IELTS May Aug 2026 20 new cue cards and 8 sample
1. Describe a special cake you received from others
Oh, this one takes me back instantly. So, it happened on my birthday around two years ago, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting a thing because everyone was acting super normal the whole day. I’d already made peace with the fact that birthdays become low-key once people get busy with work and life.
Then out of nowhere, around 11:30 at night, my friends started banging on my door like the place was on fire. I opened it half asleep, and there they were holding this massive chocolate cake while screaming the birthday song completely off-key. I couldn’t stop laughing.
The cake itself looked amazing. It had dripping chocolate on the sides, crushed Oreos on top, and my nickname written in this horrible handwriting. One side was literally smashed because apparently the guy carrying it hit a speed breaker too hard. We were all cracking up about it for hours.
But honestly, the best part wasn’t even the cake. It was the vibe. We sat on the floor, shared random gossip, roasted each other nonstop, and played old songs till nearly morning. Time just flew by.
Even now, whenever someone talks about birthdays, that night pops into my head straight away. It was one of those moments that hit different because everybody genuinely showed up for me.
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2. Describe a person who likes to look after the natural world
Alright, the first person that comes to mind is my cousin Rahul because this guy is seriously obsessed with nature in the best possible way. Like, no joke, he notices every tiny thing. If someone throws a wrapper on the road, he gives them that look immediately.
At first, I used to pull his leg a lot because he carried cloth bags, metal straws, reusable bottles — the whole package. I thought he was doing too much. But over time, I realised he actually walks the talk instead of just posting fake awareness stuff online.
Every weekend, he joins these clean-up drives near a lake in our city. Once he dragged me along at like 6 in the morning, and I was grumpy as hell. But after reaching there, seeing so many volunteers cleaning garbage and planting trees honestly opened my eyes a bit.
The crazy thing is he never sounds preachy. He explains things casually, like two friends chatting over tea. That’s why people naturally listen to him. Even my uncle, who couldn’t care less before, now separates plastic waste at home.
I genuinely think people like Rahul are worth their weight in gold because nowadays most people just turn a blind eye to environmental problems and carry on with life like nothing’s wrong.
3. Describe a city you enjoyed visiting
Honestly, Jaipur was such a vibe. I went there with two friends during winter holidays, and from the second we got there, the whole place just felt buzzing with energy.
Every street looked straight out of a movie — colourful shops, tiny cafés, old buildings, people bargaining loudly, bikes squeezing through impossible gaps… complete chaos, but in a fun way. We were literally soaking everything in like tourists who had never left home before.
One thing that really hit the spot was the food. Bro, we were eating nonstop. Every few steps there was some street stall selling spicy kachoris, sweets dripping with syrup, or hot chai. At one point, we were so full we could barely walk, but still ended up buying kulfi because it looked too good to miss.
The funniest part was my friend trying to bargain in the local market. The shopkeeper totally saw through him and started laughing. We were pulling his leg the whole evening about it.
What made the trip memorable wasn’t just the city itself, though. It was the vibe between us — no stress, no deadlines, no boring routine. We were just going with the flow and enjoying every second. Honestly, that trip still lives rent-free in my head.
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4. Describe a short-term job you want to have in a foreign country
Honestly, I’d love to work in a café somewhere in Canada for a few months. I know it sounds super random, but I’ve always thought that kind of job would be such a cool experience.
I watch these travel vlogs where people work part-time in cosy cafés surrounded by snow, soft music playing in the background, customers casually chatting — and the whole atmosphere just looks peaceful. Completely different from the usual rat race here.
The best part is you get to meet all sorts of people every single day. I’m the kind of person who enjoys random conversations, so I feel I’d fit right in. Plus, working abroad even for a short time would push me out of my comfort zone big time.
Of course, I know it wouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows. Standing for long hours, handling rude customers, surviving freezing weather — not exactly a walk in the park. But still, I think the experience would be worth its weight in gold.
And honestly, I’d probably come back with loads of funny stories too. I can already imagine myself messing up coffee orders or struggling to understand different accents during the first few days.
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5. Describe a boring place
Okay, this might sound harsh, but the most boring place I’ve ever been to was a government office near my area. Honestly, stepping inside that place felt like time stopped moving.
Everything there looked dull — faded walls, old plastic chairs, dusty fans making weird noises, and people just sitting around staring into space. Nobody looked alive. Even the employees seemed completely fed up with life.
I had gone there with my cousin to get some documents signed, and we thought it’d take maybe twenty minutes. Nope. We ended up waiting for nearly three hours doing absolutely nothing. Phones had low battery, there was barely any network, and the clock just refused to move.
At one point, we got so bored that we started making up stories about random people sitting around us just to kill time. Honestly, that was the only entertaining thing happening there.
The whole atmosphere was painfully slow. No music, no conversation, no energy — just silence mixed with people occasionally shouting token numbers. It really felt like being stuck in limbo.
Even now, whenever someone mentions government offices, I instantly remember that day and think, “Yep… boredom at its peak.”
6. Describe a new law you would like to introduce in your country
Honestly, if I could introduce one law, it’d probably be a strict rule against using phones while driving. I know the law technically already exists, but people still break it left, right, and centre like it’s no big deal.
Every single day, you’ll spot someone driving with one hand on the wheel and the other scrolling through messages. It honestly drives me nuts because one tiny mistake can turn everything upside down in seconds.
A few months ago, my friend and I were riding home when this guy suddenly swerved into our lane because he was busy checking his phone. We somehow avoided crashing by the skin of our teeth. After that, I realised how dangerous this habit actually is.
So yeah, I’d make the punishment way stricter — heavy fines, licence suspension, maybe even mandatory road safety classes. Some people only learn the hard way, unfortunately.
And honestly, it’s not even that difficult to avoid. Just pull over and reply later. Most messages aren’t life-or-death situations anyway.
I feel people have become way too addicted to their screens. Sometimes it’s like common sense has gone out the window. A stricter law might actually scare people enough to think twice before risking lives for a random notification.
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7. Describe a time when you got up early
Oh, I’m definitely not a morning person, so whenever I wake up early, it usually means something serious is happening. But one morning still stands out crystal clear in my mind.
It was during a trip with friends last year. We planned to watch the sunrise at a hill station, and for some reason everyone suddenly became super motivated the night before. We set alarms for 4 a.m., which honestly felt illegal.
The funniest part was nobody wanted to get out of bed once the alarms started ringing. We were all half asleep, dragging our feet, looking like zombies. One friend nearly wore his hoodie inside out because he was so sleepy. We couldn’t stop laughing.
But once we reached the viewpoint, everything changed. The air was freezing cold, there was complete silence around us, and slowly the sky started turning orange and pink. Honestly, it looked unreal. For a few minutes, nobody even spoke because we were just soaking it all in.
That moment really hit different. Usually I’d choose sleep over anything, but that day was worth waking up for. It reminded me that sometimes the best memories happen when you push yourself a little instead of staying wrapped up in your comfort zone.
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8. Describe a TV or online program you like to watch
Lately, I’ve been hooked on this travel and food show on YouTube where the host visits different countries and tries local street food. Honestly, once I start watching it, I fall down the rabbit hole for hours.
What I love is that it doesn’t feel fake or overly polished like some TV shows. The host just walks around casually, talks to random locals, cracks jokes, and reacts honestly to the food. It feels more like tagging along with a friend than watching some scripted program.
Sometimes the dishes look absolutely mouth-watering, and other times they look terrifying. I still remember one episode where the guy tried fermented fish somewhere in Asia and nearly lost the plot after the first bite. I was crying with laughter.
I usually watch it while eating dinner or when I need a break from work. It’s kind of my comfort show now. Plus, you learn loads of random things about different cultures without even trying.
The best thing is it gives me serious travel fever. Every episode makes me want to pack a bag and disappear somewhere new. Honestly, shows like that are a breath of fresh air compared to all the repetitive dramas and mindless content online nowadays.
9. Describe a city that you think is very interesting or famous
Without a doubt, I’d say Dubai. Even people who’ve never been there know about it because the city is literally everywhere on social media. And honestly, after visiting it once, I completely understood the hype.
The whole place feels larger than life. Massive buildings, crazy luxury cars, giant malls, beaches, lights everywhere — it almost feels unreal at times. I remember looking up at the Burj Khalifa and thinking, “Who even comes up with stuff like this?” That building is on another level.
But what really made the city interesting for me was the mix of people. You hear different accents every few seconds and meet people from all over the world. One taxi driver ended up chatting with us for nearly half an hour and gave better travel tips than Google.
At the same time, the city never seems to slow down. Even late at night, roads are busy and places are packed. It’s the kind of place where you blink and somehow spend half your savings without realising it.
Of course, not everything is perfect. Some areas felt way too flashy for my taste. But still, you can’t deny the city leaves a strong impression. Honestly, Dubai is one of those places that lives rent-free in people’s minds long after they leave.
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10. Describe an interesting video
A few months ago, I randomly came across this video of a man rebuilding an old abandoned house deep in the countryside, and honestly, I got completely hooked.
At first, I thought I’d watch for two minutes and scroll away, but before I knew it, nearly half an hour had passed. The video had no loud music, no fake reactions, no unnecessary drama — just this guy quietly fixing things step by step. Weirdly relaxing, to be honest.
The house looked completely destroyed in the beginning. Broken windows, cracked walls, plants growing everywhere… the whole place was falling apart. But slowly he transformed it into this cosy little home surrounded by nature. Watching the progress was seriously satisfying.
What really hit the spot was the peaceful vibe of the video. Nowadays most online content feels chaotic and attention-seeking, but this felt calm and genuine. I even sent it to a couple of friends, and they ended up binge-watching the whole channel too.
I think the video stood out because it reminded me that good things take time. In a world where everybody wants instant results, watching someone patiently build something from scratch felt oddly inspiring. Honestly, it was a breath of fresh air.
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11. Describe a tall building you like or dislike
There’s this tall building in Chennai that I absolutely love seeing whenever I pass by the area. It’s not even the tallest building in the world or anything, but the design just looks so sleek and modern that it instantly catches your eye.
The first time I noticed it was during a traffic jam, ironically. While everyone else was busy complaining and honking nonstop, I was just staring out the window looking at this massive glass tower shining in the evening light. It looked straight out of a movie scene.
What I like most is how different it feels compared to the older crowded buildings nearby. The place has cafés, office spaces, lights glowing at night — the whole atmosphere feels lively and polished. Sometimes my friends and I even sit nearby just to chill and grab coffee.
Of course, one friend always jokes that buildings like that are only for rich people and we’re just there for free air conditioning. Honestly, he’s not completely wrong.
Still, I enjoy places that make a city feel modern and energetic. Whenever I look at that building, it kind of gives me big-city vibes and makes the area feel more alive instead of dull and repetitive.
12. Describe a time when you worked in a group
Honestly, group work usually turns into complete chaos, but one experience actually went surprisingly well. It happened during college when we had to prepare a presentation for an important project.
At first, nobody wanted to take responsibility. Everyone was just sitting there waiting for someone else to start. Classic group project behaviour. For a while, it honestly looked like the whole thing would go down the drain.
Eventually, we split the work properly and things started falling into place. One friend handled the design, another worked on research, and I took care of the speaking part because they said I talk too much anyway. Fair enough, honestly.
The funniest part was meeting late in the evenings to practise. Half the time we were supposed to be working, but somehow conversations kept drifting toward memes, food, and random gossip. Still, little by little, we managed to pull everything together.
On presentation day, everyone was nervous as hell. One friend forgot his lines halfway through and just froze for a second, but somehow we covered for him smoothly. In the end, the teacher actually praised our teamwork, which shocked all of us.
That experience taught me that group work can either be a complete train wreck or work brilliantly depending on the people involved. Luckily, this time we were all on the same page.
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13. Describe a person who loves to grow plants
The first person who pops into my mind is my grandmother. Honestly, her relationship with plants is stronger than most people’s relationships these days.
Her balcony is completely packed with pots — flowers, chillies, tomatoes, curry leaves, aloe vera… you name it. Sometimes it feels less like a house and more like a mini jungle. Every morning, without fail, she spends hours watering plants and talking to them like they’re family members.
And no joke, she remembers every tiny detail about them. If one leaf turns yellow, she notices immediately. Meanwhile, I can barely remember where I kept my charger five minutes ago.
What’s funny is how protective she gets. Once my cousin accidentally stepped on one of her small plants, and she reacted as if he’d committed a serious crime. We still pull his leg about it during family gatherings.
But honestly, I kind of admire her passion. She genuinely finds peace in gardening. Whenever she’s stressed or upset, she just disappears onto the balcony with her watering can, and somehow her mood improves.
I think people nowadays are constantly glued to screens, so seeing someone enjoy such a simple hobby feels refreshing. Her plants aren’t just decoration for her — they’re basically part of her daily life.
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14. Describe a person you know who has a successful business
One person I really admire is my uncle because he built his business completely from scratch. And honestly, seeing his journey up close was pretty inspiring.
Years ago, he started with this tiny clothing shop that was barely bigger than a bedroom. Back then, money was tight, and he practically lived at the store trying to keep things running. My family still jokes that he spent more time there than at home.
But slowly things started picking up. He worked his socks off, treated customers really well, and always stayed consistent even when business was slow. Nowadays, he owns multiple stores across the city, which honestly blows my mind considering where he started.
What I respect most is that success never went to his head. Some people make a little money and suddenly act like celebrities, but he’s still super grounded. He remembers employees’ birthdays, helps relatives whenever needed, and talks to everyone normally.
I once asked him the secret behind his success, and he simply said, “Just don’t give up too early.” Sounds simple, but honestly, that line stuck with me.
I genuinely think people admire him not only because of the money he makes, but because he stayed humble while climbing the ladder.
15. Describe an important decision that you made
One really important decision I made was choosing to become an IELTS trainer instead of going for a regular office job. Honestly, at first, I had no clue whether it was the right move or not.
Back then, everyone around me kept pushing the safe option — stable salary, fixed hours, the usual routine. And for a while, I almost gave in because I didn’t want to rock the boat. But deep down, I knew I’d probably get bored out of my mind sitting behind a desk all day.
What pulled me toward teaching was the interaction with students. I genuinely enjoyed helping people improve their English and watching them gain confidence little by little. The energy felt completely different compared to a typical corporate environment.
Of course, the beginning wasn’t a walk in the park. Building trust, finding students, creating content — everything took time. There were moments when I seriously questioned myself and wondered if I’d bitten off more than I could chew.
But looking back now, I’m really glad I took that leap. The job feels meaningful, and no two days are exactly the same. Plus, hearing students say they finally achieved their target band honestly makes all the stress worth it.
Sometimes the hardest decisions end up shaping your whole life, and this was definitely one of those moments for me.
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16. Describe a person who works in a successful company
One person who comes to mind is my cousin Neha. She works for a huge tech company in Bangalore, and honestly, her life sounds completely different from mine sometimes.
She got the job a few years ago after grinding like crazy for interviews and exams. I still remember her surviving on coffee, barely sleeping, and constantly staring at a laptop screen. At one point, the whole family thought she’d turned into a robot.
Now she works with international clients, attends online meetings with people from different countries, and somehow manages deadlines that sound impossible to me. Whenever she explains her projects, I just nod along pretending I understand everything.
But what I admire most is her discipline. Even with a packed schedule, she still makes time for family and never acts arrogant about her success. Some people land a good job and instantly get too big for their boots, but she’s stayed exactly the same.
Of course, her work life isn’t all glamorous. She’s constantly under pressure, sometimes works late nights, and deals with stressful situations. So yeah, the money and reputation are great, but it definitely comes at a price.
Still, seeing her succeed through hard work rather than luck is genuinely motivating. She really earned every bit of it.
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17. Describe a place you would like to visit in your free time
Honestly, I’d love to spend a few days in the mountains somewhere quiet, probably in Himachal Pradesh. After dealing with noise, traffic, and nonstop phone notifications every day, that kind of peaceful place sounds like heaven to me.
I’m not even looking for some super fancy trip. Just a cosy little cottage, cold weather, hot chai, and a nice view would do the job perfectly. Sometimes simple things hit the spot more than luxury stuff.
One of my friends visited a small mountain village last year, and after seeing his photos, I immediately got travel fever. The place had pine trees everywhere, tiny cafés, foggy mornings, and barely any crowds. Honestly, it looked unreal.
What attracts me most is the calm atmosphere. I feel people nowadays are constantly running around without slowing down for even a second. Spending time in nature kind of helps you clear your head and recharge properly.
And knowing me, I’d probably spend half the trip just sitting outside doing absolutely nothing while listening to music or talking nonsense with friends. No strict plans, no rushing — just going with the flow.
I think places like that remind people to breathe a little and escape the rat race once in a while.
18. Describe a time when someone gave you good advice
Honestly, one piece of advice that really stayed with me came from my older brother during a stressful phase in my life. At that time, I was overthinking absolutely everything — career, future plans, money, literally nonstop. My brain never switched off.
One evening, I was sitting around complaining about how confused I felt, and after listening quietly for a while, he just said, “Stop trying to have your whole life figured out overnight.” Weirdly simple, but that line hit me like a truck.
He explained that most people are just winging it anyway, even if they pretend otherwise. According to him, stressing 24/7 about the future only drains your energy and steals the present moment. Honestly, I needed to hear that badly.
After that conversation, I started taking things one step at a time instead of spiralling over every tiny detail. And not gonna lie, life felt a lot lighter. Of course, problems didn’t magically disappear, but at least my mind stopped running a marathon all day.
Even now, whenever I start overthinking again, that advice pops back into my head immediately. Sometimes the best advice isn’t super deep or dramatic — it’s just someone helping you see things from a different angle at the right moment.
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19. Describe a noisy place you have been to
Oh, without a doubt, the noisiest place I’ve ever been to was a local street market during a festival season. Honestly, the second I entered that area, it felt like my ears were under attack.
People were shouting prices from every direction, bikes kept honking nonstop, loud music was blasting from shops, and somehow everyone was talking over each other at full volume. Absolute madness.
I went there with a friend to buy a few things quickly, but moving through the crowd itself felt like a mission impossible task. Every few seconds someone bumped into us, and at one point we completely lost each other for nearly ten minutes.
The funniest part was trying to order food from a roadside stall. The vendor couldn’t hear a word I was saying, so both of us just started yelling randomly until my friend stepped in laughing like an idiot.
Honestly, after spending two hours there, my head was spinning. But weirdly enough, the chaos also made the place feel alive. Everybody looked excited, kids were running around, families were shopping, and the whole atmosphere was buzzing with energy.
So yeah, it was loud enough to drive anyone up the wall, but at the same time, it’s one of those experiences that feels unforgettable afterwards.
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20. Describe a photo that is special to you
One photo that means a lot to me was taken during a family gathering a few years ago. It’s not some perfectly edited Instagram picture or anything fancy, but every time I look at it, it instantly brings back good memories.
The photo was clicked completely randomly while everyone was laughing during dinner. Nobody was posing properly. Someone was mid-laugh, another person was looking away, and my little cousin was busy making a weird face in the corner. Total chaos, honestly.
But that’s exactly why I love it. The picture feels real. Nowadays people spend ages trying to look perfect in photos, but this one captured a genuine moment without anyone trying too hard.
What makes it extra special is that some family members in that photo now live far away, so we hardly meet like before. Life got busy, people moved cities, and things changed slowly without us even noticing.
Sometimes when I’m having a rough day, I randomly scroll through my gallery and stop at that picture for a minute. It reminds me of simpler times when everybody was together just enjoying the moment instead of worrying about life nonstop.
Honestly, photos like that are worth their weight in gold because they freeze little moments that can never happen in exactly the same way again.
