To secure admission at a top university abroad, international students must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language. This can be achieved by taking the IELTS. One of its sections, the IELTS Speaking Part 2 is one of the most difficult. Here, you will be given cue cards upon which you need to share your perspectives and/or experiences. You must use good language and communicate your views in a short time. In this blog, we've covered one of the most popular cue cards - “describe a routine that you enjoy.” Read on to understand how this section tests your communication skills and language competency. Explore Yocket Premium services to find out what IELTS band scores are acceptable at your dream universities by connecting with applicants who have already secured a seat there! Yocket is a family of 1.2 Million study-abroad aspirants, each having already secured or is in the process of gaining admission to the top universities across the world. If you wish to simplify your university search and apply to universities whose prerequisites you meet and vice versa
What is an IELTS Cue Card?
A cue card is part of the IELTS Speaking Part 2, which requires candidates to talk for two minutes on a specific topic. In this section, it is critical to use accurate vocabulary and content that concisely expresses your thoughts on the subject. The cue card not only mentions the topic but also provides pointers that can be covered in the speech. This phase lasts three to four minutes: one minute to structure your response, two minutes to deliver, and another minute to answer follow-up questions.
The breakdown of the duration of the IELTS speaking part 2 is tabulated 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?
The IELTS speaking section part 2 consists of cue cards that require you to speak eloquently based on a prompt. IELTS Cue Cards are important for several reasons:
- 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.
Sample Answers to Describe a Daily Routine that You Enjoy Cue Card
This IELTS cue card's speaking part must be completed in three to four minutes. You will have a minute to get ready and another two minutes to express your viewpoints.
You must include the following in your answer:
- What is it?
- Where and when do you do it?
- Reasons why you enjoy it.
Sample Answer 1 - "Describe a Routine That You Enjoy" IELTS Cue Card
Engaging in hobbies and exploring my interests after work is one part of my routine that I enjoy the most. For today's cue card on "Describe a daily routine you enjoy", I would like to talk about one of those hobbies I engage in every day.
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What is it?
Usually, I wake up at seven in the morning. I have coffee, toast, and cereal for breakfast after getting ready. My company's timings are 9-5, so I board the train for work at eight o'clock and begin working by nine o'clock. I diligently work until lunchtime, after which my energy levels begin to drop. To not let them interfere with my work, I head to the office cafeteria to have a cup of brewed coffee and some snacks. I work until 5:30 p.m., after which I head home.
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Where and when do you do it?
Once I am home, I wash up and spare some time for my hobbies in the evening. Since I like to read, I try to read for 30 minutes a day minimum. I also enjoy cycling, so when the weather permits, I take my bicycle for a ride around my neighbourhood. This is a great way to unwind after a demanding day. My family and I eat a home-cooked supper at about seven o'clock during which we talk about our days. I unwind after dinner by watching TV or listening to music, and I'm in bed by 10:30.
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Reasons why you enjoy it.
Nowadays, people are preoccupied with their work-related commitments and deadlines. This does not give them enough time to spend quality time with themselves and their family members. Hence, I enjoy my routine because it balances work and leisure time. That decreases my stress levels and prepares me for the next day.
Sample Answer 2 - "Describe a Routine That You Enjoy" IELTS Cue Card
For my cue card on "Describe a daily routine you enjoy," I want to discuss a particular aspect of my routine that I find quite soothing and rejuvenating.
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What is it?
One thing I do every day that doesn't feel like a task is practising yoga. Usually, after returning from college by 2 pm, I begin working on my freelancing assignments. I eat some nuts and a mug of cold brew after that.
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Where and when do you do it?
At approximately 7:00 p.m., I change into my gym attire and place a yoga mat on the floor of my hallway. I begin my yoga practice with breathing exercises, later progressing into more advanced yoga poses including warrior poses, cat-and-cow poses, and others. I work out various muscles every day; hardly ever combining two. I work out one muscle every day; hardly ever combining two.
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Reasons why you enjoy it.
I enjoy practising yoga because it empowers my physical and mental health. Not only does it improve my posture and flexibility, but also teaches me how to manage my feelings and stay grounded. Every day might pose a new challenge for me, but yoga always helps.
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Sample Answer 3 - "Describe a Routine That You Enjoy" IELTS Cue Card
As children, we tend to engage in activities because our elders do them. Sometimes, steadily, some of those activities become a part of our routine. Today, for my cue card on "Describe a routine that you enjoy", I would like to talk about one such activity that I have been following since I was seven years old.
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What is it?
Ever since I was a preschooler, I had witnessed my grandfather often going to the mosque for morning prayers, followed by a casual stroll in the park. Before I started going to school, I became a part of this little ritual. My grandfather would pick me up half an hour earlier from home so that we could include a fifteen-minute walk in the park. The latter fifteen were spent walking to my school.
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Where and when do you do it?
Till my tenth grade in school, my grandfather and I diligently followed this routine. However, once I entered college, our timings would often clash. Nevertheless, I would still make it a point to stroll in the park before or after college, and with my grandfather on Sundays. Regretfully, my grandfather passed away when I was in my first year of college, so I cannot engage in this activity with him anymore. But this routine has become so natural for me, that I still do it every day.
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Reasons why you enjoy it.
I love walking in the park, primarily because it is a cherished memory of my grandfather and me. The giggles and little conversations we had echo through my ears whenever I stroll there. Moreover, the fresh air and sounds of nature add to my energy levels at the beginning of the day or make me feel rejuvenated after a tiring one. Anyway, it is a routine that I think I will never forget, irrespective of wherever I go.
Sample Answer 4 - "Describe a Routine That You Enjoy" IELTS Cue Card
My routines are usually standard - wake up, get ready, go to college, head back home, work, eat, and sleep. However, there are a handful of activities that I enjoy that I try to sneak, in between these chores. For my cue card on "Describe a routine that you enjoy", I would like to talk about one of these activities.
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What is it?
Similar to most young adults, I also prefer to drink coffee every day. I enjoy brewed coffee, which requires preparing the coffee and refrigerating it for 15-24 hours (minimum) before consuming it. This act of preparing a brewed mug of coffee is the part of my routine that I have engaged in every single night since my junior college, and enjoy doing so.
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Where and when do you do it?
It is not so much the act of drinking the coffee that is a part of my routine, but rather preparing it. Some days I might skip my usual evening coffee time depending on where I am, but I prepare it every night without fail.
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Reasons why you enjoy it.
At the end of the day, irrespective of whether or not I am tired, this act of preparing a mug of coffee for the next day gives me happiness. It is an activity that I engage in after I finish all my chores, so my mind is usually at peace. Additionally, brewing coffee takes patience. It is not that I can drink it instantly. Hence, the taste of the brewed coffee the next day, prepared with patience, gives me the utmost satisfaction.
Sample/Follow-Up Questions and Answers
Q1. What are the differences between people's everyday and weekend routines?
Ans. People's routines fluctuate greatly between the weekdays and the weekends. People go about their everyday lives and complete other tasks as scheduled throughout the week. But on the weekends, when they have ample time to spend with their families and unwind, they might choose to play games or have night outs.
Q2. Is it simple to commit to a daily schedule?
Ans. At first, carrying out the tasks we decided to commit to may appear challenging. However, motivating ourselves to complete that task consistently for even a week, can eventually become second nature to us.
Q3. What routines of people's daily lives have changed in the past fifty years?
Ans. The everyday activities people engage in now and those of fifty years ago differ greatly. Since they didn't have access to technology, those folks would get up early to begin their task, which would usually involve gardening or going to a field for harvesting. However, these days, people's first habit is checking their phones in the morning. Routines from a century ago involved social interaction, but today they focus more on spending time with technology and oneself.
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Tips to Answer the IELTS Cue Card
Answering an IELTS Cue Card may seem difficult, but with practice, you will be able to ace it. Give enough time to the preparation, and follow the following tips to present your ideas :
- 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.
- Tip 6: Stay calm. It’s okay to be nervous, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Practise sufficiently to answer the question.
Conclusion
The IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card is more than just a test instrument; it provides examiners with insight into an individual's ability to formulate thoughts concisely. Achievement on the IELTS speaking test relies on planning, performance, and attitude. Prepare for the cue card on "Describe a routine that you enjoy" by organising your response, including timings, sequencing, and stating why you enjoy your routine. Scoring on the IELTS as per the requirements of varied universities can get stressful, we know. So, let Yocket assist you with that and other steps involved in studying abroad. From university shortlisting and applications to getting the visa and scholarships for your country and course, our Yocket experts are here to guide you from start to end. Schedule A FREE Video Consultation Call Today!
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