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Describe a useful skill: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe a useful skill you learned.

You should say:

  • what the skill is
  • when and where you learned it
  • how you learned it

and explain why this skill is useful to you.

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.

Try it before you read the sample. Answer this card out loud with our AI examiner and get an estimated band.

Practise with the AI examiner

Sample answer

About 213 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

A skill that's turned out to be really useful for me is touch typing, which means typing quickly without looking at the keyboard.

I learned it about three years ago, when I started my first office job. Before that, I typed with two fingers and had to keep glancing down at the keys, which was painfully slow. My manager noticed and, rather kindly, suggested a free website that teaches typing through short daily exercises.

So I set myself a challenge: fifteen minutes of practice every evening for two months. At first it was incredibly frustrating, because I was actually slower than before, and I kept being tempted to go back to my old habits. But after a few weeks, something clicked, and my speed started to improve rapidly. By the end, I'd gone from about twenty words a minute to over sixty.

The reason it's so useful is that almost everything I do, at work and at home, involves a keyboard, whether it's writing emails, reports or even messages to friends. It probably saves me at least an hour a day. And because I'm not constantly looking down, I can concentrate on what I'm writing rather than how I'm writing it. It's a small skill, but I'd recommend it to anyone, especially students.

Why this works: it covers every point on the card in order, gives specific details and a short story rather than general statements, and ends by explaining the feeling or reason, which the last line of the card asks for.

Useful vocabulary

turn out to be
to be found to be something in the end
glance down
to look down quickly
painfully slow
extremely slow
be tempted to
to want to do something you know you shouldn't
something clicked
suddenly began to understand or work well
save (time)
to use less time

Rounding-off question

After you finish, the examiner may ask one short question, such as:

Was it difficult to learn this skill?

Part 3 questions: Skills and learning

In Part 3, the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the cue card topic. Give an opinion, explain why, and add an example.

What skills do young people need most to find a good job today?

Beyond qualifications, I'd say communication and adaptability. Employers want people who can explain their ideas clearly and work in teams. And since technology changes so quickly, the ability to keep learning new tools is probably more valuable than any one technical skill.

Is it better to learn a skill from a teacher or by yourself online?

It depends on the skill. For something like typing or basic coding, online courses are ideal because you can practise at your own pace. But for practical or physical skills, like driving or playing an instrument, a teacher can spot bad habits early, which saves a lot of time in the long run.

More questions to practise

  • Why do some adults stop learning new things?
  • Should practical skills like cooking and repairs be taught at school?
  • How do you think the skills people need will change in the next twenty years?
  • Do employers value qualifications too much compared with experience?

Now say it out loud

Reading a good answer helps, but speaking is what improves your band. This set includes this cue card, Part 1 questions on free time and food, and a Part 3 discussion.

Start this Speaking test

This sample answer was written by TestWise Prep to show language that scores well. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas, not to memorise, because examiners mark rehearsed answers down.