Do you plan to take the IELTS exam shortly? If yes, this article is for you. We are sharing with you some tips on how to ace Task 2 of the IELTS Speaking Section, popularly known as the Cue Card Section.
You may have heard that this is one of the IELTS test’s most challenging sections.
You must speak for a longer period about a topic about which you may lack sufficient knowledge about. You also have a limited amount of time to prepare.
We are here to help you, so please continue reading for sample responses to the cue card topic ‘Describe one of the happiest travels you had.’
What is the IELTS Cue Card Question?
The examiner will provide you with a card with a topic printed on it and some prompts to assist you in answering the question in Task 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test.
This card is popularly known as a cue card. If you choose to take notes, the examiner will provide you with a pencil and a sheet of paper. You have one minute to prepare a speech outline.
After that, you must give a one- to a two-minute presentation on the allocated topic. The examiner will interrupt you if you continue to speak for more than two minutes.
The examiner may ask you a couple of follow-up questions after you have finished your talk, to which you should respond immediately and concisely.
How to Answer this Specific Question: “Describe One of the Happiest Travels You Ever Had”
Title/ Question
Describe One of the Happiest Travels You Ever Had
Guidelines to Answer this Question
You should say:
- Where it was
- When it was
- Who you were with
and explain why you consider it one of your happiest travels.
- Recall one of your happiest travels. It could be a local or international trip. Since this is a memorable trip, you wouldn’t have a hard time recalling the events.
- The moment you have picked a specific travel to discuss, stick with it. Remember that the time allotted for the preparation is relatively short.
- Begin writing down notes. State when and where this trip was. Include the people you were with during that time or if you went solo. Describe how the experience was and explain why you consider it one of the happiest travels you had.
- Use your time wisely. Simply write keywords and phrases instead of sentences.
- Keep in mind that you should employ a wide vocabulary and complex grammar structures. These two factors account for half of your grade in this section of the test.
- Write as rapidly as possible, but check to see whether you can understand what you have written later on. If the examiner cannot read your handwriting, that is fine. Your speech’s content and delivery will be used to assess you.
- Make it a habit to look at your notes once in a while. It is allowed. You do not lose marks for doing so. It is the reason you were given a pen and paper in the first place.
Sample Responses: “Describe One of the Happiest Travels You Ever Had”
Sample Response 1:
“Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to experience a lot of remarkable trips. One of my happiest travels occurred when I was just starting university and needed to see my youngest uncle in a city far distant from my hometown, where he had just begun his first job. So, of course, I was ecstatic. The enthusiasm went even more when one of my older cousins, who was also traveling with me, informed me that we would be making the journey on a high-speed train that had only recently begun operating in my hometown.
We were told that the journey would take 6 to 7 hours and that the train would travel at a constant speed of 200 kilometers per hour. As a result, it was a completely new experience for me, and I couldn’t wait to board the train as soon as I got to the station. By the way, my cousin had wisely chosen a couple of window seats towards the front of the spanking new train, so we both knew it would be a fantastic ride, which it was, as the train began to run like a bullet with a whistle just seconds after we boarded. The items outside the train seemed to appear out of nowhere and then vanish like ghosts in a fraction of a second.“
Follow-up Question 1:
Do you like traveling?
Response:
“Absolutely! I love going to different places and exploring them. I like learning the culture of the people too. But one thing I like the most when I travel is the food. It’s an amazing experience being able to eat different kinds of food.“
Follow-up Question 2:
Would you rather take the train or a plane when you travel?
Response:
“It actually depends. Sometimes, if traveling by train would take really long, I take the plane. But when it takes only a few hours, I do take the train. Besides, the view is indeed magnificent, especially in our city, where you get to see the mountains. Traveling by train is also cheaper.“
Sample Response 2:
“Three months ago, my family and I traveled to Egypt for a vacation. It has been one of my most memorable experiences thus far. We traveled to a beach called Hurghada during this trip and had a great time.
Egypt is a lovely country, but I didn’t have the opportunity to visit it until last year. We stayed in a four-star hotel near Hurghada beach with a stunning view. Hurghada is one of the country’s largest and most beautiful beaches, and we had a great day there. The beach is covered with white sands, and we used to wander for an hour or two down the seashore to take in the scenery. During the day, the deep blue ocean was lovely to look at, and at night, it mirrored the moonlight, making the scene exquisite. To say the least, our experience was incredible.
It was the best holiday for me because I was able to spend it with my family after such a long time apart. I had also never seen such lovely seashores before. My parents also let me travel alone to other locations and enjoy myself for the first time in my life. The natural beach views were breathtaking, and the fish was delicious. As a result, I believe it was the best holiday I’ve ever had.“
Follow-up Question 1:
Which do you prefer, going to the beach or going to the mountains?
Response:
“I’d rather go to the beach. I think that it is more relaxing. Looking at the waves and feeling the sand on my feet relaxes me a lot too. And of course, who doesn’t like swimming?“
Follow-up Question 2:
In what way has the current pandemic affected tourism all over the world?
Response:
“I think everyone would agree that the pandemic has affected tourism a lot, and in a negative way. As someone who loves traveling myself, I haven’t been traveling lately because a lot of countries do not accept foreigners yet. For those who do, there are a lot of requirements needed, quarantine being one, and I personally believe it’s too much of a hassle, not to mention costly.“
Vocabulary List of Answering this Question: “Describe One of the Happiest Travels You Ever Had”
Below are some words from the sample responses for the cue card topic ‘Describe one of the happiest travels we had.’ with their definitions and example sentences to guide you.
| Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Usage of the Word in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| board | verb | To enter or get on an aircraft, a ship, or another vehicle | “He had to board the train without waiting for his friend.” |
| breathtaking | adjective | Amazing or awe-inspiring in quality, to the point of taking one’s breath away | “He owns a private location with breathtaking views of the sea.” |
| constant | adjective | Taking place on a continual basis over a length of time | “I was enraged by their constant criticisms.” |
| distant | adjective | Having long distance | “A distant galaxy has been identified by astronomers.” |
| ecstatic | adjective | Overwhelming delight or happy exhilaration | “She was ecstatic to see many of her old friends.” |
| enthusiasm | noun | Passionate and enthusiastic pleasure, interest, or approbation | “The proposition was met with enthusiasm by the group.” |
| exquisite | adjective | Incredibly lovely and, as is customary, delicate | “Her exquisite manners are a result of her excellent breeding.” |
| fantastic | adjective | Exceptionally appealing or nice | “Don’t miss out on our summer sale’s fantastic discounts.” |
| magnificent | adjective | Awe-inspiringly stunning, grandiose, or lavish | “The holiday parade was a magnificent sight to behold.” |
| memorable | adjective | Worth remembering or easy to recall, especially if it’s unique or remarkable | “The two main protagonists’ excellent acting made the film memorable.” |
| recently | adverb | A short time ago; not long ago | “Recently, I’ve been having a difficult time.” |
| scenery | noun | The natural aspects of a landscape that are valued for their aesthetic value | “The scenery had the passengers fascinated.” |
| stunning | adjective | Exceedingly gorgeous or outstanding | “She was 55 years old and yet looked stunning.” |
| vanish | verb | To abruptly and utterly vanish | “As the fire quickly spread through the structure, we watched it vanish beneath a thick gray smoke mantle.” |
| wander | verb | To slowly move away from a fixed point or location | “The animals are free to wander about.” |