Thrissur Mentors On How to Solve Cue Cards in IELTS Speaking

Thrissur, the gold capital of the state, is now seeing a rise in the number of IELTS test takers. It has now become a hub for the preparation of this exam. Students who are preparing for this exam often find themselves stuck in the IELTS speaking cue card task. It is because the topic for this question is given on the spot, and they have to speak about it. That is why, to help them ace this task from the IELTS exam syllabus, mentors from the coaching in Thrissur are discussing some methods.

Introduction to The Cue Card Task in IELTS Speaking

The cue card question is a part of the speaking section of the IELTS. It is one of the three tasks in this module. In this, you will get a card on which will be the topic. Next, you have to talk about this theme for around two minutes. Further, the task after this is also related to the topic from the cue card. So, you will get a minute to prepare your response to the question and then deliver it in about one to two minutes. Now, let’s see how you can attempt this question.

Methods for Attempting the Cue Card Task

This IELTS speaking question is designed keeping in mind the fact that it will assess the ability of students to speak about a topic. On the cue card, you will get your prompt, three-pointers to include in the reply and a follow-up question. Next, you need to use the proper approach to draft the response in under a minute. So, it is crucial to know the strategies for this question.

Understand Format

Firstly, you need to learn the format of the question that you are to attempt. In addition, know about the time limit and the scoring criteria as well. This way, you can draft an answer according to the exam requisites.

Vocabulary

As per Thrissur's mentors, a good word bank is crucial for the cue card task. You can go through various types of topics to become familiar with the language. Further, learn more terms, idioms and phrases.

Time Management

If you are not able to manage the time, it can be hard for you to get good scores. Use a timer when you are practising to further improve your ability.

Organise Thoughts

Getting your thoughts in order is vital for this IELTS speaking question. This will help you prepare a structured reply and give a logical answer. You can also note down the pointers to organise them.

Linking Words

As per Thrissur agents, the response that you give should not feel abrupt. Hence, you need to use linking words in your speech. These will further make your reply coherent and smooth.

Fluency

Since this task will examine your speaking skills, you must be fluent in your speech. Also, pay attention to the pronunciation of different words and the pace at which you speak.

Supporting Ideas

You can also use small examples or anecdotes to support the topic. However, ensure that they relate to the topic at hand.

Next, let’s know the criteria for marking this task.

Scoring Criteria for Cue Card Question

When you are solving a task from the IELTS exam syllabus, it is vital to know the marks distribution for it. The same is true for the cue card task. You need to understand the criteria that you should fulfil to get a good score. So, the following are the scoring criteria for the cue card question. These will further help you analyse yourself and improve the areas that you are lacking.

Fluency

It assesses the capability of the test taker to speak without pauses. It further includes a clear response without any repetitions.

Grammar

According to the Thrissur mentors, this criterion examines the grammar structure of the reply. It comprises the parts of speech, tenses and more.

Pronunciation

This criterion in the IELTS speaking module checks how well you pronounce the words. It also includes rhythm, intonation, stress, etc.

Lexical Resources

It checks the range of words used by the test takers. Moreover, it further shows if the terms used are in context or not.

Conclusion

To sum up, the above methods and criteria will help you in improving your performance for the exam. Also, practice regularly to become familiar with the types of topics that you can get. Other than that, if you need any assistance, you can contact the tutors at Gradding.com. They will offer valuable feedback on your progress. It is also a famous IELTS coaching in Thrissur, which will provide you with free mock tests and coaching. In addition, you can get many study materials that will be useful in the test preparation.