Here is an IELTS speaking topic from May 2021 to August 2021 Cue Cards with Sample Answer and Follow up questions. We hope you would like this Ielts speaking cue card topic with answers
IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card
Describe a time when you helped a friend
– When it was
– How you helped him/her
– Why you helped him/her
– And how you felt about it
Helping and caring for one another is a skill that is the most important thing to imbibe and implement in our lives.
It helps us stay polite and down to earth which in turn makes this world a better place to stay in.
Being a firm believer of this philosophy, I always try to help people around me to the best of my capabilities.
For instance, when I was in 8th grade, I had a friend named Karan who happened to be a pretty good friend of mine as we sat on the same bench at school.
It so happened that our final exams were just round the corner.
So, we were required to complete a load of assignments and projects to submit in the school for our internal assessment.
But unfortunately, Karan met with an accident just a month before the exams and received multiple fractures.
Hence, he was advised bed rest for about 4 weeks and was unable to attend the school due to this issue.
He was not even capable of writing on his own as he had a fracture in his right hand as well.
He was in a dilemma and was considering taking a drop from studies and giving the exams in the next attempt.
However, his mother was against this idea and asked the class teacher if something could be done.
Our class teacher suggested that he refers to notes made by a co-student to prepare for the exams.
When I came to know about this, I readily volunteered and started visiting his home everyday after school to update him about the latest happenings in school.
I also gave him all my notes and even completed some of his notebooks as he was incapable of writing at that point.
All this while, his mother used to bring me delicious snacks and shakes whenever I visited him to express her gratitude towards me.
It felt very satisfying to see her mother relaxed as far as Karan’s studies were concerned.
Even Karan was very grateful to me for my help and used to thank me almost everyday.
It was during those days when we became best friends and became extremely close. Till date, he is my best friend and we still are thick as thieves.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 :
Follow-up questions of Describe a time when you helped a friend
1. How do people usually help each other?
There are endless ways to help people if one intends to. For instance, students can help each other with studies and projects. Similarly, grown ups can help people financially by helping their friends in financial distress. Even older people can help each other by giving good life advice and spending time with their families in distress.
2. How is online help different from real-life help?
It’s very different to help people online. It has its own benefits. For instance, people can donate to charities and make a contribution without even being physically present. They can raise awareness about different issues which concern them. Moreover, helping people through an online medium is not dependent on the location of the needy and the helper.
3. Should schools be responsible for teaching students how to cooperate?
Definitely. I think every person acquires the basics of ethics and manners from their schools after their home of course. Hence, I believe schools should also take up and understand the importance of teaching young kids about the importance of helping and contributing positively to someone’s life.
4. What are the differences between help from friends and help from family?
I think, with friends, there is a sense of obligation to return the help once you receive it. It feels more like a favour. On the contrary, with family, there is no such feeling and we can easily approach them in case we need assistance with anything during any phase of our life.
5. Do you like helping others?
Absolutely. I am a very charitable and helpful person. I have always been up for helping people wherever and whenever possible, to the best of my abilities.
6. Should parents teach helping others to their children?
Yes. The onus of teaching how to help others and instilling the ability to sympathise with people lies with the parents too, along with schools. As children spend more time with their parents and idolise them a lot. So, they tend to follow their parents’ actions and take their teaching more seriously.
7. Do you think nowadays people do more good work as compared to the past?
Not really. Under present circumstances, life has become very fast-paced and materialistic, which leaves people absolutely no time to help others. On the contrary, in the past, people used to be very caring and loving towards one another rather than being selfish and self-centered.
8. Will you help others in the future?
Why not? Actually people need to realise that it’s all a game of give and take. You can expect help and assistance from others only when you are willing to provide the same to them.
9. How do you encourage children to help others?
In my opinion, we don’t need to teach something like this to children. Children are known to idolise their parents and elders and copy most of their actions. Hence, we need to exhibit a charitable and helpful nature for them to follow and learn.
10. How do world social organizations such as Red Cross collect their funds worldwide?
Well, I think marketing plays a very crucial role in that. They are pretty good at it. They seek help from the media as well for this purpose and organise different activities and events.
11. Do small non-government organizations always need big organizations’ help or can they collect funds themselves?
I don’t think so. They can pretty much manage on their own by employing right marketing strategies and work ethics. Plus, actively and sincerely working towards a cause can help them develop goodwill and trust among the people and donors.
12. Do you think people in India should help foreigners who are visiting India and who need help? (Why? / Why not?)
Definitely. Indian people are famous worldwide for their hospitality and colourful nature. Plus, a foreigner is not well versed with the day-to-day activities, languages and rules followed in India. So, helping a person stuck in an adverse situation is a good thing.
13. What is the most important way for a country to help foreigners who are visiting the country?
Well. The first thing I would suggest is to guide them about our customs and traditions so that they don’t hurt anybody’s sentiments knowingly or unknowingly. Moreover, they should be provided with proper assistance when deciding on the places to visit and the food to eat.
14. Many people only look out for themselves and never think about helping others. What do you think of this attitude?
Well, such people are very short-sighted and self-centered, in my opinion. They just think about their comfort and happiness regardless of other people’s situations and needs. Hence, they often find no help when they need it the most.
15. Do Indian people help others who need help, such as people in extreme poverty? (How?)
Definitely. A good majority of people in India still believe in community living. They help each other in distress to the best of their capacity. People here, in India, are very compassionate and caring in general.
