Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Important email you have received lately - Cue Card # 706
- Details
- Last Updated: Tuesday, 17 June 2025 15:01
- Written by IELTS Mentor
- Hits: 14623
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 important email that you have received lately.
You should say:
- who sent you the email
- when you received it
- whether you were expecting it
and explain how important this email was to you.
[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:
Email or electronic mail is a fabulous gift of technology that has revolutionized the way we contact people. It has such a profound impact on our lives that if it no longer exists, our lives would be in a chaotic situation. I would like to thank you for this great topic, and here I will talk about an important email that I've recently received.
The email was from Malaysian Airlines and it reached my inbox at the beginning of last July, more specifically on 4th July. A few days before that, I travelled to Kuala Lumpur on an official trip and unfortunately, during my return flight, one of my luggage was lost at the (...mention the name of the airport in your country...) airport. I waited for more than 3 hours and talked to several airport officials as well as two persons from the aviation authority but my luggage was nowhere. I was so frustrated about the event that I sat at the corner of the airport for half an hour blaming myself for the incident though I knew that I had nothing to do about it.
The lost luggage, tragically, had some important documents and my laptop in it, including some gift items I had purchased for my family and a couple of colleagues.
After several attempts throughout the whole week from my side after the incident, I lost all hope and stopped contacting the airport authority. But on 4th July, almost two weeks later, I received an email from the airport authority that my luggage was found and I could go and claim my luggage any weekday during office hours.
It could have been just another email sitting innocently in my inbox, but it was not. It carried a piece of great news and I was utterly relieved to receive the email. It was one of the most important emails I have ever received because it was unexpected, literally came at a moment when I was least expecting it. The next morning I went to the airport and received my luggage which was exactly the way I checked it in at the Malaysian airport and had everything I packed inside.
Sample Answer 2:
Not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing, but I like to check my email at least once every day, if not more. And the reason, I like to check my email regularly, is because I don’t really like to be considered as a careless or irresponsible person in case I ever miss an important email to respond to. Today, I would like to talk about one such email – an important email – which I received about a few weeks ago.
The email was sent to me by a very well-wisher of mine, who treats me like his own younger brother. By the way, I met this brother, who is significantly senior to me not by only age, but also by wisdom, knowledge and experience, almost 8 years ago at a job fair in my country. There, at the job fair, he provided me with a lot of tips and advice about how to apply for a job and how to face an interview.
Of course, I didn’t get any job offer from that job fair, but it certainly offered me the chance to build a brotherly relationship with a great person. But, then suddenly one day about 6 months ago, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and he immediately had to go abroad for his treatment. There, he was receiving his chemotherapy except that I just didn’t know what his condition was. On the other hand, I didn’t want to contact him, thinking that it would probably bother him more than make him happy. So, I just kept praying for him while waiting for some sort of news about him. Then came that email to me which said that he was slowly recovering from his cancer.
Anyway, the email was very important to me, because it gave me the good news about a very significant person, who I have always considered as a mentor, in my life. It became even more important to me because it made sure that this senior brother of mine didn’t think of me negatively since I hadn’t contacted him over the past 6 months.
Model Answer 3:
Thank you for this opportunity to discuss an important email I recently received. We all know that emails have become a crucial means of communication in our modern world, and this particular email left a significant impact on me. Here, I will talk about it in detail.
The email was sent by my potential employer from a prestigious company, and I received it a few months ago on a fine Tuesday morning. As I was eagerly awaiting news about my job application, seeing the email notification in my inbox filled me with both excitement and nervousness.
Although I was anxiously awaiting a response from the company after completing several rounds of interviews, I was not entirely sure if this particular email would be the one with the final decision. However, given the timing and the progression of the hiring process, I had a feeling that it could be the awaited verdict.
The email turned out to be the official offer letter from the company, confirming my employment with them. It outlined the terms of my employment, including salary, benefits, and start date. This email was incredibly important to me as it marked the culmination of months of hard work, preparation, and anticipation. It not only validated my qualifications and skills but also provided me with a sense of security and excitement for the future.
So, receiving this email was a pivotal moment for me, signifying the beginning of a new chapter in my career journey. It underscored the significance of effective communication in professional settings and served as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and dedication in achieving one's goals.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe an important email you have received recently. You should mention who sent the email, when you got it, whether you were expecting it, and why it was significant to you. To give a strong answer, try to focus on an email that impacted you in a meaningful way - either personally, academically, or professionally. It should have triggered a specific action, emotional response, or future plan. Here are a few ideas to help you structure your response. We hope this section helps you prepare effectively.
1. Admission confirmation email from a university:
One of the most important emails I received recently came from the admissions department of a university abroad. I got it about two months ago, and I was eagerly waiting for it. The email confirmed that I had been accepted into their postgraduate programme. It meant a lot to me because I had worked hard for this opportunity, and it opened the door to my dream of studying overseas.
2. Job offer from a multinational company:
An important email I received was from a well-known multinational company offering me a full-time job. I received it just a week after my final interview. Although I was hoping to hear good news, I wasn’t completely sure about the outcome. It was an incredibly important message for me because it marked the beginning of my professional career and gave me a strong sense of achievement.
3. Scholarship approval email:
Recently, I received an email informing me that I had been selected for a scholarship programme. It was sent by the organisation that funds education for underprivileged students. I was half-expecting it but still extremely nervous. It was a life-changing email because it meant I could pursue my studies without worrying about tuition fees.
4. Invitation to speak at a conference:
An email that stood out recently was an invitation to be a speaker at an educational conference. It came from the organising committee of a reputed institution. I didn’t expect to be invited, so it was a surprise. It was important because it validated my work in the field and gave me a platform to share my ideas with a broader audience.
5. Email from an old friend after years:
One memorable email I received was from a childhood friend I hadn’t heard from in more than a decade. It came unexpectedly, and I felt a mix of excitement and nostalgia. The email was important because it brought back old memories and reconnected me with someone who had once been very close to me.
6. Confirmation of my online course certification:
I received an email confirming that I had completed an online professional certification course. It came from the learning platform I was using, and although I expected it, seeing the official confirmation and attached certificate was very satisfying. It was important because it would boost my résumé and help in job applications.
7. Medical test results from a diagnostic centre:
A few weeks ago, I received an email from a diagnostic centre containing the results of some important health tests. I had been waiting for the results anxiously. Thankfully, everything came back normal. This email was important because it gave me peace of mind and allowed me to continue my routine without any health concerns.
8. Response to a job application rejection with feedback:
An email I received from a company rejecting my job application turned out to be quite important. They provided detailed feedback on how I could improve my skills and presentation. I wasn’t expecting such a thoughtful message, and it helped me improve my future applications. Although it was a rejection, the value it gave me made it significant.
9. Email reminder about an exam date change:
Not long ago, I got an email from my college administration stating that the date for an important final exam had been rescheduled. I wasn’t expecting any changes, so it caught me off guard. This email was important because it helped me adjust my preparation timeline, and if I had missed it, I might have missed the exam entirely.
10. Project approval email from my supervisor:
I received an email from my project supervisor approving my final-year research proposal. I had submitted the draft a few days before, and I wasn’t sure if it would be accepted as-is. This email was crucial because it allowed me to proceed with my research and saved me from the trouble of reworking my entire proposal.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing an important email you've received, using precise vocabulary can effectively convey its sender, timing, anticipated nature, and overall significance. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate its content and the impact it has had on you, making your response both informative and clear. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Crucial: – Extremely important or necessary; decisive.
Example: It contained crucial information that significantly influenced my next steps.
Pivotal: – Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.
Example: Receiving that email was a pivotal moment in my job search.
Validation: – Recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile.
Example: The email provided a much-needed validation of my efforts.
Long-awaited communication: – A message or contact that has been expected for a considerable time.
Example: It was a long-awaited communication that finally brought clarity to the situation.
Contained vital information: – Included extremely important or essential details.
Example: The email contained vital information regarding the project's next phase.
Relief washed over me: – A sudden and strong feeling of comfort or reassurance came upon me.
Example: As I read the acceptance, a wave of relief washed over me.
Prompted immediate action: – Caused a quick and direct response or activity.
Example: The urgency of the email prompted immediate action on my part.
Clarified uncertainties: – Made clear or resolved doubts or ambiguities.
Example: It completely clarified all the uncertainties I had about the upcoming event.
A game-changer: – A newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way.
Example: This email was truly a game-changer for my career prospects.
Alleviated my concerns: – Made my worries or anxieties less severe.
Example: The detailed explanation in the email greatly alleviated my concerns.
Significant breakthrough: – A major development or discovery, especially one that leads to progress.
Example: Receiving that funding approval felt like a significant breakthrough for our research.
Felt immense gratitude: – Experienced a very great feeling of thankfulness.
Example: I felt immense gratitude towards the sender for their timely response.
Set a new direction: – Established a new course or aim for something.
Example: The contents of that email set a completely new direction for my plans.
Life-altering news: – Information or events that cause a fundamental change in a person's life.
Example: For me, it was nothing short of life-altering news that day.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe an important email that you have received lately", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe an important news that you received on your mobile phone.
2) Describe a time when you received some happy news.
3) Describe a time when you were waiting for someone or something to arrive.
4) Describe an important email you wrote to someone.
5) Describe an important message you once received.
6) Describe an important letter you wrote to someone.
Report