Every year, 8 lakh students move out of India for foreign education. To gain admission to a top university abroad, you need to provide scores for your English proficiency tests. One of the most important tests is the IELTS. In this blog, we will discuss the speaking section of the same.
To perform well in the IELTS speaking section, you need consistent practice. Especially, when you have to use cue cards that assess your ability to speak spontaneously on various topics. One popular cue card prompt is "Describe a chocolate you did not like" which we will discuss in this blog.
This blog talks about the significance of cue cards, deconstructs the question into components, and provides informative sample responses illustrating various scenarios of describing a chocolate bar you did not like. By reading these examples and following the advice provided, you can improve your fluency and confidence in expressing your ideas. Elevate your IELTS preparation and study abroad process with Yocket Premium - a study abroad consultation platform with a strong community of 1.2 Million Yocketers. Its AI-based tools backed with premium counselling services can help you shortlist and apply to potential universities offering admissions based on your course preferences and IELTS scores!
What is an IELTS Cue Card?
The IELTS speaking part is divided into two sections. The cue cards are included in the section 2, which lasts for 3 to 4 minutes. The cue cards are used to assess the candidate's ability to voice their viewpoints coherently, using good vocabulary and grammar. It includes prompts upon which the candidate needs to speak for 2 minutes.
The card also contains pointers that can be used to structure your thoughts. Once you complete the answer, the section will continue for another minute where you must answer related follow-up questions asked by the examiner.
The breakdown of the duration of the IELTS speaking section 2 is given below.
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Duration |
11–14 minutes |
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Number of Parts |
3 |
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Band Score Range |
0-9 |
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Test Mode |
Offline/Online |
Why are IELTS Cue Cards Important?
Speaking section 2 which holds more weight than section 1 is one of the most essential parts of the IELTS exam. Cue cards are essentially prompts that provide you with a topic to talk about for two minutes. Here's why they are important!
- The cue card tests your English language proficiency by assessing how confidently and fluently you speak.
- It assesses your ability to form thoughts in the 1 minute time frame.
- The follow-up questions in the cue card require you to use a wide range of vocabulary to speak about the topic in detail.
"Describe A Chocolate You Did Not Like" Sample Answer 1
For the cue card on "describe a chocolate you didn't like,” I would like to recount an occurrence on one of my family vacations.
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What was the chocolate?
In 2018, I stumbled upon a lovely chocolate shop in Delhi. I bought a Dairy Milk chocolate bar on a whim without reading the ingredients since I was drawn to the colourful packaging.
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How did it taste?
The chocolate bar stood out since it was visually pleasing. I bit into the chocolate, eager to try something new, but the flavour surprised me. Unfortunately, the experience was not joyful. The chocolate's unique combination of fruits and nuts didn't appeal to my palate.
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Why didn’t you like it?
I've never been a huge fan of chocolates with fruit and nuts, so my disappointment stemmed from the unusual flavour.
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Conclusion
This experience taught me to always make careful selections when buying chocolates and other things too. I recited "Never judge a book by its cover" in my head while exiting the shop.
Suggested: Describe a Book That You Found Useful IELTS Cue Card
"Describe A Chocolate You Did Not Like" Sample Answer 2
For the cue card on “describe a chocolate you did not like”, I want to speak about this bitter time when I fell victim to the advertisements. The advertisement aesthetics, videography, and models all work together to compel the viewers to make a purchase. Most times they succeed, and this was one of the times.
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What was the chocolate?
While wandering around the local market, I came across a cute chocolate shop. Instantly, I remembered this recurring advertisement for a new caramel-flavoured 5-star chocolate. Exploring new flavours is something I do not back off from, so I decided to give this a try too.
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How did it taste?
The 5-star's enticing advertisement of a caramel-filled promise and my excitement to try something new in sweets persuaded me to purchase the chocolate bar. However, my excitement was short-lived when I discovered an unexpected flaw in the chocolate bar. The caramel was evenly present in the whole chocolate, but the excess stickiness ruined the pleasure of the taste.
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Why didn’t you like it?
When I purchased the 5-star, I expected it to have a smooth texture and a semi-sweet flavour just like the original one. However, it did not. The taste was a little too sweet for my palate, and the relentless stickiness ruined the pleasure of eating because the caramel clung to my teeth.
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Conclusion
This experience emphasised the importance of flavour, texture, and taste when choosing chocolates. For the future, I mentally noted to pay closer attention to these subtleties to make my chocolate-eating experience delightful.
Suggested: Describe A Time When You Shared Something With Others IELTS Cue Card
"Describe A Chocolate You Did Not Like" Sample Answer 3
For the cue card on “Describe a chocolate you did not like”, I can remember this time when I tried a Swiss chocolate bar called Lindt that did not work for me. Especially because I do not have much of a sweet tooth, so eating desserts and chocolates is a big deal for me.
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What was the chocolate?
Recently, we received a cute mini chocolate basket from my father's business partner who had gone on a trip to Switzerland. Excited, my siblings unwrapped the basket and began encouraging me to try a foreign chocolate. After resisting for some time, I eventually gave in. To play safe, I picked the simplest-looking white and brown packaged chocolate bar among so many attractive packaging. Upon unwrapping, the chocolate had a cream tone, which indicated it was white chocolate. I was intrigued because I had not tried that chocolate or flavour before, so I bit into it.
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How did it taste?
White chocolate Lindt bar did not work for me because it had this milky texture and an overly sweet flavour, both of which I disliked. While my family members were delighted about this rare occurrence when I ate anything sweet, I sat there mentally noting not to eat white chocolate again.
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Why didn’t you like it?
The rarest times I eat chocolates, desserts, and ice creams, I have realised that I like the dark flavour the most. That Lindt bar was white and overly sweet, which did not appeal to my palate.
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Conclusion
This experience made me realise that I must beware of white chocolates, and always read the sugar content on the chocolate bars.
Suggested: Describe Your First Day At School IELTS Cue Card
"Describe A Chocolate You Did Not Like" Sample Answer 4
In this part, I will talk about my experience of tasting “bounty,” a chocolate and caramel bar filled with coconut. It was surprisingly distasteful, and I did not like it at all.
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What was the chocolate?
Bounty is one of the most popular chocolate bars in America. However, when I tasted it, I was thoroughly disappointed. The chocolate came in a beautiful blue wrapper with pictures of coconut on it. I should’ve realised much sooner that the taste would be overpowering.
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How did it taste?
The combination of coconut filling and milk chocolate coating tasted terrible. The overpowering sweetness of the coconut clashed with the richness of the chocolate, creating a flavour profile that just didn't sit right with my taste buds at all.
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Why didn’t you like it?
The texture of the coconut filling was a major letdown for me. Instead of the smooth, creamy consistency I was expecting, it felt grainy and overly chewy, almost like I was eating desiccated coconut straight from the bag.
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Conclusion
I did not like bounty, and I realised that coconut was not my flavour. I would like to give it another chance later. But for now, I am abhorred by it.
Sample/Follow-Up Questions and Answers
Following your response to the IELTS cue card about describing a chocolate you did not like, the following follow-up questions may be asked:
Q1. What chocolate flavours are popular in your country?
A1. A wide range of chocolate varieties are popular in my nation. Classic options like milk chocolate and dark chocolate are traditionally popular. However, flavours such as hazelnut, caramel, and fruit-infused chocolates have recently acquired appeal too.
Q2: Do people prefer chocolate cakes over other flavours?
A2. Indeed, chocolate cakes are infamous among all age groups. The rich and indulgent flavour of chocolate improves the overall attractiveness of cakes, making them a popular choice. From a simple dessert treat to birthday celebrations and festive gatherings, chocolate cakes are a go-to and the safest flavour for most individuals.
Q3. Should chocolates always stick to traditional flavours, or is it acceptable to experiment with different combinations?
A3. I feel that traditional and experimental flavours both have a place in the world of chocolate. While classic flavours have a timeless appeal, experimenting can lead to interesting discoveries and cater to varied palates. However, such combinations must be well-balanced to ensure that the flavours combine harmoniously, maintaining the chocolate's original appeal.
Q4. Is it tough to make chocolate at home?
A4. No, making chocolate can be quite simple! You can begin with basic recipes that require a few ingredients, such as cocoa powder, sugar, and butter. Such recipes are available online and do not require any high-power or expensive equipment. With patience and practice, anyone can have fun making delectable chocolate desserts in their kitchen.
Tips to Answer the IELTS Cue Card
If you wish to ace the IELTS speaking part 2, go through the tips below:
- Tip 1: Understand the topic. Make sure you address every question.
- Tip 2: Improve your pronunciation and intonation. Speak clearly, without interruptions.
- Tip 3: Be conscious of your pace. Speaking very fast can lead to mistakes. Speaking slowly may make it seem like you're struggling to speak.
- Tip 4: Expand your vocabulary. Present your ideas clearly and avoid repeating the same words.
- Tip 5: Demonstrate your English proficiency by using compound and complex sentences.
Suggested: Describe A Time When You Shared Something With Others IELTS Cue Card
Conclusion
In conclusion, considering these chocolates that failed to live up to hopes and expectations, it is clear that a sensible choice of chocolate must be about more than eye-catching packaging promises as enticing as they may seem. Texture, taste combinations and adequate knowledge of the ingredients are significant in providing pleasure when having a delicious chocolate moment. As you begin your journey preparing for the IELTS Speaking Test and proceeding elsewhere, decisions need to be refined with an acute understanding of them. And talking about making sound decisions, try Yocket - the biggest study-abroad community in India that can simplify all your needs with intelligent features. Sign up and become a part of the group that realises how important it is to choose right – there’s nothing wrong with chocolate. And let Yocket accompany you on this remarkable voyage. Enjoy the experience and make informed decisions.
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