Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe something important that you lost - Cue Card # 827
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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 important that you once lost.
You should say:
- what it was
- how you lost it
- why it was important to you
and explain how you felt about losing it.
[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.]
[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]
Model Answer 1:
When I was a young boy, I used to get admonished frequently by my mother for not keeping things in the right places or completely forgetting about them. And because of that habit, I even lost quite a few things, but luckily, most of those things were not that important - at least, not as important as “keys - which I lost about a couple of years ago.
Again, I lost “keys” which were attached to a nice-looking key ring. Now, please do not think that a key can’t really be an important item to lose. For me it was even worse because I didn’t lose just one key; rather I lost two keys that included my motorbike key and a key to my office room. Now, I am not too sure as to how exactly I lost that key ring, but I am assuming that I might have dropped it near a swimming pool when I went swimming there just one day earlier without my motorbike.
By the way, both keys were very important to me, obviously because I couldn’t start my motorbike without one of those keys, and without the other key, I wouldn’t be able to open my office! Even worse was that I lost those keys on a day when I was supposed to submit some important document to my manager. Of course, I could probably manage to travel to my office sooner or later, one way or another without my motorbike, but I just didn’t have a clue about how to collect those important documents from my office!
So, it was quite a frustrating day, to say the least, for me since I lost that key chain. Besides, it wasn’t only frustrating, but also very embarrassing for me because I just didn’t know how I was going to explain the whole situation to my manager! After all, I didn’t want him to know how careless I really was as a responsible employee of his company!
Sample Answer 2:
Introduction:
Losing something important can be a frustrating experience. It could be anything, from a valuable item to a sentimental object that holds a significant meaning in our lives. For this topic, I am going to talk about something important that I lost in the past as I still recall this event very vividly.
What it was:
The important item that I lost was a silver locket that belonged to my grandmother. The locket was passed down to me by my mother on my 18th birthday, so you can imagine how important it was to me. It was a simple yet elegant piece of jewellery that had a lot of sentimental value attached to it.
How you lost it:
I had been wearing the locket every day since I received it. One day, while I was walking home from college, I noticed that the locket was missing from my neck. I frantically searched for it, but it was nowhere to be found. I had no idea when or where I had lost it.
Why it was important to you:
The locket was important to me because it was a family heirloom that had been passed down through generations. It had a lot of sentimental value attached to it, and it was a constant reminder of my grandmother who had passed away a few years ago. Losing the locket felt like losing a part of my family history.
And explain how you felt about losing it:
Losing the locket was a devastating experience for me. I felt sad and frustrated that I had lost something that was so important to me. I felt like I had let down my family by losing such a valuable family heirloom. It was a painful experience, but it also taught me the importance of taking care of the things that are important to us.
Model Answer 3:
Our smartphones have become an integral part of our lives, and losing one can be a major inconvenience. I am going to talk about the time I lost my smartphone, which was an important device for me. Before I share this experience with you, I'd like to thank you for this nice topic.
My smartphone was a Samsung Galaxy S24 that I had bought just a few months ago. It was my first high-end smartphone, and I loved its sleek design, advanced features, and excellent camera.
One day, I was in a hurry to leave for work, and I forgot to pick up my phone from the coffee table. By the time I realized it, I had already reached my office, and it was too late to go back and get it. I tried calling it from my colleague's phone, but it was on silent mode, and I couldn't locate it using the Find My Device app.
My smartphone was not just a device for making calls and sending messages, but it was my primary source of entertainment, communication, and productivity. I used it to take photos, listen to music, browse the internet, and stay connected with my friends and family. Losing it meant losing access to all these essential features.
I felt a mix of emotions when I lost my smartphone. I was frustrated with myself for being careless and losing such an important device. I was also anxious about losing all my data, photos, and contacts stored in it. Moreover, I felt disconnected and isolated without my phone, which had become a constant companion in my daily life. It took me a few days to come to terms with the loss and get a new phone, but the experience taught me to be more careful and responsible with my belongings.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
Losing something valuable - whether emotionally or materially - can leave a lasting impression. Here are some personal examples that you can use to answer this cue card, including what the item was, how it was lost, why it mattered, and how the loss affected you emotionally.
1. My childhood photo album:
I lost a treasured childhood photo album during a house move. It got misplaced among the boxes and was never found. It contained pictures from my early school days and family gatherings. I felt deeply saddened because those moments were irreplaceable.
2. My first mobile phone:
I lost my first smartphone while travelling on a crowded bus. It must have slipped out of my pocket or was possibly stolen. That phone held precious memories, contacts, and photos. I felt frustrated and helpless as it was also a gift from my parents.
3. A silver bracelet from my grandmother:
The bracelet was a birthday gift from my grandmother, and I lost it during a beach vacation. I noticed it was missing after we returned to the hotel. I felt heartbroken because it had great sentimental value and reminded me of her love.
4. My university ID card:
I lost my ID card right before an important exam. I had to go through a lot of paperwork to get a temporary one issued. It was a stressful experience, especially because I was already nervous about the exam.
5. A diary I used to write in:
I lost my personal diary at a cafe after I accidentally left it behind. It had many of my private thoughts and stories. I felt embarrassed and uneasy knowing someone else might read it, and it was a big emotional loss for me.
6. A USB drive with an important presentation:
I lost a USB stick that had a major presentation for a college project. I misplaced it while working late at the library. Recreating everything in a short time was exhausting, and I felt extremely anxious and disappointed.
7. My wallet with important documents:
I lost my wallet during a train journey. It contained not just money, but also my ID card and bank cards. It took days to recover or replace the documents, and I was extremely stressed about identity theft and financial safety.
8. My pet's favourite toy:
While it may not sound very important, I lost my dog’s favourite chew toy during a walk in the park. He was attached to it and became sad when it went missing. Seeing his reaction made me feel guilty and emotional.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
When describing something important you once lost, using vocabulary that conveys the item's significance, the circumstances of the loss, and your emotional response can create a poignant and relatable narrative. Here are some useful words and phrases with example sentences:
Irreplaceable item – Something that cannot be replaced because of its unique value.
Example: It wasn't just an object; it was an irreplaceable item with sentimental value.
Cherished possession – Something you kept and cared for because it was important to you.
Example: The old photograph album was a cherished possession of our family.
Sentimental value – The emotional importance of an object due to personal connections or memories.
Example: Its importance lay in its sentimental value, as it was a gift from my grandmother.
A lapse in concentration – A temporary failure to pay attention.
Example: I lost it due to a momentary lapse in concentration.
A series of unfortunate events – A sequence of bad luck or unlucky happenings.
Example: Losing it was a result of a series of unfortunate events.
Vanished without a trace – Disappeared completely without any clues.
Example: It simply vanished without a trace, leaving me bewildered.
Frantic search – A desperate and hurried attempt to find something.
Example: I conducted a frantic search, but it was nowhere to be found.
Thoroughly retraced my steps – Carefully went back through all the places I had been.
Example: I thoroughly retraced my steps, hoping it would turn up.
A wave of disappointment washed over me – A sudden feeling of sadness and letdown.
Example: When I realised it was gone for good, a wave of disappointment washed over me.
A pang of regret – A sudden sharp feeling of sadness or disappointment over something one has done or failed to do.
Example: I felt a sharp pang of regret for not being more careful.
A sense of emptiness – A feeling of hollowness or lack caused by the loss.
Example: Losing it left me with a lingering sense of emptiness.
Grief-stricken – Feeling intense sorrow because of a loss.
Example: Although it was just an object, I felt somewhat grief-stricken at its loss.
Came to terms with the loss – Gradually accepted that I had lost it and moved on.
Example: Eventually, I had to come to terms with the loss, though it wasn't easy.
A poignant reminder – Something that evokes sadness or regret about the past.
Example: Even now, the memory of losing it serves as a poignant reminder.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe something important that you once lost", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe an occasion when you forgot something important.
2) Describe an event that made you feel sad.
3) Describe a time when you found something that someone lost.
4) Describe something important that you possess.
5) Describe something you own which is very important to you.
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