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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 night when you could not sleep at all.

You should say:

• when it happened
• where you were then
• why you could not sleep that night

and explain how you felt about it.

[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:
To be honest, I can hardly recall a time when I had a problem with sleeping. But, of course, I also have bad days (or should I say “bad nights”) once in a blue moon, when even a person like me has to struggle to fall asleep. Today, I would like to share the story of one such bad night when I couldn’t sleep at all.

It happened about 5 to 6 years ago when I needed to visit a small town in my country in a very remote area to meet a prospective client. The call to visit that client came rather unexpectedly. But since the client was willing to offer a lucrative deal to my real estate company, I, as a Sr. Sales Director, had no other option but to leave for the little town the very next day to close the deal.

By the way, my company was in the business of constructing markets, manufacturing plants and commercial centres. But, after arriving in that small town at night, I found that there were only a couple of small hotels in that town with no vacancies. But a manager from one of those hotels offered me a room which was very close to the reception and lobby area.

Initially, I became glad about the offer, thinking that I had finally found a place to sleep, only, of course, to find out later at night that there was nothing to be glad about after all. In fact, I couldn’t sleep the whole night because the night auditor (in charge of the night shift) of the hotel kept his TV on the whole night at high volume. Besides, he was also talking with his friends in a very loud voice over the phone the whole night which prevented me from sleeping.

Anyway, after spending the night there, I felt that I should have been more careful in choosing a hotel in that small town. Besides, I also felt too tired and cranky to talk to my client that day since I couldn’t sleep the whole night. All in all, it was a horrible experience.   

Sample Answer 2:

I often go to bed after midnight, and a sleepless night is not a rare experience for me. Remaining awake to prepare for an approaching exam is the most common reason I spent many sleepless nights in the past. However, for this topic, I'd like to talk about a night I spent at a hospital, and I could not sleep for even a minute.

It was 2022, probably mid-July, and all of a sudden, my grandfather got severely ill. The doctor who came to our house to check my grandfather advised us to take him to the city hospital. We called for an ambulance and took my grandpa to the hospital. My parents, two cousins, my eldest uncle and my youngest aunt were in the hospital that night. They were all very worried, and my aunt was sobbing ceaselessly. We were all concerned about the well-being of my grandpa. The doctor told us that it was wise of us to bring the patient to the hospital without any delay, as it could have been disastrous otherwise. He also informed us that a panel of doctors who were observing my grandpa's medical history had decided to operate on him that night. He also assured us that it was a minor operation and we had nothing to worry about, as the best doctor in the town happened to be there that night. In spite of the doctor's assurance, we were very anxious.

At around 11.00 pm, the doctor operated on my grandpa, and he was unconscious. I stayed at the hospital until the next noon and could not sleep at all.

Frankly speaking, I did not want to sleep at all, and the experience did not bother me. A hospital is not a place where a patient's relatives and family members can sleep. I prayed to the Almighty to help my grandpa get well soon. At around 4.30 in the morning, a nurse came to us and gave us the good news; my grandpa was conscious at that time, and he wanted to see us. That was a great relief, and we thanked the nurse who gave us this news.

It was a sleepless night, but I did not feel dizzy or sleepy at all. My brain must have been busy thinking about the sickness and well-being of my grandfather, and the espresso coffee also helped. I slept the next day at around 3.30 pm, and my grandfather was out of danger then. Interestingly, I slept almost 14 consecutive hours the next day, as I can recall. 

Sample Answer 3:

Honestly, sleepless nights are never pleasant, but sometimes they’re unavoidable. One such sleepless night that I still remember clearly happened last semester, the night before my history exam. I will tell you about it.

I’m an undergraduate student at Hopkinson University, majoring in History, and one of my toughest courses was "Ancient History and its Impact on the Modern Era". To be honest, I wasn’t well prepared at all. The syllabus was huge, and the content was pretty complex, so the night before the exam, I made the tough decision to stay up and revise as much as I could.

I live in a dormitory with two of my classmates, and luckily, they were in the same boat. None of us slept that night. They helped me out a lot by sharing notes and explaining a few key topics that I had missed during lectures. If I had been studying alone, I don’t think I would have managed. Instead, we turned the night into an intense group study session, fuelled by endless cups of coffee.

Although it was exhausting, it was also strangely motivating. I managed to go through most of the syllabus and walked into the exam feeling more confident than I had expected. I haven’t received the results yet, but I’m hopeful I did reasonably well.

Looking back, that sleepless night taught me an important lesson: procrastination always comes with a price. If I had been more consistent throughout the semester, I wouldn’t have had to sacrifice my sleep and health the night before. Since then, I’ve been trying to manage my time better to avoid repeating the same mistake.

Model Answer 4: 

Introduction:
Thank you for this interesting topic. I vividly remember a night when I simply could not sleep at all - it was a sleepless night. It was one of those nights that felt endlessly long, and it left a strong impression on me because it was both physically exhausting and emotionally frustrating. Here, I will share this story with you. 

When it happened:
This happened a few months ago, during the winter season. I had been feeling a bit under the weather in the evening, but I didn’t expect it to get so bad during the night.

Where you were then:
I was at home, in my bedroom, and fortunately, my parents were nearby, taking care of me. Even though I was in the comfort of my own home, the situation made it difficult to rest properly.

Why you could not sleep that night:
The main reason I couldn’t sleep was that I had developed a severe headache accompanied by a high fever. Every time I tried to lie down and close my eyes, the throbbing pain in my head intensified. On top of that, I was feeling extremely weak and restless, which made it impossible to fall asleep. My parents were very concerned and kept checking on me, offering water and medicine, but it still took hours before I could finally feel even a little relief.

And explain how you felt about it:
Honestly, I felt quite frustrated and helpless throughout the night. I was exhausted, yet sleep seemed completely out of reach. At the same time, I felt grateful that my parents were there to care for me and make me as comfortable as possible. The experience made me realise just how much we often take a good night’s sleep for granted and how essential it is for our overall health.

Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

This topic asks you to describe a night when you were unable to sleep at all. You are expected to mention when it happened, where you were, what caused you to stay awake, and how you felt about the experience. Since people lose sleep for many different reasons, here are a few ideas to help you generate your own answer. These examples cover various situations so that you can pick one that resonates with your experience.

Idea 1: A night before an important exam:
I was at home preparing for a final school or university exam. Despite revising the material throughout the day, my mind kept going over the possible questions, and I felt nervous about forgetting something important. The stress and constant overthinking kept me awake all night. I felt exhausted the next day but relieved once the exam was over.

Idea 2: A night spent in a hospital waiting room:
I was at the hospital because a family member was admitted for treatment. The worry, the sound of medical equipment, and the uncomfortable seating made it impossible to sleep. Even when I tried to rest, I kept thinking about the patient’s health and praying for a positive outcome. The night left me drained, but also strengthened my appreciation for health and family.

Idea 3: A night during a long flight:
I was travelling on an overnight international flight, seated in economy class. The cramped space, continuous announcements, and turbulence made it very difficult to fall asleep. Instead, I spent the night watching movies, reading, and waiting for the morning to arrive. Although I was excited to reach your destination, the fatigue from lack of sleep was overwhelming.

Idea 4: A night before a wedding ceremony:
I was at a relative’s house, staying over to help with the wedding preparations. Excitement, laughter, and endless discussions kept everyone awake. Even though I tried to lie down, the noise and anticipation for the next day’s big event prevented me from sleeping. I felt tired but also full of joy and enthusiasm when the celebrations finally began.

Idea 5: A night with loud neighbours or street noise:
I was at home trying to sleep, but my neighbours were hosting a late-night party. The loud music, laughter, and car horns from outside made it impossible to rest. I tossed and turned, hoping it would end soon, but the noise continued until early morning. The next day, I felt irritated and unproductive due to the lack of sleep.

Idea 6: A night before an important trip:
I was in my own bedroom, but I could not sleep because I was too excited about a journey scheduled for the next morning. Thoughts about packing, reaching the airport on time, and the adventures ahead kept running through my mind. Even though I stayed awake the whole night, the excitement carried me through the first day of travel.

Idea 7: A night due to illness or discomfort:
I was at home suffering from a fever or stomachache. The discomfort and pain made it impossible to fall asleep, and I had to keep getting up for medicine or water. I felt weak and restless throughout the night, and by morning, I was completely drained of energy. It was a reminder of how valuable good health is for sound sleep.

Idea 8: A night during a power outage:
I was at home when an unexpected power cut left the entire area without electricity. The summer heat made it unbearable, and mosquitoes added to the misery. Without a fan or air conditioning, I kept tossing and turning, hoping the power would return. The sleepless night left me physically tired and mentally frustrated the next day.

Idea 9: A night during a natural disaster warning:
I was at home but could not sleep because there was a warning of a cyclone or earthquake in our region. Fear of what might happen, combined with the sound of heavy rain or strong winds outside, kept me awake. I stayed alert, checking news updates and preparing emergency items. The anxiety made it one of the longest nights I had ever experienced.

Idea 10: A night of overthinking after a personal conflict:
I was in your own bedroom but unable to sleep because I had an argument with a close friend or family member earlier in the day. The harsh words exchanged kept replaying in my mind, and I felt both regret and sadness. Although I wanted to rest, my emotions were too strong, and I only managed to calm down by morning. The experience left me emotionally drained but also taught me the importance of resolving conflicts quickly.

Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

When describing a sleepless night, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey the time, your location, the reasons for your insomnia, and your emotional state. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the frustration, the physical sensations, and the long-term effects of the experience, making your response both personal and relatable. Here are some relevant words and phrases:

Sleepless: – Unable to sleep.
Example: It was a completely sleepless night for me, and I felt exhausted the next day.

Insomnia: – The inability to sleep.
Example: I was suffering from a bout of insomnia due to stress at work.

Tossing and turning: – To move restlessly while sleeping or trying to sleep.
Example: I spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to find a comfortable position.

Wide awake: – Fully or completely awake.
Example: Despite being tired, I was wide awake and could not fall asleep.

Mind racing: – To have many thoughts or ideas pass through one's mind quickly and uncontrollably.
Example: My mind was racing with worries, which made it impossible to get any rest.

Restless: – Unable to rest or relax as a result of anxiety or boredom.
Example: I felt incredibly restless, getting up to walk around the room several times.

Anxious: – Feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
Example: I felt anxious about an upcoming presentation, which kept me awake all night.

Exhausted: – Drained of one's physical or mental resources; very tired.
Example: By morning, I was completely exhausted and unable to focus.

Fatigue: – Extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.
Example: The lack of sleep resulted in a feeling of extreme fatigue the next day.

Dread: – Anticipate with great apprehension or fear.
Example: I began to dread the sight of my bed, knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep.

Irritable: – Having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed or made angry.
Example: The lack of sleep made me feel very irritable and short-tempered.

Frustrated: – Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something.
Example: I was so frustrated with myself for not being able to sleep.

Physically drained: – Feeling very tired in the body.
Example: I was physically drained, but my mind just wouldn't shut down.

Mental fog: – A state of muddled or unclear thought.
Example: The lack of sleep left me with a mental fog that lasted all day.

Chronically: – (Of an illness or problem) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
Example: I worried that this would turn into a chronically sleepless issue.

Looming deadline: – A deadline that is approaching in a way that feels threatening or daunting.
Example: A looming deadline was the main reason for my sleeplessness.

If you know how to answer this cue card topic, you should be able to answer the following topics as well:

1. Describe something unusual you have done recently.
2. Describe a time when you were worried.
3. Describe a time when someone accompanied you.
4. Describe a sleepless night you have spent.
5. Describe a night you did not want to sleep.

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• IELTS Speaking
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