The IELTS is one of the most popular English skill tests, taken by non-native speakers of English. More than 3.5 million people take the test every year to study abroad and pursue a career in a native English-speaking country. The IELTS has four sections - Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The IELTS speaking test has three parts, part 2 is a cue card section. This section has a duration of 4-5 minutes. When you get a cue card with a topic, you get 1 minute to prepare, and then you need to speak for 2-3 minutes.
In this blog, we will discuss an important cue card - describe an expensive activity that you enjoy doing occasionally. It is important to speak with confidence but students may feel anxious due to the short time. This blog has four sample answers to help you understand how to answer cue cards.
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- 1. What is an IELTS Cue Card?
- 2. Why Are IELTS Cue Cards Important?
- 3. Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 1
- 4. Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 2
- 5. Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 3
- 6. Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 4
- 7. Sample Follow Up Questions
- 8. Tips to Answer IELTS Cue Card
- 9. Conclusion
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What is an IELTS Cue Card?
A cue card is provided to the candidate by the examiner that references a specific cue, on which you have to speak. It evaluates your ability to talk and organize ideas using various vocabulary and grammatical structures. The card also includes 2-4 pointers that you can expand on. This section lasts three to four minutes - two minutes for speaking and one to two minutes for answering follow-up questions.
Your Speaking scores are given as band scores, ranging from band 0 to 9. Every whole and half band score represents a proficiency level in English. Remember that part 2 has more weightage than part 1. Below is a breakdown of the duration of the cue card section.
Task |
Duration |
Preparation |
1 minute |
Speaking |
2-3 minutes |
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Why are IELTS Cue Cards Important?
The IELTS cue cards are an essential part of the speaking section of the exam. IELTS cue cards are important for various reasons.
Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 1
What is it?
Going to an amusement park to play arcade games is an activity I occasionally like, despite my belief that it is too expensive.
Who do you do it with?
I have a group of friends who love playing arcade games, and we go to a gaming center once a month. A gaming center named Adventure Zone is located in a retail mall in my city and offers a variety of games such as video games, slot machines, billiards, and bowling.
Why is it expensive?
It is an expensive place to visit. To enter the gaming zone, one must first acquire a card with 1000 rupees of credit, then swipe the card and pay according to the games selected. We all enjoy bowling and engage in some level of competition. It is the most expensive game in this game zone. In addition, we play video games and billiards, which is my favorite. We usually visit this location during the first week of each month, when we get our pocket money and spend the majority over there.
Explain how you feel about it.
We love the loud music, buzz, and dancing laser beams. Usually, after hours of playing here, we get hungry and exhausted. So we head to our favorite restaurant in the mall and eat till we're full.
Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 2
What is it?
The adventure, rather than the expense, draws us to the activity. Our financial circumstances may or may not allow us to enjoy it, but we all want to do so. I'd like to share one such activity I like occasionally: shooting. Our city offers an Olympic-sized shooting range with various shooting options, including 50m, 25m, and 10m rifle and pistol shooting, trap, and skeet for shotguns.
Who do you do it with?
My father influenced my interest in this sport. Seeing my father shoot during my childhood pushed me to pursue the sport. Now that I am an adult and can play this sport, it is my perfect weekend activity. My father and I enjoy spending time together at the shooting academy, where we regularly shoot. We both appreciate the sound of the bullet slicing the air and the competitiveness of the other shooters on the range.
Why is it expensive?
It is an expensive sport because of the required instruments and equipment. One receives a limited number of bullets to shoot at the range, and reloading is expensive.
Explain how you feel about it.
Shooting is a great activity for learning to maintain composure. It promotes mental clarity. In this hectic environment, one must maintain mental peace. This activity not only refreshes me but also revitalizes my entire body. It is a costly activity that is well worth the investment.
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Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 3
What is it?
Some activities are extremely costly, however, some are affordable. My hobbies include streaming movies, taking wild photographs, and listening to music. As a result, the majority of my recreational activities are rather inexpensive. I occasionally photograph explorers and wild places.
Who do you do it with?
I frequently visit with my friends and cousins.
Why is it expensive?
Travelling to these sites is expensive because they are far from my home. Travel expenses amount to around Rs 5,000. In addition, I must maintain my camera and lens, which is an exceedingly expensive endeavour. I started photography during my school years. My friends are also photo fans. During this year's summer break, two of my friends and I went to Gir to photograph wildlife.
Explain how you feel about it.
I love wildlife photography for several reasons. The most important reason is that I enjoy nature and I find photography of animals to be a wonderful experience. When I record the hidden moments of many creatures, I feel alive. I also enjoy photography since it allows me to spend time with my friends. The entire event lasts about two days and one night. During this time, we talk, play games, tease one another, and eat delicious food.
Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally: Sample Answer 4
What is it?
In general, I don't spend much money on myself, however, I do occasionally indulge in a few activities. One such activity is clubbing. It's one of those group activities that I enjoy doing.
Who do you do it with?
This is why I go out with friends. We decide which clubs will be enjoyable and have a great atmosphere. In addition, we look for clubs that serve great cuisine and mocktails.
Why is it expensive?
Clubbing is a costly activity because there are costs for absolutely everything. Nightclub cover costs could range from INR 1,000 to INR 2,000. Food and beverages cost between INR 1,000 and INR 2,000, not to mention parking expenses. If you plan on going out to a party, you should bring around INR 5,000.
Explain how you feel about it.
Even if clubbing requires additional expenses, it allows me to take a break after a long, stressful day. I forget about my problems the moment I go to the club. I believe that everyone should participate in activities that make them feel emancipated from time to time.
Sample Follow Up Questions
Candidates must answer follow-up questions about the discussed topic after completing the cue card task. Potential questions for "Describe An Expensive Activity That You Enjoy Doing Occasionally" include:
Q1. What kind of expensive things do people like to buy?
Ans: It varies from person to person. Expensive products include clothing and technology equipment such as smartphones, automobiles, and motorcycles. The most expensive item I own is a mountain bike, which I purchased to ride to Ladakh.
Q2. What is the difference between men and women buying things?
Ans: I don't think there is a significant difference. Men do, however, occasionally purchase expensive watches and mobile phones. I believe that women make purchases after careful consideration.
Q3. Why are some sports so expensive? Are they for everyone?
Ans: Some sports, particularly adventure sports, are expensive because they require permits, qualified specialists, and costly safety equipment. I do not think everyone can afford them. Furthermore, the inherent risk makes them unsuitable for the faint of heart.
Q4. What are the benefits and drawbacks of being rich?
Ans: The most significant advantage of being rich is that you can experience the pleasure of work-life balance without having to work for money. The drawback of being rich is that people care more about money than the person.
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Tips to Answer 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:
Conclusion
The IELTS speaking section part 2 is an elemental tool to evaluate the aspirants' ability to communicate effectively and think on their feet. This allows the test takers to confidently know that they will be able to navigate their lives abroad, as communication is one of the most important means to do so.
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