical: – Relating to the actual doing of something rather than just theory.
Example: It's a very practical skill that I use every day in my job.
Indispensable: – Absolutely necessary.
Example: The ability to manage my time has become an indispensable skill for me.
Versatile: – Able to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.
Example: It is a versatile skill that can be used in many different professional fields.
Application: – The action of putting something into operation.
Example: I was surprised at the wide application of this skill in various areas of my life.
Benefit: – An advantage or profit gained from something.
Example: The main benefit of this skill is that it helps me be more efficient.
Efficiency: – The ability to do something well or achieve a desired result without wasted energy or resources.
Example: The skill has greatly improved my efficiency at work.
Problem-solving: – The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.
Example: The skill has given me better problem-solving abilities.
Self-improvement: – The improvement of one's knowledge, status, or character by one's own efforts.
Example: Learning this skill was part of my journey of self-improvement.
Competitive advantage: – A condition or circumstance that puts a company or person in a superior business position.
Example: Having this skill has given me a competitive advantage in the job market.
Valuable asset: – A useful or valuable thing or person.
Example: I consider this skill to be a valuable asset to my professional career.
Transformative: – Causing a marked change in someone or something.
Example: Learning this skill was a truly transformative experience for me.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe a skill you have learned that you think is very useful", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a practical skill you have learned.
2) Describe a skill you want to learn.
3) Describe something important you have learned recently.
4) Describe a skill that you believe takes a long time to learn.
5) Describe a skill you have that you can teach others.
6) Describe a skill that was difficult for you to learn.
Report