Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Something you did that made you feel proud - Cue Card # 575
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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 something you did that made you feel proud of yourself.
You should say:
- what you did
- when you did it
- why you felt proud of what you had done
and explain how you felt when this happened.
[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: [Arranging the table tennis playing facility in college]
To tell you the truth, I often ask myself how many special or great things I have done in my life to feel proud of myself or make my family proud. Regrettably, however, there are only a few of them that I can think of. But, I will still go ahead and talk about one of those things today that made me feel proud of myself, at least to some extent, approximately 5 years ago.
When I did this thing about 5 years ago, I had just started my college life rather reluctantly at a small college in my hometown. I am using the word “reluctantly” here because I was very interested in attending one of the largest and prestigious colleges in my country outside of my hometown, but my grandparents wouldn’t want me to leave my joint family and our small town.
Anyway, back to the original story, the college I was attending back then had very limited scope or opportunities to help students get involved with extra-curricular activities, especially in sports. But I loved to play table tennis, and our college didn’t have any facilities for playing table tennis. So, the first thing I did was to find some like-minded students who would be interested in playing table tennis with me, and luckily, I succeeded in doing that. Later, I proposed that we each would contribute some money to buy the table tennis balls, the net, and the table on our own, and they all agreed to it. Soon, we got everything we needed to play table tennis, except a room. But that too was arranged for us soon after we applied to the college authority to provide a room for us for our table tennis practice.
Anyway, I felt really proud when this happened, primarily because I succeeded in convincing not only some of my classmates but also the college authority to get on board with me on this initiative. Besides, I also felt that we can actually accomplish a lot of things in our lives if we remain positive about our plans and abilities.
Sample Answer 2: [Learning to swim as an adult]
Oh! Thank you so much for this interesting and nice topic. One thing I did that I’m genuinely proud of is learning how to swim as an adult, and here I will tell you more about this. I will try to tell you when and how I did that, how I felt about this and why it made me feel proud. So please bear with me.
Well, I learnt to swim about three years ago, and to be honest, it was something I had put off for a long time. Learning how to swim at the age of 24 is not easy. Most of my friends had learned to swim when they were children, but I never got the chance, or maybe my parents were not very interested in teaching this skill to me. As the years went by, I became more self-conscious, and the idea of being the only adult in a beginner’s swimming class was a bit intimidating, even though some of my university friends did exactly that.
But then one summer, I decided enough was enough. I signed up for evening swimming lessons at a local sports centre. At first, I struggled even to float on the water, and my fear of drowning was very real. But I kept going, attending classes twice a week, practising breathing techniques, and slowly learning the correct strokes. The instructor was really patient and helpful. I owe a lot to him for teaching me this skill with patience.
I felt proud because it wasn’t just about swimming. It was, in fact, also about overcoming a personal fear and pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Swimming had always been one of those “maybe someday” skills for me, and turning it into a reality was incredibly satisfying. It also gave me a huge sense of accomplishment because I knew I had done it entirely through my own effort and determination, and with the help of the instructor.
When I finally swam a full length of the pool without stopping, I remember feeling both relieved and thrilled. It was a mix of joy, pride, and a sense of freedom, like I had unlocked a new ability in life. Now, swimming is something I truly enjoy, and every time I’m in the water, I feel a little proud of the journey that brought me here.
Model Answer 3: [Landing on my first job]
It happened about four years ago, right after I graduated from university, and I'm still very proud of this event. Here, I will share with you this event.
I remember applying to several companies, customising my CV for each role, and preparing for interviews for hours on end. The job market was competitive, and I didn’t have much experience, so every application felt like a long shot. However, I was desperate to manage a job.
One company in particular stood out to me, which was a mid-sized firm where the role seemed perfectly aligned with my skills and interests. The interview process was intense, with multiple rounds including a written test, a panel interview, and finally, a one-on-one meeting with the department head. I gave it everything I had, staying calm under pressure and making sure my enthusiasm came through.
When I got the call saying, “We’d like to offer you the position,” I almost couldn’t believe it. I felt proud because it wasn’t just about getting a job, it was also proof that all the effort, preparation, and self-belief had paid off. It also gave me a sense of independence, knowing I could now support myself financially.
In that moment, I felt a rush of happiness and relief. It was like crossing a finish line after a long race. I remember calling my parents right away, and they were just as excited as I was. That first job offer will always hold a special place in my heart because it marked the beginning of my professional journey.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
There are moments in life when our actions bring a strong sense of achievement and self-worth. This topic asks you to describe something you did that made you feel proud of yourself. You should give details about what you did, when it happened, why it made you proud, and how you felt during that time. Here are a few ideas to help you structure your response:
1. Completing a challenging university project:
I successfully completed a final-year research project that involved extensive data collection, analysis, and presentation. It took me months of dedication, late nights, and consistent effort to finish it on time. The moment my professor praised my work and awarded me top marks, I felt a rush of pride, knowing all my hard work had paid off and that I had pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.
2. Learning to swim as an adult:
For years, I had a fear of water, but I decided to take swimming lessons and committed to overcoming it. After weeks of training, I finally managed to swim a full lap without stopping. I felt incredibly proud because I had conquered a personal fear and achieved something that once seemed impossible, proving to myself that persistence leads to success.
3. Organising a successful charity event:
I took the initiative to organise a fundraising event for a local children’s shelter. From finding sponsors to managing the event day, I worked tirelessly for weeks. The event exceeded our target donations, and seeing the joy and gratitude of the children made me feel proud not just of the effort I put in, but also of the positive difference I had made in other people’s lives.
4. Winning a sports competition:
I trained intensively for a regional badminton tournament and ended up winning first place. It was the result of months of discipline, early-morning practice sessions, and pushing my limits physically. Standing on the podium holding the trophy gave me a feeling of immense pride and validated all the sacrifices I had made to reach that point.
5. Helping a friend pass an important exam:
A close friend was struggling with a subject, so I spent weeks tutoring them and creating study materials. When they passed with good grades, they credited my help as a major factor in their success. I felt proud because my knowledge and patience had directly impacted someone’s life in a meaningful way.
6. Overcoming a public speaking fear:
I volunteered to deliver a speech at a community event, even though I had always been nervous about speaking in front of an audience. I practised for days, worked on my confidence, and managed to speak clearly and confidently during the event. The applause and positive feedback I received left me feeling accomplished and proud of facing one of my biggest fears.
7. Cooking an elaborate meal for a large group:
For my parents’ wedding anniversary, I decided to cook a full-course dinner for 15 guests without hiring any catering service. Planning the menu, buying the ingredients, and cooking everything myself was challenging but rewarding. When everyone appreciated the food and the effort, I felt proud that I had made their special day even more memorable.
8. Securing my first job offer:
After months of applications and interviews, I finally received an offer for a job I had dreamed of. The process required a lot of preparation, improving my skills, and handling rejections with patience. Getting that offer made me feel proud because it reflected my determination and belief in my own abilities.
9. Completing a long-distance hike:
I joined a group trek that covered over 40 kilometres in mountainous terrain. The physical demands were intense, and there were moments I wanted to quit, but I kept going. Reaching the final checkpoint brought a deep sense of accomplishment and pride, reminding me that endurance and willpower can push you far beyond your limits.
10. Learning a foreign language:
I dedicated a year to learning a new language through self-study, online courses, and speaking practice. Eventually, I was able to hold full conversations with native speakers. The ability to communicate in another language made me proud of my discipline and persistence, and it opened up opportunities I had never imagined.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing something that made you feel proud, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey the nature of the achievement, when it occurred, the reasons for your pride, and your emotional state. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the significance of your accomplishment and the feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment it brought, making your response both personal and inspiring. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Accomplishment: – A thing that has been done successfully.
Example: Finishing the marathon was a significant accomplishment for me.
Achievement: – A thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill.
Example: Receiving the award for my work was my greatest professional achievement.
Milestone: – An important event in the history or development of something or someone.
Example: Completing the project marked a major milestone in my career.
Sense of pride: – A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements or qualities.
Example: The final result filled me with an immense sense of pride.
Self-satisfaction: – The feeling of being pleased with oneself or one's achievements.
Example: I felt a strong sense of self-satisfaction after successfully solving the problem.
Validation: – Recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile.
Example: The positive feedback from my peers felt like a validation of all my hard work.
Confidence boost: – An increase in one's feeling of self-assurance arising from one's own appreciation of one's abilities or qualities.
Example: The successful presentation gave me a huge confidence boost.
Fulfilling: – Providing personal satisfaction.
Example: It was an incredibly fulfilling experience to see my idea come to life.
Elated: – Ecstatically happy.
Example: I was absolutely elated when I finally reached my goal.
Triumphant: – Having won a battle or contest; victorious.
Example: I felt a triumphant joy after overcoming such a difficult obstacle.
Resilience: – The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Example: The feeling of pride was tied to my resilience in the face of setbacks.
Perseverance: – Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Example: The achievement was a direct result of my perseverance.
Overcame a challenge: – Succeeded in dealing with a difficult situation or problem.
Example: I felt proud because I had overcome a significant challenge that I once thought was impossible.
Acknowledged: – Recognized or showed appreciation for something.
Example: I was proud that my efforts were finally acknowledged by my supervisor.
Self-assurance: – Confidence in one's own abilities or character.
Example: The experience gave me a newfound sense of self-assurance.
Gratified: – Given pleasure or satisfaction.
Example: I felt deeply gratified by the positive impact my work had on others.
Your preparation for the cue card topic - "Describe something you did that made you feel proud of yourself" would help you to talk about the following topics as well:
1. Describe a recent happy event you can remember.
2. Describe a time when others appreciated you.
3. Describe a success you have had.
4. Describe a time when you did something well.
5. Describe an achievement you have had in your life.
6. Describe something you recently did that you feel proud of.
7. Describe something you did that was new or exciting.
8. Describe a success that your friend has that you are proud of.
9. Describe a time when you felt proud of someone you know.
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