Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
How you spend time with your friends - Cue Card # 605
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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 how you usually spend time with your friends.
You should say:
- how often you meet them
- what you do together
- where you go together
and say how much you enjoy spending time with your friends.
[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:
After graduating from university and starting a job, I don’t really get much time to spend with my friends. Besides, as people grow up, their priorities in life change. Therefore, it is not always possible to meet our friends and spend time with them despite our best intentions. However, I will still try my best to give an account of how I usually spend my time with my friends.
As I have already mentioned, I don’t really get much time to spend with my friends, except probably a couple of times a month, and mostly during the weekend. However, the good thing is that whenever we meet, we try to make the best use of our time.
One of the things which we really enjoy doing together is that sometimes we take a long drive to a big lake outside my hometown in order to do fishing. Of course, most of my friends don’t exactly like to eat fish, but I do. So, while my friends are busy releasing the fish back into the water after catching them, I keep myself busy putting them in the back, except, of course, the problem is I don’t get to catch as many fish as my friends. Another thing, which I really like to do, is to visit a local movie theatre and watch a great movie together with my friends. Then, after finishing watching the movie, we also hit one of our favourite restaurants and enjoy some great food while poking jokes at each other and having fun.
Well, I enjoy spending time with my friends a lot as it helps me get refreshed and rejuvenated after a long and busy week. Besides, meeting with my friends allows me the opportunity to talk about an array of issues so that we can remain informed and smart! Finally, spending time with friends sometimes allows us to do some social work or charity work. All these activities help us enjoy a certain sense of peace in our minds which wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Sample Answer 2:
Thanks a lot for this topic. I'll tell you how I usually spend time with my close buddies, what I do with them, where we go and how often I meet them.
Well, to begin with, I've more than ten friends, and three of them are very intimate friends of mine. I meet those close friends two to three times a week on average, and sometimes even more.
Whenever I'm with those friends, we have endless topics to talk about, and our conversations continue for hours. We often talk about ourselves, our family, discuss sports we like, celebrities we admire, people we hate, things we should be doing, politics, movies, music, literature, books, science, recent events, history and so on! Topics we discuss or dispute often change, and our conversation shifts its direction from time to time. When we do not talk or gossip, we play computer games or do cycling together. We often visit different places together and love to explore different places. Recently, we went to an art museum and enjoyed our time in a new town, far away from our locality. That would be around a month ago, and it was a memorable event for all of us.
To answer the last question, who does not enjoy spending time with friends? In fact, some people become our dear friends because we like to spend time with them. Good friends remain close to our hearts, and they have a special place in our lives. My friends are very important to me, and I feel completely free around them. With them, I do not need to pretend and I can be completely myself. This is probably true for everyone who has good friends.
Model Answer 3:
Thank you very much for this interesting topic. I've always believed that spending time with friends is an integral part of our lives, and it offers moments of joy, laughter, and fellowship. I typically make an effort to meet up with my friends at least once a week, often on weekends when everyone's schedule aligns. These gatherings serve as a welcome break from the demands of daily life and allow us to unwind and connect in a relaxed setting.
When we're together, we engage in various activities depending on our interests and preferences. Sometimes, we opt for outdoor adventures such as hiking in the nearby trails, picnicking in the park, or exploring new neighbourhoods in the city. Other times, we prefer more laid-back activities like movie nights at someone's place, game nights filled with board games and card games, or simply enjoying a meal together at a favourite restaurant.
One of our favourite pastimes is trying out different cuisines at local restaurants, which allows us to discover new flavours and bond over shared culinary experiences. We also enjoy attending events and festivals happening in our city, whether it's a music concert, art exhibition, or food festival. These outings allow us to engage in the vibrant culture of our community and create lasting memories together.
Well, I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my friends as it brings a sense of fulfilment and happiness to my life. Their company boosts my spirits, and the laughter and camaraderie we share create cherished moments that I treasure dearly. Whether we're embarking on adventures outdoors or simply enjoying each other's company at home, every moment spent with my friends is special and meaningful.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to explain how you usually spend quality time with your friends. You need to mention how often you meet them, the activities you enjoy together, where you usually go, and how you feel about these moments. Here are some ideas to help you prepare your response:
1. Meeting at a café:
I often meet my friends at a local café once or twice a week. We enjoy chatting over coffee, sharing personal updates, and discussing work or studies. The casual environment helps us relax and have meaningful conversations.
2. Playing outdoor games:
On weekends, we gather at a nearby park to play football or badminton. It’s a fun way to stay active and enjoy friendly competition. Spending time outdoors gives us a break from our routine and helps us bond.
3. Watching movies together:
Sometimes, we go to the cinema to watch newly released films. After the movie, we discuss the plot, characters, and our favourite scenes. These movie nights are always enjoyable and give us shared experiences to talk about.
4. Hanging out at each other’s homes:
We often meet at someone’s house, especially during holidays. We cook meals together, watch TV shows, or play video games. These moments are comfortable and feel like a second home to me.
5. Going on short trips:
Occasionally, we plan short weekend trips to nearby destinations. We explore new places, try local food, and take lots of pictures. Travelling with friends creates some of the best memories for me.
6. Studying together:
During exam seasons, we meet at the library or someone’s house to study. We quiz each other and share notes. This helps us stay focused and motivated while also spending time together productively.
7. Eating out at restaurants:
We like trying out new restaurants and street food places. These food outings are a mix of laughter, new tastes, and endless conversations. It’s a fun way to spend an evening after a busy week.
8. Volunteering together:
Sometimes we participate in community service or charity events as a group. It feels rewarding to spend time doing something meaningful while being with close friends.
9. Shopping trips:
We meet at malls or local markets to shop for clothes, books, or gadgets. Shopping with friends is enjoyable because we share opinions, try things on together, and have fun exploring different stores.
10. Attending concerts or events:
Whenever there’s a concert, festival, or public event, we make plans to attend as a group. We enjoy the music, atmosphere, and the overall experience of being together in such lively settings.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing how you usually spend time with friends, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey the frequency of your meetings, the types of activities you share, preferred locations, and your overall enjoyment. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the nature of your friendships and the value you place on these interactions, making your response both relatable and warm. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Socialising: – The activity of spending time with friends and acquaintances, especially at parties or in other informal gatherings.
Example: My routine involves a fair bit of socialising with my close-knit group of friends.
Hang out: – (Informal) spend time relaxing or enjoying oneself.
Example: We often just hang out at someone's place, chatting and watching movies.
Catch up: – To get up to date with someone by talking.
Example: We make an effort to catch up at least once a week to discuss our lives.
Bonding: – The formation of a close relationship, especially through shared experiences.
Example: These regular gatherings are crucial for our bonding and maintaining strong ties.
Close-knit group: – A group whose members are bound together by strong relationships and common interests.
Example: I spend most of my free time with a close-knit group of university friends.
Shared interests: – Common hobbies, activities, or topics that people enjoy together.
Example: Our shared interests in board games and movies often dictate what we do.
Casual gathering: – An informal meeting or coming together of people.
Example: Our meet-ups are usually casual gatherings rather than formal plans.
Recreational activities: – Activities done for enjoyment when one is not working.
Example: We engage in various recreational activities, from sports to exploring new cafes.
Local haunts: – (Informal) Places that someone regularly visits.
Example: We have a few local haunts – our favourite coffee shop and a park – where we often meet.
Ambience: – The character and atmosphere of a place.
Example: We prefer places with a relaxed and comfortable ambience for our conversations.
Unwind: – Relax after a period of work or tension.
Example: Spending time with them is my favourite way to unwind after a busy week.
Recharge: – Restore energy to; refresh.
Example: These moments allow me to recharge and de-stress from daily pressures.
Sense of belonging: – The feeling of being accepted and valued by a group or community.
Example: Being with my friends gives me a strong sense of belonging and camaraderie.
Laughter and camaraderie: – Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
Example: Our time together is always filled with laughter and a wonderful sense of camaraderie.
Invaluable: – Extremely useful; indispensable.
Example: The support and companionship I get from them are truly invaluable.
Cherish: – Protect and care for (someone or something) lovingly.
Example: I truly cherish every moment I get to spend with my friends.
More Ideas to talk about this Cue Card topic:
Cue Card Topic: Describe how you usually spend time with your friends.
1. Well, this is a great topic to discuss. I have four intimate buddies and we spend most of our time together whenever we are in college. Sometimes we watch movies, and it is extremely amusing to enjoy movies with them. Besides, we travel and explore new places.
2. I have a circle of three close friends, and we all love to read books. We often meet with the intention to buy new books and explore new libraries. Sometimes, we lend books to each other as well. I think reading is an excellent habit, and we are lucky to have developed our liking for books. A library is our favourite place and we often meet there.
3. Enjoying a live cricket match is fun, and if it is with friends, the fun doubles. When I meet my friends, we all try to watch cricket matches in a local stadium. If there is no live match, we watch a cricket competition on television. Sometimes we play cricket together at our school ground.
4. Travelling is a hobby for all of my friends. So, whenever we meet together, we try to make short trips. Every one of us owns a bicycle and we use it to explore different parts of Tokyo. During the weekends, we try to make a day-long trip outside the city.
5. I love shopping, and other close friends of mine also do so! We usually meet at our home and go shopping in the streets of Thailand. In fact, many of the Thai street markets are filled with nice dresses, gadgets and other fashion items, and we love to follow trendy fashions.
6. I play indoor games when I meet my friends at my residence in London. Actually, I have a couple of very close friends, and we have been maintaining our friendship since our childhood. So, when we meet, we play different types of indoor games like chess, cards etc. Watching television programmes and debating about numerous topics are perhaps two other common activities for us.
7. Eating street food is a pleasant activity for us. So, we often set dates to have street food in the streets of Vietnam. The food is yummy and the price is reasonable. Moreover, street foods have varied tastes and appeal to me and my friends.
8. Playing video games is a passion for me and some of my friends. So, when they visit me or I go to visit them, we all take part in a video game tournament. This is fun indeed. We mostly play action, adventure and racing games.
Your preparation for this cue card topic will also enable you to talk about the following topics:
1. Describe a typical day in your high school days.
2. Describe what you would do with friends if you could get back to your school days.
3. Describe a memorable period or stage in your life.
4. Describe a day you really enjoyed with your friends.
5. Describe a friend with whom you like to spend time.
6. Describe something you enjoy doing with your friends.
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