Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe an art and craft activity you did at school # Cue Card 589
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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 an art and craft activity you did at school.
You should say:
- what it was
- what you did for this activity
- who you did it with
and explain how you felt about this activity.
[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:
As a young schoolboy, I used to like a lot of things about my elementary school, such as playing with friends in the school playground and sharing tiffin with them. However, there was another thing that I really liked about my elementary school, which was the periodic art and craft activities. Today, I would like to describe one such activity that I did as a young elementary school student.
This particular art and craft activity involved “making picture albums” with cardboard. Of course, in the beginning, I wasn’t really very interested in doing any art or craft activity because I wasn’t simply enjoying it as much as other school activities. Not exactly sure why I was not enjoying it as much, but it was probably because I was doing it alone. But, as our school got a new art teacher, later on, he understood the problem and decided to group students like us together in order to make us collaborate with each other. Anyway, it is time to go back again to describe my “picture album” that I made in elementary school.
In order to make this album, I used some hard cardboard, some photo magnet papers, a hole puncher, and a couple of heavy binding cords. First, I cut strong cardboard into two sheets of the same size and dimensions. After that, I cut as many sheets of photo magnet papers as I want to the same dimensions as the cardboard covers. Then, I just attached or stuck those photo magnet papers to the cardboard in order to stack them in a layer on top of another. Finally, I punched two holes along one side of the stacked layers in order to tie them together with the cord binders by threading through the punched holes.
Anyway, I felt really great about this particular art and craft activity as I could actually see the result of my hard work with my own eyes. Besides, this particular activity also allowed me to share some good laughs and quality time with some of my fellow students which otherwise wouldn’t be possible.
Sample Answer 2:
Thank you a lot for this opportunity to let me talk about an art and craft activity that I did at school.
School days were fun, and I miss those days very much. I enjoyed every "art and craft" class and activity in my school. One day, I made a book about me(!) as part of the class, and it was a great experience. The book contained various interesting information about me and my family. I also wrote about my friends in the book and added pictures of them. Later, the book became a treasure to me as a kid.
Making such a book from scratch was a bit difficult for me. As a child of seven or eight years old, I was not sure where to start. But the art and craft teacher helped me a lot with it. I used some blank papers, a stapler, a cover page, crayons, markers, some colour papers, photos and some stickers to make it. I had to think a lot about my favourite things, interests, family and friends to fill spaces in the book.
It was basically an individual project, but I took help from my teacher. She also encouraged me to finish the project in time. All of our classmates were given different art and craft projects, and they also worked on their own to finish those.
I enjoyed making the book about myself to a great extent, and it was fun. Till then, I had never worked on such an art and craft project before. Thanks to the teacher for her endeavour to arrange such an event. In fact, the entire process made me confident in making things on my own.
Model Answer 3:
Introduction:
Thank you for this wonderful topic! I’d like to tell you about an art and craft activity I did back in school, which was one of the most fun and memorable experiences I had.
What it was:
It was an art project where we were asked to create a mural for our school's annual exhibition. The mural was supposed to represent the theme of "unity in diversity," which was a topic we had been discussing in our social studies classes. It was a group activity, and we were all really excited to work on it, especially since it was going to be displayed in the school for everyone to see.
What you did for this activity:
For this activity, my friends and I worked together to design and paint the mural. We started by brainstorming ideas for what the mural could look like. We wanted to incorporate elements from different cultures, like people of all ages, backgrounds, and professions. Once we had a design, we spent several weeks sketching it out on a large canvas and then carefully painting it. I remember that we used bright colours and patterns that represented different countries and traditions.
Who you did it with:
I worked on the mural with a group of my close friends from school. We loved working on creative projects together. There was a real sense of teamwork involved. We divided the tasks so that each of us could focus on different parts of the mural, but we would often collaborate on decisions and help each other out when needed. It made the whole process a lot of fun and strengthened our bond as a team.
And explain how you felt about this activity:
I absolutely loved this activity! It was so rewarding to see how our hard work came together to create something that represented such a meaningful theme. At the beginning, I was a bit nervous because we were working on a large-scale project, but as we progressed, I became more confident. The entire experience was about being creative and learning how to work with others, share ideas, and create something beautiful as a group. When the mural was finally finished and displayed at the exhibition, I felt a great sense of pride. It was incredible to see people admiring our work and talking about how much it represented unity and diversity.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe an art and craft activity that you participated in during your school days. You should explain what the activity was, what tasks you had to perform, whether you did it individually or with others, and how you felt about it. Here are some detailed ideas to guide your response:
1. Making a paper collage:
I once took part in a paper collage project during an art class. The theme was "Save the Environment," and we had to use newspapers, magazines, and coloured papers to create meaningful visuals. I worked with two of my classmates, and we carefully cut out images of trees, animals, factories, and symbols of pollution to convey our message. It was a creative and eye-opening experience that helped me learn how art can be used to raise awareness. I felt proud of how our final collage looked and the positive feedback we received from our teacher.
2. Creating clay models:
During a school art week, we were asked to create small sculptures using modelling clay. I decided to make a miniature garden scene, complete with flowers, a bench, and birds. I worked alone on this project but took inspiration from online pictures and my surroundings. It was slightly messy but extremely fun to shape and mould the pieces. I felt a deep sense of satisfaction watching my imagination take a physical form. It was also calming and helped improve my focus and patience.
3. Designing handmade greeting cards:
For a special event at school, we had to design handmade greeting cards for our teachers. I teamed up with a friend and used craft paper, stickers, ribbons, and coloured pens. We added thoughtful messages and decorated the cards with floral designs and stars. It was a collaborative and joyful task, and we laughed a lot while doing it. Presenting the card to my teacher and seeing her smile was a touching moment. It reminded me of how small creative efforts can bring happiness to others.
4. Participating in a poster-making competition:
I participated in a poster-making competition on the topic of “Say No to Drugs.” I drew a large image of a human brain divided into two parts - one healthy and the other damaged by drugs - and added impactful slogans. I worked independently and spent an entire evening planning the design. The competition was tough, but I enjoyed expressing a serious social issue through artwork. The activity gave me a sense of purpose and taught me that art can also be powerful advocacy.
5. Origami workshop at school:
We once had a visiting instructor teach us origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. I learned to fold paper into different animals like cranes and frogs. I practised these with a few classmates during our break times and ended up making a beautiful paper bouquet. It was fascinating how a plain square sheet could be turned into something intricate just by folding. I felt amazed by the process and happy to learn something entirely new.
6. Making a scrapbook for school memories:
At the end of the school year, we were encouraged to create scrapbooks to document our favourite moments. I collected photos, event tickets, notes from friends, and decorated the pages with doodles and captions. I collaborated with a few friends who helped take pictures and write short stories. The entire process was emotional and heartwarming. I felt nostalgic and proud to preserve so many beautiful memories through art and craft.
7. Painting a class mural:
Our art teacher selected a group of students, including me, to paint a mural on one of the classroom walls. The design depicted unity in diversity and included symbols from different cultures and traditions. We worked together for several days, sketching the outlines, mixing colours, and carefully painting each section. It required teamwork, planning, and a lot of patience. When it was completed, it gave the room a fresh, lively look, and I felt honoured to have contributed to something lasting.
8. Making DIY lanterns for a school festival:
Before a school cultural festival, we had an art session where we made colourful paper lanterns. I used thick coloured paper, scissors, glue, and glitter to create a bright, hanging lantern with cut-out shapes. I worked with my seatmate, and we helped each other with measurements and design ideas. Hanging our finished lanterns across the hallway was so exciting. It added a festive spirit to the school and made me feel creative and festive at the same time.
9. Creating a recycled art project:
For an environmental awareness campaign, we had to create something useful using waste materials. I used plastic bottles, straws, and paper rolls to design a decorative pen holder. I did it with my cousin, who is also in the same school. It was both fun and challenging because we had to figure out how to make the materials stick together. I learned a lot about reusing everyday items, and I felt good about doing something sustainable and artistic.
10. Weaving with coloured threads:
In one craft class, we learned simple weaving using coloured wool and cardboard looms. I chose vibrant shades of blue, orange, and green and wove them in a repetitive pattern to create a wall hanging. I sat next to a friend, and we helped each other whenever one of us made a mistake. The process was slow but meditative. I felt accomplished when I finally completed my small woven piece and took it home to show my family.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing an art and craft activity you did at school, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey the nature of the project, the steps you took, who you collaborated with, and your emotional response to the experience. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the creative process and the joy or challenges involved, making your response both descriptive and personal. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Art and craft: – The skill of making objects, decorations, or other items by hand.
Example: We had a dedicated art and craft period every week at school.
Project: – An individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim.
Example: Our main project was to create a mural for the classroom wall.
Creative outlet: – A way in which one can express their creativity.
Example: This activity was a wonderful creative outlet for all the students.
Mural: – A large painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall.
Example: I contributed to a large mural that depicted a natural landscape.
Pottery: – The art of making pots, dishes, and other articles from clay.
Example: We learned the basics of pottery, shaping clay on a potter's wheel.
Collage: – A piece of art made by sticking various different materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric onto a backing.
Example: We created a vibrant collage using magazine cutouts and glitter.
Origami: – The Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures.
Example: For one activity, we were taught how to create complex origami figures.
Collaboration: – The action of working with someone to produce or create something.
Example: The project was a great lesson in collaboration with my classmates.
Teamwork: – The combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient.
Example: We had to rely on strong teamwork to finish the project on time.
Dexterity: – Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands.
Example: Activities like origami helped to improve my manual dexterity.
Concentration: – The action or power of focusing one's attention or mental effort.
Example: The intricate details of the project demanded a high level of concentration.
Engaging: – Holding one's interest or attention.
Example: I found the activity incredibly engaging and fun.
Proud: – Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions.
Example: I felt very proud of the final piece we created as a team.
Accomplished: – Having successfully completed something.
Example: Finishing the project gave me a great sense of being accomplished.
Frustrated: – Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something.
Example: At some points, the difficult parts of the craft made me feel a bit frustrated.
Rewarding: – Providing satisfaction; gratifying.
Example: The entire experience was a very rewarding one for me.
Your preparation for this cue card topic would help you talk about the following topics as well:
1. Describe something you enjoyed doing in your childhood.
2. Describe a passion or hobby you had in your childhood.
3. Describe a subject or topic you enjoyed a lot in school.
4. Describe an activity you think should be added to the school curriculum in your country.
5. Describe an activity you did with a group of people.
6. Describe something for which you had been praised once.
7. Describe something you did in the past but no longer do.
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