Describe an unusual meal you had: IELTS Exam Cue Card
Bhargavee Sisodia10 Jul 2024
Before sitting for the IELTS exam, you might have a thousand doubts and questions regarding how to obtain excellent band scores, right? Well, simply speaking, to ace the IELTS test, you will only need to concentrate and practice regularly to foster that confidence. Also, a strategy that suits your time, and attention span can aid considerably in devoting the right amount of time for IELTS preparation every day.
In this blog, we will mainly focus on the IELTS speaking test, so that you get a clear idea of everything related to it. In the IELTS speaking test, you will be judged and assessed for your spoken ability. This encompasses your grammar usage, pronunciation, lexical resources, coherence, clarity, and articulateness. In a single sitting for around 11-15 minutes, they will examine you on these aspects to rank your speaking ability.
Now that you specifically know about what areas will be considered, let's know about the speaking test parts in the IELTS test. There are a total of three parts to the IELTS speaking test, which are: Introduction (to introduce yourself and verify your background), Cue Card Task (speaking on an assigned topic), and Two-way discussion, also known as follow-up questions round.
We urge you to take a thorough look at mastering the speaking topic of the cue card task in the IELTS exam, where we are dropping a few sample answers to the cue card topic “Describe an unusual meal you had”.
How to attempt the cue card task topic?
Before providing a basic outline of attempting the topic on the cue card task of the IELTS exam, you must remember to manage time efficiently and not repeat the same things again and again. The examiner will expect you to convey a monologue that has quality. So, here is the breakdown:
Introduction: Start with a general perception of how food has been a part of your life.
Key highlights: In this part, you can respond to specific prompts on the topic to formulate an effective answer, which can be somewhat like this:
- Who were you with?
- When and where did you go?
- What did you eat?
- Why was it unusual?
Conclusion: For your concluding thoughts, give a gist of your complete experience, and what it taught or how it impacted you.
IELTS exam sample 1 for cue card topic “Describe an unusual meal you had”
Introduction
Trying new food has always been my hobby. Because it has helped me push my palate, and most of all, experience a variety of mouth-watering flavors. Having had a range of foods while growing up, I will share a memorable experience with food, which I regard as one of the most unusual meals that I have had ever.
Who was/were with you?
I was accompanied by my best friend for the food hunt as we had planned this before a month.
When and where did you go?
It was on a summer evening last year when we both hopped on a bus to reach the “Brick”, an authentic Mexican cuisine restaurant. We reached there by 6 and went inside to sit at our booked table while scanning to view their online menu with an assortment of Mexican dishes, including tacos and burritos.
What did you eat?
After a good five minutes of deciding on the food, we opted for the chilaquiles as it seemed interesting. As I already had tortillas before, I wanted to try a different dish with the same ingredient, because when it comes to Mexican food, I have a soft spot for tortilla chips. I inquired about the dish before placing the order and got to know that it is a traditional breakfast dish of the Mexicans.
I asked the chef about how is it prepared to get an idea of the preparation process. He described it as a mildly spiced recipe where fried corn tortilla chips are cooked in salsa, and sprinkled with cheese. Also, I found out that it is served with eggs or chicken pieces to non-vegetarians.
Why was it unusual?
Earlier, I had tried tortillas many times, and I liked it, but this dish took me through a magical experience of tasting what Mexican food is like. I loved how it hit my mouth with a rich flavor, and felt so savory until my last bite. It seemed close to tasting pasta, but much better than that, if I am asked about my preference. Even after being stirred in the sauce, the fried tortilla chips didn’t lose their crispiness, or get soggy. But, it can be cooked as per the customer’s request, because they told me, many love the chips melded with the sauce. However, I liked it better at the medium level.
Conclusion
This dish captivated me so much that I would like to go for it the next time and make my friends try it. The richness in flavor, aroma, and texture of the dish were something that I can never forget, or find a competitor to. Other than that being an unusual experience, I discovered that this dish lives up to the mark of reducing food waste and creating it into a palatable dish.
IELTS exam sample 2 for the Cue Card topic “Describe an unusual meal you had.”
Introduction
As I came out of my home, I was ready to explore, whether it was travel or food. Being an ardent foodie has played an essential role in shaping my personality, and giving me a true identity. Each adventure and experience with food has been unique, and indelible. From a treasure chest of food stories, I will share my unusual food experience in a different country.
Who was/were with you?
The fun fact is that it was my first solo trip abroad where I handled everything from traveling to lodging and food on my own.
When and where did you go?
For my vacation, I took a trip to Thailand four years ago during July. It was a spontaneous plan as I wanted to explore beyond my home country. That time, I already had decided what foods to try before landing in Thailand. According to my plan, I reached Bangkok and headed to Mae Varee Fruit Shop, which earns its popularity from selling delectable and exotic Thai desserts.
What did you eat?
As the shop I went to had a specialty in making and serving Thai desserts, I ordered one Thai Mango Sticky Rice. The sweet dish in which greasy coconut milk was mixed with steamed sticky rice, and paired with fresh, and delicious ripe mangoes was a classic combination that satiated my taste buds. I became a fan of this dessert on my first try. I was mostly admiring the perfect smooth texture, and balance of sweetness in it.
Why was it unusual?
To this day, I call it unusual because it had that inexplicable taste. I did not find anything similar to that dish in the cuisines that I had tried before. As someone who wanted to feel a balancing burst of tastes combined, it won my heart, as it turned out to be a lovely combo of sweet and savory. Also, I have never had a fervor for sweet dishes, but this exotic Thai sweet dish was an exception.
Conclusion
All in all, I enjoyed the dish twice, once on the arrival day, and then before departing from Thailand. That explains how special and relishing that sweet dish was. I still hold close to the memory of finding joy in discovering the rich culinary heritage of that place. Later, I encouraged many of my friends to try that while visiting Thailand, and each one of them enjoyed the dish thoroughly.
Follow-up questions for the IELTS speaking test
Based on the cue card topic of IELTS speaking test, you have to respond to 3-4 follow-up questions that will be asked by the examiner. It will show your ability to form abstract thoughts and reasoning ability. Below we have structured a few probable questions on the topic “Describe an unusual meal you had”.
Follow-up question 1: How did you and your friend react to the uniqueness and unusualness of the chilaquiles?
Answer: Both of us were amazed at the combination of chips and sauce served in cooked form. It came to us as an unconventional fusion, although it has been notable as one of the most authentic Mexican dishes. This unforgettable culinary experience enhanced our taste buds, and we were giddy with delight and excitement as we took the first bite, and continued until the last few bites. All of the ingredients were very distinct and savory which seemed filling and we found it comforting. If we ever have a chance to go to Mexico, we shared the thought of trying the dish there.
Follow-up question 2: Was the restaurant you visited a cuisine-oriented?
Answer: Since I was specific about which dish to try, which is Mexican food, I googled a place in my hometown where I could enjoy the finesse and authentic flavor. So, with the help of my best friend, I ended up finalizing the “Brick” restaurant, that serves only Mexican food. The chefs in it had expertise in cooking Mexican food and were trained abroad. Being a Mexican restaurant, the menu was budget-friendly, and quality was excellent. I would probably recommend it to be one of the best in towns if it comes to Mexican food and ambiance.
Follow-up question 3: Describe your food experience in Thailand.
Answer: Thailand has been a tourist destination, with people coming from different countries of the world for vacation. As I already said my first solo expedition was to Thailand, and the trip has immense significance in my life. My experience with visiting street food stalls gave me a lot to remember within a short time. I was warned before about how certain spices and ingredients could be off-putting, but being a foodie, I was open to trying food of all sorts, from vegetarian to non-vegetarian, including exotic ones. I am not a connoisseur, to be honest, however, I have had a diverse experience with food during this trip, and none of them were bad. Among my favorites, were Pad Gra Pao Moo, Tom Yum Gung (hot and sour soup with shrimp), and Thai mango sticky rice.
Follow-up question 4: Is it difficult for vegetarians and vegans to find food in Thailand?
Answer: Thailand is known as a destination for sightseeing, and food. Foodies consider it as the heaven. However, those who are vegetarians and vegans don't seem to have confronted such issues in finding convenient food. There are several fruit and juice stalls available that serve tasty and fresh tropical foods throughout the year. Also, a lot of the restaurants are vegetarian-friendly, and some of the best ones are there in Chinatown, Chiang Mai, and Krabi. Even hotels are seen embracing vegan-friendly food and practices too, to attract vegan customers.
Conclusion
Since most international educational institutions and organizations set the IELTS test as a criterion to enroll in a program or secure a job, it is necessary to take the IELTS exam. As a first step, you can engage in IELTS exam preparation by taking an IELTS sample test as it will help you recognize the areas where you will have to put more effort into improving your skills. At D-VIVID, we focus on comprehensive and personalized support, from planning your IELTS preparation journey to teaching you to be confident for the IELTS exam. We do this by regularly offering you resources that cover IELTS speaking topics, and IELTS exam sample questions. Our team of counselors and accredited instructors from D-VIVID proceed through a strategic approach to ensure effective IELTS exam preparation, which includes IELTS practice tests and sessions on how to respond to complex questions, just for the sake of assuring that you earn high band scores.
You can also check out these blogs for IELTS speaking test that covers sample answers to various cue card topics for the IELTS exam:
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