A candidate recently took his speaking exam and shared the cue card given to him by the examiner. Before looking at the model answer, you can try recording your own response after taking one minute to prepare on this cue card:

Question:

Describe your best childhood memory

What it is

When and where it happened

Why you liked it so much

Explain why it was your best childhood memory.

Now, let’s compare your response to the model answer:

Model Answer:

I have many cherished childhood memories, but one of my favorites is the day my parents gifted me a doll. It happened when I was just 12 years old, and I received the beautiful Barbie doll as a reward for grabbing the first position in a dance competition held at my school.

When I got the doll, I rushed to see all my friends and proudly introduced it as my new friend. I even named it right away, and from that moment, the doll became my constant companion. I would share all my experiences from school and home with my new friend. Along with the doll, my parents gave me a small bag containing attractive accessories and amazing dresses for the Barbie doll. Every morning, I would wake up excitedly and dress up the doll in new clothes.

I cherish this childhood memory because playing with the doll felt like having a real friend by my side. The way I imagined and treated the toy as if it were alive makes this memory truly heart-touching whenever I look back on those wonderful days of my childhood.

Useful Tips:

For the above cue card, here are some helpful tips:

Factual information:

– Describe receiving a gift or an incident that left a strong impression on you during your childhood.

– Mention where it happened, such as at home, school, park, or a friend’s house.

– Specify the time, like when you were a certain age or the exact year.

Vocabulary:

– Use connectors like furthermore, moreover, apart from this, or other than this to add more details to your response.

– Employ descriptive words such as beautiful, attractive, amazing, heart-touching, awesome, memorable, or remarkable to express your feelings about the memory.

– Describe your childhood as full of magical moments, dreams, and imagination, or a fantasy world that was filled with fun and enjoyment.

– Emphasize that you have many great memories to share or highlight that the specific memory you are describing is one of the sweetest or most wonderful ones.

By following these tips and using appropriate vocabulary, you can effectively respond to cue card questions and enhance your speaking performance. Good luck!