Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe a time when you were asked to give your opinion - Cue Card # 49
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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 a time when you were asked to give your opinion in a questionnaire or survey.
You should say:
- what the questionnaire/survey was about
- why you were asked to give your opinions
- what opinions you gave
and explain how you felt about giving your opinions in this questionnaire/survey.
[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:
Introduction:
Thank you very much for this interesting topic. For that, I am going to describe a time when I was asked to give my opinion in a survey. It was an online survey that I came across while browsing the internet. The survey was about people's perceptions of the impact of social media on mental health.
What the questionnaire/survey was about:
The survey aimed to collect data on how social media platforms affect the mental health of people. It asked questions related to the amount of time people spend on social media, their interaction with other people, and how social media affects their mood and self-esteem.
Why you were asked to give your opinions:
I was asked to give my opinions because I was a regular social media user, and my responses would help the researchers to better understand how social media affects the mental health of individuals.
What opinions you gave:
In the survey, I expressed my views on the negative impact of social media on mental health. I did believe that social media could be a source of stress, anxiety, and depression if used more frequently than recommended. I mentioned that the constant comparison with others and the pressure to present oneself in a certain way on social media could lead to low self-esteem and poor mental health.
And explain how you felt about giving your opinions in this questionnaire/survey:
I felt good about giving my opinions in this survey. It was an opportunity to express my thoughts on a topic that I felt strongly about. I believe that surveys are an important way to gather information and opinions from a large number of people, and it felt good to contribute to research that could potentially improve the mental health of social media users.
Sample Answer 2:
I find most survey questions to be interesting because of the way they are worded. But, when it actually comes to giving my opinion on them, I always try to stay away from them for some obvious reasons. But, today, I would like to talk about an occasion when I felt that letting my opinion be heard was important.
The survey, I took part in, involved collecting opinions on whether public smoking should have been criminalized or not, and one could just say either “yes” or “no” when giving his or her opinion on this issue.
Anyway, I found the survey, organized by a famous national NGO in my country, to be an important one because I also considered public smoking to be a serious problem for the city in which I was living in back then. In fact, in its introduction of the survey, the NGO concluded with various statistics that almost 80% of the adult males in my home city were smokers. The NGO also mentioned how smoking had led to a gradual increase in the number of people who were becoming affected by respiratory problems in one way or another.
Even more dangerous was the fact that many high school going students were becoming addicted to smoking when attending their schools. So, all in all, it was a dangerous trend for the people of my home city as far as their health was concerned. By the way, I was asked to take part in the survey, primarily because I fell in the category of non-smoking people who had graduated from a university, and my response in the survey was that I wanted public smoking to be criminalized.
Anyway, I felt really great about giving my opinion in the survey as it would help my city to raise some kind of awareness against public smoking. I also felt glad that this survey would go a long way to saving our city government in its health costs which could then be used to address other problems in my city. So, all in all, it was a great feeling for me.
Model Answer 3:
This topic reminds me of a time when I went to a popular fast-food restaurant and was asked to participate in a survey about their food and service quality. It was an interesting experience for me, as I had never been asked to give my opinions about a fast-food chain before.
The survey had several questions, including what I liked and disliked about their food, service, and ambience. I was asked to rate the price and friendliness of the staff, as well as suggest ways they could improve their service quality. The survey also asked me what type of food I would like them to include in their menu.
In terms of the food, I found it to be tasty and well-prepared, but a bit too greasy for my liking. The service was generally fast and efficient, but some of the staff members seemed to be disinterested and not very friendly. As for the atmosphere, I felt that it was quite noisy and could be improved with some soft music or a better layout. In terms of the price, I thought it was reasonable, but could be lowered a bit. Finally, I suggested that they include more vegetarian options in their menu as I noticed that there were not many options for vegetarians.
How did I feel about conveying my opinions and remarks in this survey? Well, I felt quite positive about giving my opinions in this survey. I appreciated that the restaurant was taking the time to ask for feedback from their customers, and I felt that my opinions would be taken into consideration. It was also interesting to reflect on my experience and consider what aspects of the food, service, and atmosphere could be improved. I hope that my feedback can help the restaurant to improve its offerings and provide a better experience for its customers in the future.
Sample Answer 4:
One memorable occasion when I was asked to share my opinion in a survey was during my final year at university. Our debate team had recently performed exceptionally well in a couple of national contests, and that caught the attention of the university administration. In response, they initiated a formal effort to support and improve the debate team, part of which included conducting a survey to gather feedback and suggestions from current members.
As I recall, it was a Friday evening when we were invited to a session in the university auditorium. At first, I thought it would be a casual team meeting, but I was surprised to see several senior administrative officials present. They congratulated us on our recent achievements and expressed their commitment to providing better facilities and resources. As part of this initiative, they handed out a two-page questionnaire that consisted of around 20 questions, including both multiple-choice and open-ended ones. The survey was titled something like: “How Can We Enhance the University Debate Program?”
Since I was one of the senior members of the team and closely involved in training juniors, I was naturally encouraged to share my honest opinions. In the survey, I highlighted several areas that needed improvement, such as the lack of a dedicated practice space, limited access to research materials, and insufficient financial support for travel and accommodation during competitions.
Being given the opportunity to contribute felt very rewarding. I genuinely appreciated that the university was involving us in the decision-making process rather than imposing changes from the top down. It made me feel that our efforts as debaters were being recognised and valued. To this day, I remember that survey not just because I took part in it, but because it was a turning point when our team began receiving the support it deserved.
Tips for answering this Cue Card Question:
People are usually asked to give their opinions in a questionnaire or survey when they are part of a team in a professional setting, and the authority feels that the team members' opinions are needed to bring some positive changes. Also, a marketing executive or marketing representative can ask you to volunteer in their surveys to give your opinion on their products or services. Besides, the government may run some surveys to know the overall opinion of the countrymen. Sometimes you would be asked to give your opinion by a radio or television channel about an issue or their program quality. You should be able to talk about one such survey or questionnaire you were asked or requested to take part in. The questionnaire can be both in written and verbal form.
For this cue card, first say a survey you have taken part in, and mention when it was, what the survey was about, who conducted it and whether you gave written or verbal answers to the questionnaire. Some surveys ask people to record their identity while some conduct it anonymously. Mention what type of survey you took. You should try to talk about a survey that has some value like a survey conducted by the local authority to make the area a better place rather than a random marketing survey.
For the second question "Why you were asked to give your opinions" say why the survey conductor asked you to participate. If it was a marketing survey say that you were randomly picked. If this is a survey conducted by the local administration, say they conducted the survey among the local people and you were one of them. Being a part of a team sometimes may require you to take part in a survey, and if you talk about such a survey, mention that you were asked to take part in this survey because of your involvement in the team.
For the question "What opinions you gave", you do not need to talk about the questions asked in the survey and the exact answers you gave. Try to give an overview of the things which were asked and a summary of the opinion and answer you gave.
Mention that you felt really proud to be able to let the authorities know your opinion. If this was a marketing survey, mention that you felt well enough to let them know your idea about their products or services. If this was your first survey mention that you were very excited to be able to gain a new experience as you have never taken part in such a survey. Give some reason why the survey was important and finally say that it was important for you to give your opinions and you felt really good for being able to do so.
Idea generation for this Candidate Task Card / Cue Card topic:
Below are some ideas you can use to describe a situation where you were asked to give your opinion in a questionnaire or survey. These examples reflect different contexts such as education, customer feedback, government initiatives, or workplace evaluations. Each one includes responses to the cue card’s supporting questions to help you easily develop your answer.
1. University course feedback survey:
I was asked to fill out an end-of-semester survey at my university about a business management course. The faculty wanted to know how effective the teaching methods were. I shared that the course content was excellent but the pace was too fast. I felt good contributing because I knew my feedback could help improve the class for future students.
2. Online shopping experience survey:
After buying a mobile phone on an e-commerce platform, I received a survey asking about my shopping experience. They wanted feedback on delivery, packaging, and product quality. I mentioned that the product arrived on time, but the packaging could be improved. I felt satisfied knowing that my input might help the seller provide better service.
3. Government transportation survey:
Our local government conducted a survey to improve the city’s public transport. I received it at the metro station. I gave suggestions to increase bus frequency and improve cleanliness. It felt meaningful because my suggestions could influence the public services that I use every day.
4. Customer satisfaction survey at a restaurant:
A restaurant I visited during my vacation in Singapore handed me a feedback form after my meal. They asked about food quality, staff behaviour, and cleanliness. I gave very positive feedback and suggested including more vegetarian options. I enjoyed sharing my views because the staff seemed genuinely interested.
5. Workplace employee engagement survey:
My company conducted a yearly anonymous survey to understand employee satisfaction. I shared that while I enjoyed the work culture, there should be more opportunities for training and growth. I appreciated being asked, as it showed that the company cared about our professional development.
6. Social media usage survey by a tech company:
I was approached by a market research firm conducting a study on how young adults use social media. I provided insights on the apps I use and how much time I spend online. I felt like my opinion mattered, especially since it could affect future app designs and policies.
7. Hotel stay review survey:
After staying at a resort in Bali, I was emailed a detailed survey asking about my overall experience. I rated the service, room quality, and amenities, and added a comment about how the staff was exceptionally helpful. I enjoyed writing the review because I genuinely liked my stay.
8. Opinion poll before an election:
I was interviewed in a street survey in my hometown regarding my opinion on upcoming local elections. The survey included questions about candidates and current government performance. I answered honestly and felt a sense of civic duty participating in the process.
Part 3 – Two-way discussion:
Discussion Topic: Asking Questions
Q. What kinds of organisations want to find out about people’s opinions?
Q. Do you think that questionnaires or surveys are good ways of finding out people’s opinions?
Q. What reasons might people have for not wanting to give their opinions?
Discussion Topic: Questionnaires in school
Q. Do you think it would be a good idea for schools to ask students their opinions about lessons?
Q. What would the advantages for schools be if they asked students their opinions?
Q. Would there be any disadvantages in asking students’ opinions?
Answers to these Part-3 questions can be found in Speaking Test 85: Part 3
Vocabulary for this Candidate Task Card / Cue Card topic:
When talking about a questionnaire or survey, especially one in which you were asked to give your opinion, it’s useful to have the right vocabulary to describe your experience clearly and effectively. Below is a list of helpful words and expressions that will help you express your ideas more fluently for this topic:
Questionnaire – A set of written or printed questions used to collect information.
Survey – A method of gathering information from individuals, usually through questions.
Respondent – A person who answers a questionnaire or survey.
Feedback – Opinions or responses given about a product, service, or experience.
Evaluation – The act of assessing or judging something.
Opinion poll – A survey to measure public opinion on a specific topic.
Anonymous – Without revealing one's name or identity, often used in surveys.
Insightful – Providing deep understanding or valuable perspectives.
Constructive criticism – Feedback that is intended to help improve something.
Participation – The act of taking part in an activity or event.
Consumer experience – The perception or feeling of a person while using a service or product.
Satisfaction rating – A score that shows how pleased someone is with something.
Data collection – The process of gathering information from a variety of sources.
Honest opinion – A truthful personal view or judgment.
Influence decision-making – To have an effect on the choices made by others, often in companies or governments.
If you can answer this cue card topic "Describe a time when you were asked to give your opinion in a questionnaire or survey", you should be able to answer the following cue card topics as well:
1. Describe something interesting you did recently.
2. Describe an interesting experience of your life.
3. Describe something unusual you did recently.
4. Describe your experience of a survey you took part in.
5. Describe a time when someone asked for your opinion.
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