Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe a couple you know who have a happy marriage - Cue Card # 562
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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 couple you know who have a happy marriage.
You should say:
- who they are
- how you know them
- what they usually do together
and explain why you think that they are a happily married couple.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
While there is no definitive definition – at least, a universal definition that I am aware of - of a happy marriage, the conventional wisdom suggests that when a couple gets along with each other just fine under any and all circumstances, we can duly consider that they have a happy marriage just like the marriage between my maternal uncle and his lovely wife. To me, they are the perfect happy couple.
Anyway, talking about my uncle and aunt, they are not really some young couple as I have been seeing them for almost 25 years now. In fact, they have a couple of college-going children who also seem just as happy as their parents. As I have already mentioned earlier that I have known this couple since my early childhood, but very seldom have I seen them living separately from each other, like many other couples do out of anger or misunderstanding, or arguing with each other over any petty issues. Well, on second thought, forget about any argument over some petty issues; I have never even seen them arguing over any important issues.
By the way, my uncle and aunt are a very busy couple, as they both work outside, but they still somehow manage to go out every week to enjoy a lovely dinner, with or without their children. They even manage to invite some of their friends over to their house and enjoy their time over some snacks or coffee at least twice a week. Besides, I have also seen my uncle doing videos of my aunt while she is busy cooking some of her favourite dishes in her kitchen.
Anyway, the relationship between my uncle and aunt provides more than enough evidence to suggest that my uncle and aunt are a happily married couple. But, if that’s not enough evidence, the practice of exchanging gifts among each other at least every month, be it some simple flowers or some expensive perfumes, would definitely convince anybody about the happy marriage between my uncle and aunt.
Model Answer 2:
Thank you so much for this lovely topic. The first couple that comes to my mind to talk about is my former colleague Emma and her husband Daniel.
I met them about five years ago when Emma and I worked in the same marketing firm, and over time, I got to know them both quite well. They’re one of those couples you can’t help but notice because of the way they naturally look out for each other.
They usually spend a lot of time doing things together, even when life gets busy. For example, they have this tradition of cooking dinner together every Friday night - Emma handles the main dish while Daniel bakes bread or dessert. They also go hiking almost every other weekend, and I’ve seen countless pictures of them at different trails, always with these bright, happy smiles. Even in social gatherings, they’re never overly clingy, but you can see how comfortable they are in each other’s company.
I think what makes them such a happily married couple is the balance they have between being partners and being friends. They share responsibilities, support each other’s careers, and most importantly, they laugh together a lot. Emma once told me that the secret to their marriage is “teamwork and not taking life too seriously,” and honestly, you can see that in the way they live. Spending time with them always leaves me with the impression that marriage can be both joyful and easy-going when there’s genuine respect and understanding at its core.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe a couple you personally know who seem to have a genuinely happy marriage. Mention who they are in relation to you, how you know them, what they usually do together, and the specific reasons you believe their relationship is strong and positive. Here are several detailed ideas you can adapt:
1. Neighbours from the apartment next door:
I’ve known this couple for a few years because we live on the same floor and often share the lift or parcel pickups. They cook together most evenings, take after-dinner walks, and split household tasks without keeping score. They handle disagreements quietly - one of them steps out for air, then they revisit the topic with calmer voices. I think they’re happily married because they communicate directly, celebrate small milestones like “first-day-of-spring dinner,” and always speak about each other with respect even when the other person isn’t present.
2. A senior pair from my community gym:
I met them during morning fitness classes, where they arrive hand-in-hand and stretch side by side. They plan weekend hikes, compare step counts, and encourage each other to meet health goals. When one had a minor injury, the other adjusted workouts to keep pace without leaving them behind. Their marriage looks happy because they share routines, keep each other accountable in a supportive way, and treat health as a team project rather than an individual chore.
3. A couple who run a small bookstore:
I know them as the owners of a local bookshop I visit frequently. They divide responsibilities - one manages inventory and accounts while the other curates displays and organises reading circles. They eat lunch together at the counter, trade book recommendations, and remember regular customers’ preferences. Their partnership seems joyful because they’ve blended work and life gracefully, appreciate each other’s strengths, and never compete for credit; they joke that every success stamp reads “co-authored.”
4. Relatives who host family game nights:
I see them at monthly gatherings where they co-host board games and potluck dinners. They set up stations together, share inside jokes, and make sure everyone - kids and elders - feels included. When tensions arise among relatives, they exchange a quick glance, divide the conversations, and defuse things with humour. Their marriage appears happy because they’re aligned socially, practise gentle teamwork under pressure, and prioritise creating warm memories for the wider family.
5. Former teachers from my old school:
I knew them first as colleagues who taught different subjects. They now volunteer together at weekend tutoring sessions, alternate who leads, and prepare materials at the same desk. They compliment each other’s styles - one is strict about structure, the other adds creativity - and neither tries to overshadow the other. Their marriage seems strong because they share a purpose, give feedback kindly, and celebrate each student’s progress as a joint victory.
6. Friends who co-parent with balance:
I’ve watched them at park meetups and school events. They rotate school runs, keep a shared calendar, and swap roles when work gets hectic. In front of their child, they present united decisions; in private, they discuss differences respectfully and revisit rules when needed. They look happily married because they value fairness, protect each other’s downtime, and treat parenting as collaboration rather than competition.
7. A pair from my cooking class:
We met during weekend culinary lessons. They experiment with recipes at home, critique each dish like friendly judges, and post a weekly “menu” on their fridge to plan groceries. When something fails, they laugh, plate it creatively, and call it “rustic.” Their marriage seems happy because they turn ordinary routines into shared adventures and keep curiosity alive through learning new skills together.
8. A couple who practise financial transparency:
I know them through a budgeting workshop. They have a monthly “numbers and noodles” date where they eat simple food, review expenses, plan savings, and choose one small treat for the month. They’re open about financial mistakes and frame them as lessons, not accusations. Their marriage appears solid because money - often a stress point - is handled with honesty, humour, and joint goals, which reduces friction and builds trust.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a happily married couple, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey their identity, your relationship with them, their shared activities, and the qualities that make their marriage successful. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate their bond, mutual respect, and shared joy, making your response both insightful and heartfelt. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Happily married: – In a state of a happy and successful marriage.
Example: They have been happily married for over three decades and are still very much in love.
Couple: – Two people who are married, engaged, or otherwise romantically involved.
Example: They are a wonderful couple who truly complement each other.
Mutual respect: – A reciprocal feeling of esteem or admiration for each other.
Example: Their marriage is built on a foundation of deep mutual respect.
Partnership: – The state of being partners in a relationship or business.
Example: I see their marriage as a true partnership, where they support each other equally.
Shared interests: – Common hobbies, activities, or topics that people enjoy together.
Example: They have many shared interests, like hiking and cooking, which they do together every weekend.
Communication: – The imparting or exchanging of information or news; the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings.
Example: Their open and honest communication is a key factor in their happy marriage.
Unwavering support: – Steady and resolute encouragement or assistance for each other.
Example: They have offered each other unwavering support through all of life's challenges.
Complement each other: – To combine in such a way as to enhance or improve the qualities of one another.
Example: He is quiet and she is outgoing; they complement each other perfectly.
Devotion: – Love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person or activity.
Example: It's clear to everyone how much devotion they have for one another.
Affectionate: – Readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness.
Example: They are very affectionate with each other, often holding hands and sharing a laugh.
Cherish: – To protect and care for someone or something lovingly.
Example: You can tell from their actions that they truly cherish their relationship.
Enduring love: – Love that lasts for a long time without weakening.
Example: Their relationship is a testament to enduring love and commitment.
Camaraderie: – Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
Example: Their marriage has a strong sense of camaraderie and shared humor.
Resilience: – The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Example: Their ability to overcome challenges together shows the resilience of their bond.
Inseparable: – (Of two or more people or things) unable to be separated or treated separately.
Example: They are almost inseparable, always choosing to spend their time together.
Role models: – People looked to by others as examples to be imitated.
Example: They are role models for what a happy and healthy marriage should be like.
Your preparation for the cue card topic - "Describe a couple you know who have a happy marriage" would help you to talk about the following topics as well:
1. Describe someone you know who has a happy marriage.
2. Describe a family, not your own, you know about.
3. Describe a family that lives near your home.
4. Describe someone who has recently got married.
5. Describe one of your relatives you know well.
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