Describe a Skill That You Learned in Your Childhood Cue Card

Jan 7, 2026

Describe a Skill That You Learned in Your Childhood IELTS Speaking Cue Card model answers have been provided below. The answers are centred upon questions -What skill did you learn?, When did you learn that skill?, How did you practice and develop this skill?, Explain why you think it's essential to learn such skills.

What is a Cue Card: IELTS Speaking Part 2 includes cue cards containing topics on which candidates are to speak. Candidates get 2-3 minutes time to speak and 1 minute for note-taking. In IELTS Speaking part 2, candidates' proficiency in grammar and vocabulary is assessed along with their confidence to speak in English.

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Topic: Describe a Skill That You Learned in Your Childhood Cue Card

You should say:

What skill did you learn?
When did you learn that skill?
How did you practice and develop this skill?
Explain why you think it's essential to learn such skills.

Answer 1:

What skill did you learn?

One of the most memorable skills I picked up as a kid was learning to ride a bike. Pretty much every child gets excited about it at some point, and for me, it was one of those experiences that really stuck with me.

When did you learn that skill?

I was about seven when it happened. My dad got me this little red bike with training wheels, and almost every evening after he got home from work, we’d head to the park near our house. At the beginning, I was terrified of tipping over—I’d grip the handlebars so tight my knuckles went white. But Dad was super patient, running alongside me, cheering me on, and telling me I’d get it eventually.

How did you practice and develop this skill?

I practiced a ton. Every day after school, I’d be out there again. First with the training wheels keeping everything steady, then one day Dad decided it was time and took them off. I wobbled like crazy and ate dirt a few times—scraped knees, a couple of tears—but I didn’t want to quit. Each fall taught me something: lean less, pedal steadier, look ahead instead of down. Slowly, it clicked. I’d go a few feet without help, then a few yards, and before long I was cruising around the park on my own, wind in my face, feeling like I’d conquered the world.

Explain why you think it's essential to learn such skills?

I think learning to ride a bike is one of those things every kid should go through. It gives you this early taste of independence—you can go places without waiting for a ride from your parents. Plus, it’s great exercise without feeling like a chore. But the real lesson for me was about sticking with something hard. You’re going to fall, you’re going to mess up, but if you keep getting back on, you’ll figure it out.

Even now, whenever I hop on a bike for a ride, it takes me right back to those evenings in the park. It’s a simple thing, but it’s still one of the best life skills I picked up as a little kid.

Answer 2:

What skill did you learn?

One skill from my childhood that I'm really glad I picked up is basic cooking. It might not sound like a big deal, but honestly, it's made a huge difference in how independent I feel even now.

When did you learn that skill?

I was about ten when I first got into it. My mom decided it was time I learned, so she started me off with the easy stuff—chopping veggies, boiling rice, making a proper cup of tea. She was firm about it: everybody should know their way around a kitchen, no matter if you're a boy or a girl.

How did you practice and develop this skill?

At the start, I mostly just watched her whip up meals after school. Then she'd let me help with little things, like stirring or measuring. Pretty soon I was making simple stuff on my own—sandwiches, fluffy omelets, instant noodles without turning them into mush. Whenever I messed up (too much salt, burnt edges), she'd calmly show me what went wrong and why things like cleanliness, timing, and tasting as you go actually matter. During summer breaks, I'd flip through her recipe books or try stuff I'd seen on TV, experimenting and gradually getting bolder.

Explain why you think it's essential to learn such skills?

I truly believe every kid should learn to cook early on. It teaches you to fend for yourself—no more waiting around for someone else to feed you. You also start paying attention to what you're eating and why some foods are better than others. There's a creative side to it, too, mixing flavors and coming up with your own twists, but you quickly learn responsibility because one wrong move and the whole dish is ruined.

These days, being able to throw together a decent meal saves me so much time and hassle. I rely way less on takeout or asking others for help, and it still feels satisfying every time. Out of everything I learned growing up, cooking is hands-down one of the most useful skills I took with me into adulthood.

Answer 3:

What skill did you learn?

One skill from my childhood that’s stayed with me the most is learning how to speak confidently in front of people. It sounds basic, but getting comfortable with communication—really owning a room when you talk—changed a lot for me.

When did you learn that skill?

I was probably eight or nine when it started clicking. At school, our teachers pushed us hard to get involved in things like debates, storytelling sessions, and the morning assembly speeches. Pretty much every week someone had to stand up in front of the whole class or even the entire school. At first, I hated it. My face would go red, my voice would shake, and I’d mumble through whatever I had to say, praying it would end quickly.

How did you practice and develop this skill?

I got better because I had no choice but to practice. I’d volunteer (or get volunteered) for class presentations, join the debate team, and take turns reading aloud during language lessons. At home, I’d practice in front of the mirror or force my parents and siblings to sit through my “speeches” while we ate dinner. They’d tease me a little, but they also gave honest feedback—slow down, look up, don’t fidget so much. My teachers were great too; they’d point out what I did well and gently correct my pronunciation or where I rushed.

Explain why you think it's essential to learn such skills?

Bit by bit, the nerves faded. I stopped dreading my turn and actually started looking forward to it. There’s this rush when you finish a speech and people clap—it’s small, but it felt huge back then.

I’m convinced every kid should work on this early. Being able to express yourself clearly opens so many doors. It helps in school obviously, but later in job interviews, meetings, even just chatting with friends or standing up for yourself. Getting over that fear young builds real confidence, and it teaches you how to connect with people. I still use what I learned back then—whether I’m giving a presentation at work or just telling a story at a party. It’s one of those childhood lessons that never stops paying off.

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