Describe a time when you had to lend something to a person you know IELTS Cue Card

IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC

Describe a time when you had to lend something to a person you know

You should say:

What you lent

When it happened

Why he/she asked to borrow the item.

Explain how you felt about this.

Would you let him borrow it again in future

NOTE – The examiner gives you one minute to plan your answer, and to help you prepare for the topic, the examiner provides you with a pencil and a notepad. You’ll have to answer the questions given on the topic for one-to-two minutes.

Sample 1

Introduction

Being an altruist, I always give my best to help those in need. Although I have lent my things to others umpteen times, one situation is worth mentioning.

What did you lend?

I lent my laptop to my cousin.

When did it happen?

It happened two years back.

Why did he ask to borrow the item?

He asked to borrow the item because he was in great need of it. Two years back, the world experienced stringent lockdowns due to the corona pandemic. During that, many companies went into work-from-home mode.

My cousin’s company also told him to work from home, but h didn’t have a laptop with him, and due to the lockdown, he couldn’t go to the market to purchase it.

He came to me and told me to help him; otherwise, his job could go for a toss. During that time, I provided him with unabated support by giving my laptop to him.

Explain how you felt about this.

I felt good about it because it was a challenging time and our duty to help our near and dear ones. My initiative saved my cousin’s job, and due to my help, my bond with him grew more assertive. And he provides me with unstinted support whenever I require it.

Would you let him borrow it again in the future?

He is not only my cousin but also a perfect friend. Since childhood, we have shared a cordial relationship and always help each other during challenging times. So. if he needs my help, I will do it without a second thought.

Sample 2

Introduction

There is no denying this conviction that we thrive primarily on supporting our near and dear ones to excel in life. Although I have helped my relatives umpteen times, one instance is worth mentioning.

What you lent

I lent my scooter to my cousin.

When it happened

It happened two months back.

Why did he ask to borrow the item?

He asked to borrow the scooter because of the change in his office working hours. Earlier, he worked the night shift, so he used to go in his car because of less traffic.

But two months back, his company altered his job role and switched him to the day shift. He tried going in his car to the office but always reached late due to traffic congestion because of the peak hours.

To reach the office in time, he needed a scooter because it is damn easy for a two-wheeler rider to travel in the busy city traffic. As scooter requires less space on the road, movement becomes very easy.

He did not have money to buy a new one because he invested money in his house, and he did not set a second-hand scooter in mint condition. Moreover, his changed timings were for two months, and the company would place him on the night shift.

Therefore investing money in a scooter was an imprudent approach for him. He approached me to borrow my scooter for two months, and I gave it to him without delay.

Explain how you felt about this.

I felt good because we have to support our near and dear ones during challenging times.

Would you let him borrow it again in future?

If he requires my scooter again, I will give it to him.

Sample 3

Introduction

There is no denying this conviction that sharing our things with others helps foster our relationships. Although I have shared numerous things with others, one is worth mentioning.

What you lent

I lent my printer to one of my friends who was my neighbour.

When did it happen?

It happened two years back.

Why did he ask to borrow the item?

At the start of 2020, the government of our country imposed a stringent lockdown to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Due to that, we had to stay indoors. To provide seamless education, most schools started providing online classes.

During that time, one of my friends, my next-door neighbour, had a challenging time because he had weekend eyesight and watching screens for long hours was not advisable for him. As he did not want to lag, he persisted with his classes, and due to that, he had severe headaches.

Upon seeing his plight, I decided to help him. When I asked him for a solution to his problem, he told me to give my printer to him to get a printout of the notes.

I gave my printer to him without any second thought. With printed notes, his headache issue went for a toss, and taking the class was a piece of cake for him. Moreover, he was always full of beans while attending his classes.

Explain how you felt about this.

Helping him made me a happy camper.

Would you let him borrow it again in future?

Being selfless, I always look for opportunities to help others, and in case my friend needs my help again, I will not shy away.

Follow-ups

Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to the cue card “Describe a time when you had to lend something to a person you know”.

1. What do you think of people posting about their personal life on social media?

Posting about our personal life on social media is imprudent because it encourages others to form wrong opinions about us. Moreover, it could jeopardize our reputation because others could misuse the information we render on various social media platforms.

2. How do you feel about sharing research documents online?

If the research finding is good for the general public, I will share it; however, if it is not in favor of submitting it online and taking the opinion of experts. In both scenarios, I will take the prior approval of the competent authorities before divulging any information.

3. Do you think children should share their things?

Yes, sharing is a vital personality trait, and children should learn it in their budding years by sharing their toys and books with their friends and siblings. This practice strengthens the relationship between children and makes them feel happy.

4. Why aren’t children willing to share their things, such as toys?

Most children are very possessive regarding their toys, and they believe that giving things to others is not worthwhile because the other person could damage them.

5. How can parents teach their children about sharing?

The parents can teach the children about sharing by setting examples. They can do so by sharing their things with their friends and relatives. This practice will motivate the kids to follow in their parent’s footsteps because there is no denying this conviction that children do not follow our advice; they follow our precedents.

6. Will the trend of sharing grow in future?

The trend of sharing will grow in future. There are many reasons for this. First and foremost, the world has become a global village these days, and most countries are thriving primarily on international trade to strengthen their exchequer.

Due to this, the cooperation between people from different countries has increased manifold.

Moreover, the internet has created platforms like Youtube and Quora where people post information for free. Millions of creators worldwide put information for free, which promotes cooperation.

Hence, the cooperation between people and countries will grow in the future.

Vocab:

1.Umpteen

Meaning: A lot

Sentence: There are umpteen examples of those who gained enormous success despite a humble beginning. Sachin Tendulkar was born into a middle-class family, but with his determination, dedication, and discipline, he brought laurels to the nation. The current generation sook flashes of inspiration from him.