Describe a historical building you been to. : IELTS Cue Card

Bhargavee Sisodia

26 Jun 2024

Describe a historical building you been to. : IELTS Cue Card

The IELTS exam is an international test of English proficiency for non-native English language speakers. The IELTS test has 4 sections: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The speaking test is a little tricky out of the 4 sections. The IELTS speaking test can be broadly classified into 3 further sections: Introduction, Cue Card Round, and Follow-Up Question Round. As the IELTS speaking test starts, you will first have to introduce yourself. It is always advisable to have your introduction ready and practiced so that the speaking test is started with confidence. Next will be the Cue Card round, which is the critical part of the IELTS speaking test. Here you will get a topic to give an answer to in 2 minutes. Based on your answer, the examiner will evaluate your fluency, grammatical know-how, and grasp of the language. After your answer, there will be the follow-up questions round, where you will get a few questions based on the topic given to you. The speaking test might seem overwhelming and complicated, but the IELTS sample test along with going through several IELTS speaking questions will make it easier with time. The more you practice answering several IELTS speaking topics, it will make you a pro. 

To understand this better, we will go through an example of the IELTS speaking questions. We will not only learn how to answer the question with ease but also understand how to deal with the follow-up question. Once you go through the examples of the IELTS speaking topics and make yourself habituated with the overtone of the speaking test, you are bound to have a stellar stellar score in your IELTS exam. 

IELTS exam sample question : Describe a historical building you been to.

As soon as you get the question of the IELTS speaking test, you have to first decide the historical building you want to speak on. It is advisable that you select a place where you personally have been to or have good knowledge about so that you can describe the place and details about it. Once that is done, quickly visualize the place in your mind. Graphic thinking will help you articulate your thoughts with words. You will have to choose words to describe the picture in your mind.

You will have to give a 2-minute answer, so you can think about the key highlights like when you visited the place, with whom you visited, and what you liked about the place. Once you have the structure of the answer you have in mind, you are good to go. However, the challenge during the cue card section of the speaking test is that you will only get 1 minute to think of the answer. You will get a paper and pencil, so utilize it to the maximum to jot down your thoughts. Let's dive into the samples that will make your IELTS exam preparation crisp and optimized.

IELTS speaking questions sample 1 : Describe a historical building you been to.

Introduction:

Recently, during my trip to Varanasi and Lucknow, I was fortunate enough to visit the Bara Imambara, which is popularly known for the Bhul Bhulaiya meaning labyrinth inside its premises.

Description of the place:

The Bada Imambara is a majestic shrine that not only has the Bhul Bhulaiya inside it but also the Asafi Mosque and a stepwell called Shahi Baoli. The premise is filled with beautiful gardens with colorful flowers that will transport you to the historic times. My favorite part was the Bhul Bhulaiya which has more than 1000 ways to get in, but only 1 way to get out. What an architectural and engineering brilliance!

When you visited the place:

I visited Lucknow in the month of February this year. Even in the month of February, the sun here is at its scorching best. But honestly, I do not remember being even a little tired, owing to how beautiful the place was and how excited I was to listen to the anecdotes shared by our guide.

With whom you visited the place:

Our entire family was together for the trip and after a long time, I met all of my cousins. One of them is a student of history, who had previously narrated a brief narrative of the place to us, to make us pumped up for the impending visit. I remember the night before our visit, we all sat in our hotel room and my cousin narrated legends of how the Bhul Bhulaiya was built to help the people in the palace escape in case enemies entered the palace, and in turn the enemies would be stuck there in the labyrinth.

What did you like about the place:

Everything about the Bada Imambara is glorious and has a story to tell. I was amazed to see the stepwell where a water-mirror mechanism was built. From even the deepest insides of the palace, the water reflected every person who entered the premises like a clear picture. The corridors of the Bhul Bhulaiya were another thing that struck me. As we whispered from steps away into the wall, any person standing with their ear placed on the wall could listen to us even from a large distance. To me, it was almost like magic.

Conclusion:

I am glad that I got the chance to visit this place. If not, I would have certainly missed out on a lifetime’s worth of experience.

IELTS speaking questions sample 2 : Describe a historical building you been to.

Introduction:

I had been to Rajasthan in my childhood and the place is known for its history and major Forts. However, my favorite was the Chittorgarh Fort, which I will never forget in my life. The story, the ambiance, and the feel of the place gave me goosebumps and I still have the picture saved inside my mind of the absolute beauty.

Description of the place:

The Chittorgarh Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The huge fort has a historic significance out of which the most significant is the palace of Queen Padmini in the middle of a waterbody. The legends also state that Padmini and other women of the region committed suicide by Jauhar following Alauddin's conquest.

When you visited the place:

I visited the place in 2020 when I was in school. History was anyway one of my favorite subjects and I had already read about the stories of the Rajputs. I remember being the most excited among the group to visit the Chittorgarh Fort.

With whom you visited the place:

It was a trip with my parents and two other families of my father's friends. I had the company of 2 of my friends and thus, the visit was all the more memorable for me.

What did you like about the place:

The place screamed courage to me. Besides the sheer architectural brilliance and the fineness with which each structure and palaces were built, the main thing that hit me hard was the story. Our guide narrated the story of Allauddin Khilji wanting to see Queen Padmini once. Her pride didn't let her bow down to the request and instead allowed him to catch a glimpse of her reflection in a mirror. The stories and the vibe of the place taught me to always keep my head held high, be courageous in the face of all adversity, and never give in to anyone's evil intentions.

Conclusion:

It has almost been a decade and a half but the experience is still fresh. There are certain places that we go and it stays with us forever, and Chittorgarh is one such place.

IELTS speaking test- Follow-up questions segment

The follow-up questions are an important part of the IELTS exam preparation. This is the final stage of the IELTS speaking test. Let's take a look at a few examples.

Question 1: Do you feel that the urge to visit the rich historical heritage of our country is slowly getting lost in the youth?

Answer: I do agree with this. Most young people like to visit places like beaches and mountains according to their preferences and a lot of the time seek adventure. Their idea of vacations is often having fun with friends and a gate away from the mundane life. This is not wrong and is completely dependent on individual choices. However, the urge to visit historically significant places has indeed decreased in my opinion.

Question 2: How important do you feel it is to preserve our historical buildings?

Answer: Needless to say, at this point in time, we need to focus on the preservation of the structures, take care of them, and most importantly spread awareness of their grandeur to the nooks and corners of the country. A lot of these majestic places are just a part of a history book chapter for a lot of people and people are unaware of the heroic stories. This is a part of our culture and is our pride. There is absolutely no doubt about the fact that as a citizen of this country, it is our duty to ensure that the legends and their works are preserved, respected, and valued.

Question 3: How do you think we can grant public access to these places and at the same time strike a balance of preserving them from being eroded or polluted?

Answer: Although the authorities take appropriate steps to ensure that the sanctity and beauty of every place of historic significance are preserved, there has to be a sense of responsibility in every citizen and visitor to ensure the same. This will come from awareness and making them understand the pride and significance of these grandeurs. Once we take pride and believe these places to be our own, we will learn to keep them safe just like we do in our own homes.

Conclusion

D-VIVID has the correct resources and guides to help you through your IELTS preparation. The journey is tough, however, effort and strategy are the keys to your success in the IELTS exam. Everything that you require to walk down the path of your dream, D-VIVID has it in their basket. Right from access to the top-quality IELTS practice test to making you practice answering several IELTS speaking topics, we will secure your success in the IELTS test. Our goal is to see you smile seeing your IELTS exam scorecard and we are there to be your guide. Make D-VIVID a part of your IELTS exam preparation, and feel free to contact us if you need any help. Our team of professionals is there with their expertise in providing assistance to students.