Cue Card Sample

Describe a festival that is important in your country - Cue Card # 64

IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

Describe a festival that is important in your country.

You should say:

  • when the festival occurs
  • what you did during it
  • what you like or dislike about it

and explain why this festival is important.


 

Model Answer 1: [Festival in Australia]
We, the Australian people, love life and love to celebrate, whenever there is an opportunity. We also happen to be a country of many festivals, which are enjoyed by all Australians, regardless of their race, religion and culture, and this topic offers me a great opportunity to talk about one such festival of my country.

The name of this festival is the “National Folk Festival”. It is an Australian family-oriented celebration which is attended by a significant number of people from all over Australia. Being held in Melbourne for the first time in 1967, it has been taking place at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) every Easter from Easter Thursday - Easter Monday, every year. It was inspired by the Newport Folk Festival in the United States, apparently in an effort to recognize the folk culture of Australian people, so that the people in my great country can gain valuable insight into their cultural identity through grassroots and community activities.

This also seems to be a festival which is renowned among players of traditional music as a place to go and meet their friends, see some excellent performances, and attend some workshops or training sessions with some of the best musicians in this half of the world. I also love to meet my friends and enjoy some performances.

Anyway, people celebrate this festival by organising concerts, a film festival, numerous impromptu street performances, workshops on making, playing and repairing musical instruments, visual art, storytelling and poetry, and many dance workshops. There are also many craft stalls on this festival site to introduce people to Australian handicraft works. The thing I love about the festival is the sense of community it creates. Everyone who attends is there to celebrate and enjoy the music and culture, and there is a real sense of camaraderie and shared experience among festival-goers.

Anyway, this is an important festival in my country because it allows regular Australian folks like us to understand and appreciate our cultural identity and features so that we can bring the much-needed sense of unity and solidarity among our people – people who come from different races, religions, cultures and backgrounds from all over the world. Besides, this festival also allows us to have some fun and a good time together with our friends and family while also learning about our folk culture at the same time.


 

Model Answer 2: [Festival in India]

Introduction:
India is a land of festivals and celebrations. Numerous festivals are celebrated across the country with great enthusiasm and joy. One of the most important festivals in India is Diwali, also known as the festival of lights. I have been celebrating this festival since my childhood and it holds a special place in my heart.

When the festival occurs:
Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which usually falls in the month of October or November. The festival lasts for five days, with the third day being the main day of celebration.

What you did during it:
On Diwali, my family and I usually clean and decorate our house with lights and rangolis. We also prepare various traditional delicacies and sweets. In the evening, we light diyas and candles all around our house and perform puja. Later, we burst crackers with our family and friends.

What you like or dislike about it:
I absolutely love the festive atmosphere during Diwali. The entire country is lit up with lights and everyone is in a celebratory mood. It is a time when people come together with their families and friends to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. 

And explain why this festival is important:
Diwali is an important festival in India because it signifies the triumph of good over evil. It is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana. The festival is also associated with the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, and is considered to be an auspicious time to start new ventures and make investments. Overall, Diwali is a festival that brings people together and spreads happiness and positivity.


 

Cue Card Answer 2: [Festival in China]
China is a country of many festivals, and we love to celebrate different occasions wholeheartedly. In fact, there are so many festivals in China that it is quite tough for me to pick a particular favourite. However, I would love to talk about the Spring Festival, which is also known as Chinese New Year, as I personally enjoy it quite a lot. Other prominent festivals like National Day, Yung Xiao Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-autumn Festival etc are also widely celebrated in our country.

The Spring Festival is the biggest festival in our country and this festival touches every single street and every single citizen of China. The first day of the Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February every calendar year.

I suppose it is somewhat like the "Christmas" festival in Western countries in terms of celebration, and the "New Year" festival in terms of its norm. If someone visits our country during the Spring Festival, he will surely notice the colourful and distinguishable look of the houses and streets. This is the time for families to gather together and enjoy their time. I also enjoy visiting relatives and spending some enjoyable time together.

People get together with their family members during this time and they seem happy about that. Many stores and businesses remain closed during this time and people cook delicious food, visit relatives & friends, watch TV, gossip together, wear new dresses and welcome New Year.  

Visiting relatives and friends is a custom I really like about this festival. This is a festival that remains for several days and personally, I find it very enjoyable as I get together with my family. I also contact some of my friends and enjoy our time together. I invite them to have dinner with us and I often roam around the streets with them. 

Welcoming the New Year is another important aspect of this festival. We wish each other a happy and prosperous new year and exchange gifts with friends and family members. This is an important festival in China because it brings people together and gives them new hope and inspiration.


 

Sample Answer 3: [Festival in Bangladesh]
Bengali New year day, which is the first day of the Bengali calendar, and also known as "Pohela Boishakh" is a very important festival in our country - Bangladesh. This usually occurs on the 14th or the 15th of April, and is celebrated among the Bengali people, minor Bengali communities and in some states of India. The famous Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar introduced the Bengali Calendar most probably because of easier tax collection at that time, and since then this is an important festival for all Bengali people.

This is perhaps the most widely celebrated festival in our country. People from all social-economic states, from all ages and religions, celebrate with great joy, festivity and happiness. The rally, the song, the traditional dresses, the traditional foods, the boat racing, cock-fight, pigeon racing and many more activities are very common in this festival.

The people celebrate this festival the whole day. Men, women and children all wear traditional dresses, draw some temporary art and tattoos, and go to see the "Mangal Shobhajatra" - a colourful procession where people march through the streets with masks, puppets, and floats to celebrate the day. On that day I wear traditional dresses and go to see "Mangal Shobhajatra". Then I also visit a few friends and relatives and eat some traditional and delicious food together.

Eating traditional food and wearing traditional dresses is something I enjoy a lot on this day. It reminds me of our origin and helps us revisit some of the traditional aspects of Bengali life and culture.

This is an important festival because the whole country warmly welcomes the New Year. This is a festival which is rooted in our history. Usually, people get their harvest at that time and make different delicious foods. After Emperor Akbar introduced this Bengali New Year, we are celebrating with great enthusiasm and in a distinctive way. No other festival depicts the Bengali tradition and culture so accurately as the Pohela Boishak for us.


 

Part 3 - Two-way Discussion:

Discussion topic: "Purpose of festivals and celebration"

Q.  Why do you think festivals are important events in the working year?
Q.  Would you agree that the original significance of festivals is often lost today? Is it good or bad, do you think?
Q.  Do you think that new festivals will be introduced in the future? What kind?

Discussion topic: "Festivals and the media"

Q.  What role does the media play in festivals, do you think?
Q.  Do you think it's good or bad to watch festivals on TV? Why?
Q.  How may globalisation affect different festivals around the world?

Click here for the answer to those Part 3 Questions

 



Tips for answering this Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card topic:

An important festival of a country can be a major religious festival, music festival, seasonal festival, traditional and cultural festival etc. which is celebrated in the whole part of the county. For this cue card topic, you can talk about any festival which is celebrated in your country nationwide. Do not talk about a festival which is only celebrated in a particular region of your country or among a tribal nation which is not widely celebrated in the whole country.

For the first question say the festival's name (i.e. New Year's eve, Christmas, Eid day, Independence Day etc.) and when it is celebrated. If the festival is not widely known and might be unknown to the examiner, say a little background of the festival. Mention if this is a national festival/celebration, cultural or historical festival or a religious festival and then say the significance of this celebration in your country.

To mention the importance or significance of the festival, give the historical/ religious/ cultural context of the festival and also mention how this is an integral part of the people in your country. Also, mention what you usually do on this festival day and why you like it so much. If you don't like it, you should also mention that.

You can also include a few more details of the festival from the following list:

  1.    Duration of the festival.
  2.    How widely is it celebrated?
  3.    Preparation for the festival.
  4.    What are the customs and rules of the celebration?
  5.    What do people cook, and wear during the occasion?
  6.    What are the norms of this celebration?
  7.    What do you like to do during this celebration?
  8.    What is the tradition of it?
  9.    How do you feel about his celebration?
10.    How important is this celebration for your countrymen?

Finally, mention why this is an important festival for the people of your country.

Similar Cue Card Topics:

1.    Describe a festival that is widely celebrated in your country.
2.    Describe a national festival in your country.
3.    Describe a historical celebration in your country.
4.    Describe a festival you have recently celebrated.
5.    Describe the most important festival in your country.

 

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