Scorify.uzThe cue card
Describe an occasion when you had to get up very early in the morning.
You should say:
- when it was
- why you had to get up early
- what you did
- and explain how you felt about it
Band 7 sample answer
I remember getting up at four in the morning last summer to catch a bus to the mountains near Chimgan. I am not a morning person at all, so waking up that early was a real challenge for me.
The reason was a hiking trip organised by a student club I belong to. The guide said that if we wanted to reach the top before the midday heat, we had to leave the city by five. I had prepared my backpack the night before, but I still slept badly because I was afraid of missing the alarm. When it rang, the room was completely dark, and I felt so sleepy that I almost went back to bed.
In the end, I forced myself up, drank a cup of strong tea and walked to the meeting point, where the street was strangely quiet. During the drive, I fell asleep against the window. However, once we started walking and the sun rose over the hills, my tiredness disappeared. The air was fresh, the birds were singing, and the view was beautiful.
Looking back, I felt proud that I had not given up the idea. I still prefer to sleep later on normal days, but that morning showed me that the early hours can be peaceful and productive, and I try to wake up earlier on weekends now. On the way down, my friends and I agreed that we should repeat the trip every season. We have managed to do it twice since then, and each time the alarm feels slightly less cruel, which says something about how habits can change.
About 268 words, roughly 2 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- a morning person — someone who is active early in the day
- set an alarm — arrange for a clock to ring
- drag myself out of bed — get up with effort
- groggy — sleepy and not alert
- at the crack of dawn — at first light
- refreshing — making you feel energetic
- sleep in — stay in bed late
Tips for this cue card
- Describe how you felt at the start and at the end.
- Use sensory details such as darkness, silence and cold air.
- Link the experience to a lesson or changed habit.
Part 3 follow-up questions
Are people in your country early risers?
Idea: Traditional and rural areas often start early, while young people in cities tend to stay up late.
Is it good for students to start school early?
Idea: Early starts give a longer day, but teenagers may need more sleep and concentrate better later.
Why do some people find it hard to wake up?
Idea: Late-night screen use, irregular schedules and natural body clocks all play a role.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.