IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card # 12
Describe a happy event of your life.
You should say:
- what it was
- when it happened
- where it happened
and explain why it was a happy event.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
No doubt, we live in a very modern, tough and complicated world where time is in very short supply. But, still, we steal some time for ourselves from our hectic schedules to escape from the boredom of our daily routines in order to make our lives a bit more colourful and interesting whenever presented with an opportunity. And what an opportunity it really was in 2010 that became one of the joyful events of my life!
It was the spring semester of 2010 at a local college in my home country – Australia, and I was really busy with my curriculum and studies. Naturally, participating actively in an event like an “inter-college” cooking competition was the last thing on my mind until and unless, of course, the event would be telecasted live on a television channel, as I was informed to my pleasant surprise. Everybody deserves his/her 15 minutes of fame. So, when the invitation to participate in the event was handed to me (chosen because of my past records and initiatives in organizing a couple of picnics for my class perhaps), I became really excited with a dose of nervousness in the mix – excited at the prospect of being showed up on TV, happy to experience something new and nervous because I wasn’t really a very good cook even on my best day.
I started my preparation for cooking competition success in full force with a complete invasion of my mother’s kitchen as I really needed to improve my cooking skills. I was spending more time in our kitchen, practising cooking some of my favourite dishes, than paying enough attention to my studies. My enthusiasm for the cooking event was no surprise, but what really surprised me was that my parents, always scolding me for not studying enough, were suddenly inspiring and helping me in my cooking endeavour! I guess, they (my parents) also wanted to become a part of my cooking success! After all, how many parents get so lucky to avail such an occasion to see their children on TV? I was thrilled to prepare myself for the competition and the prospect of doing well in it kept me going.
So, anyway, the competition was on, and I poured all my cooking skills and experience into the competition. I am proud to say that I didn’t disappoint my parents and my college as I became the runner-up in that competition. The hard work and determination finally paid off! It was a once-in-a-lifetime event that might have lasted only for a couple of hours, but I will certainly cherish the opportunity for the rest of my life because it was a real confidence booster and one of the happiest moments in my life.
Sample Answer 2:
What it was:
Well, I can think of many happy events in my life. Some of them are ingrained in my memory, and I like to talk or think about them whenever I get a chance. For this topic, I’m, going to talk about a really happy event when we took a family vacation to Malaysia.
When it happened:
It happened at least ten years ago, perhaps in mid-November 2012. I was just 15 years old back then, and it was my first time visiting any foreign country. So when my father gave me this amazing news, I naturally was excited and happy with the anticipation of having a wonderful tour. And when we actually took the tour, I was so happy that I did not want the vacation to end!
Where it happened:
We took an international flight and reached the Kuala Lumpur International Airport after a few hours journey. Just when we landed at the airport, the thrill of visiting any foreign country began and it lasted for good eight days till we took a departing flight to our home country.
And explain why it was a happy event:
During these eight days, I was one of the happiest people in the world due to the excitement and thrill the vacation brought us. I was also happy because it was a much-needed vacation for us as a family after quite a hectic few months. I have been to a couple more countries afterwards, but I believe the first time I took this vacation in Malaysia and enjoyed the cultural diversity for the very first time was something unforgettable.
For this Candidate Task Card Topic, you can talk about any event of your life that made you happy. It can be a simple event like buying a dress or a big event like your wedding day. Following is a list of some events that are usually considered happy events that you can relate to your life and then talk about.
1) You were accepted into a school, college or university.
2) You made a good friend.
3) You graduated from high school.
4) You moved into a new home.
5) Travelling to a foreign country for the first time.
6) Meeting your love of life.
7) Your first kiss.
8) Your Wedding day.
9) The birth of your first child.
10) Hearing your child’s first word.
11) When you took a family vacation.
12) When you landed your dream job.
13) You won a prize.
14) Your writing got published for the first time in a newspaper or magazine.
15) You bought a present for your parents.
16) Your sister/brother gave birth to a baby boy/girl.
17) You bought your first car.
18) You learned to drive a car.
19) You adopted a pet for the first time.
20) You got promoted in your job.
21) You opened a business or made an investment.
22) You learned a skill.
23) You opened your first paycheck.
24) Reveling in a great book.
25) When you enjoyed a great meal.
26) Taking a trip with your friends.
27) Giving something to a needy person.
28) Achieving something important in life.
29) Completing a big project.
30) Buying your first apartment.
31) Quit a bad habit.
32) Started a new hobby.