In the IELTS speaking section, you may be asked to speak on a topic: describe a friend who is a good leader. You can name this by the IELTS cue card, a prompt that helps guide your action. A cue card is a short card that introduces the topic you will be speaking about.

This comes under the second part of the exam; you need to speak for 1-2 minutes. Your response should be well-thought-out, fluent, and logical to impress the examiner. A strong vocabulary and grammar are a must in IELTS eligibility in terms of skills. So, with a strong word list, you can express the topic. So, let us discuss a sample cue card in the article.

Introduction to IELTS Cue Card

A cue card is a prompt card that presents a specific topic along with key points and instructions to guide your response. It is used in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, also known as the long turn section. A total of one minute will be given to you to prepare the topic and speak for up to 1-2 minutes. This task assesses your fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and coherence. Thus, one should answer naturally, not by memorizing the answers. Speaking naturally from your heart is the key to getting a good score in the cue card task. Moreover, in the exam, you will get questions on a variety of subjects. Following is the list of IELTS cue card topics:

1. Favourite (person, place, sport, novel)

2. Time-Based

3. Person-Based

4. Family

5. Object

6. Work/Study

7. Life event

8. Whom you Admire

Moreover, just knowing the topic is not enough for the Cue card task, you should know the correct approach for how to answer the IELTS speaking cue card.

How to Answer the Cue Card?

As soon as you are presented with an IELTS cue card in the speaking section, follow the steps below to frame a well-structured response.

1. Breathe for a second and understand the topic, instructions, and guiding questions.

2. Use your time wisely to prepare for the task. You can do this by organizing your thoughts and key points.

3. Once you are given hints to start, speak naturally and in a simple manner. Try to cover all the aspects of the topic.

4. Here, you can showcase your mastery of vocabulary and grammar. Thus, this will help make a strong impression in front of the examiner.

5. Maintain coherency and a steady pace without rushing or pausing too much on a single thought.

You can use the above steps to answer cue card topics.

Describe a Friend Who is a Good Leader: Sample Answer

Here is the sample answer for the ‘Describe a friend who is a good leader” topic:

The definition of leadership varies from person to person. According to me, a person can be a leader when they stand for the right, through which he/she can help others, solve issues, and motivate them to do their best.

Introduction

The definition of leadership varies according to the perception of people. According to me, a person can be a leader when he is familiar with righteousness so that they can help others and solve their issues.

Who this friend is

I know many people who possess leadership qualities. However, I would like to specifically mention my well-wisher- Dr Ranjeet Verma. I believe that he is an outstanding leader. Though I may agree or disagree, can’t avoid his suggestion.

How You first met

Dr Ranjeet Verma is a 45-year-old professor. He is a very intellectual and straightforward person. I met him first in 2015. He is well-thought-out and judicious in his thoughts. He never steps back from saying what he thinks is right or wrong. Being excellent at emotional intelligence, he knows how to understand others at first meeting. Everyone, I feel very safe and comfortable while sharing the problems we are facing.

 How other people behave towards him or her

Since Dr Ranjeet Verma is a professor and a very smart person, everyone in this society respects him. He pays attention to every minute detail and gives practical insight for every situation.

Explain why you think he or she is a good leader

Whenever I’m around him, I feel empowered and motivated. One of his most inspiring quotes that I truly admire is, “Be bold and beautiful.” This reflects his strong leadership qualities and the positive influence he has on others.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I truly believe that Dr Ranjeet Verma holds all the qualities of leadership and helps people learn many good things in life.

Tips to Excel in IELTS Cue Card

To succeed in the IELTS cue card, you can follow the tips below:

1. Regular practice is the key to success. This helps to build confidence and fluency at this stage.

2. Use your time wisely. Stick to the 2-minute timeline. Write down the key points of what you want to present.

3. Your body language speaks a lot. So, be very confident and set the natural tone of conversation.

Moreover, you should see whether you fulfil IELTS eligibility before jumping into the preparation. A student invests his/her time and money, so every aspect should be known.

Conclusion

To conclude, the cue card in the IELTS speaking section is a crucial element of the exam. Your speaking fluency and coherency will be assessed. If you practice regularly, then you will be more confident. Moreover, if you want to build your fluency, you can take IELTS speaking practice online to secure a high score. Gradding is one such platform that provides IELTS online coaching.