When I look back at my childhood in a small coastal town, my days followed a very predictable but comforting rhythm. I was mostly surrounded by my older sister, Maya, and our golden retriever, Buster, who seemed to follow us everywhere. We were essentially inseparable, spending our mornings roaming the local dunes while our parents were busy working. Regarding food, my memories are filled with the scent of my grandmother’s kitchen. She would prepare simple, wholesome meals, usually warm porridge with a dollop of honey for breakfast, and thick slices of crusty bread with homemade jam for lunch. She was the one who looked after us, a gentle woman who possessed an endless supply of patience. She would mend our torn clothes and ensure we were fed before we dashed off to play again. Looking back, I think what I enjoyed most was the sheer freedom of those long, unstructured afternoons. We would build elaborate forts out of driftwood and old blankets, imagining ourselves as explorers on a desert island. There was a particular joy in those creative games that felt completely immersive. We didn’t need expensive gadgets or planned schedules; just a stretch of beach and our own imaginations were enough to keep us entertained for hours. It was a time of innocence where the biggest concern was simply getting home before the streetlights flickered on. Those days were marked by a sense of security and genuine contentment that I find quite nostalgic now. The simplicity of that period, defined by family and outdoor play, remains a foundational part of who I am today.
The cue card
Describe a typical day in your life when you were a child.
You should say:
- →Who was/were around you?
- →What you ate?
- →What took care of you?
- →And say what you most enjoyed doing in your childhood days.
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
An experience
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Note down names of people and a specific location to ground your story.
- 2
List three sensory details like sounds or smells to make your description vivid.
- 3
Structure your response chronologically from morning to afternoon to ensure smooth flow.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.
Say it and get a band free →8 words
Useful vocabulary for this cue card
Inseparable
Unable to be separated from another person.
Wholesome
Conducive to or suggestive of good health.
Dash off
To leave a place in a hurry.
Elaborate
Involving many carefully arranged and complex parts.
Immersive
Generating a deep mental involvement in something.
Gadgets
Small mechanical or electronic tools or devices.
Nostalgic
Sentimental longing for a period in history.
Foundational
Serving as the basis for something else.
6 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1Is it important to have pleasant childhood memories? Why?
- 2Do you think that people are permanently affected by negative childhood memories? Why do you think so?
- 3What do you think it means to 'live in the past'?
- 4Nowadays many parents try to make their children happy by buying them many toys. How do you feel about this?
- 5Is it important for a child to have a lot of toys in order to be happy?
- 6What is more important for a child's happiness, many toys or many friends?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a typical day in your life when you were a child."?+
Note down names of people and a specific location to ground your story.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
Keep practising
More cue cards: an experience
- Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop
- Describe a colourful cultural parade you saw
- Describe a community sports event you joined
- Describe a course or training you completed that helped you
- Describe a creative workshop you attended
- Describe a day trip to an historic monument
- All 705 IELTS cue cards 2026
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- IELTS pronunciation practice
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