The cue card
Describe a piece of clothing that you enjoy wearing.
You should say:
- what it is
- where you got it
- when you usually wear it
and explain why you enjoy wearing it.
You have one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes.
Band 8–9 sample answer
Written by Abroadway as a model of natural, high-band speaking (not an official IELTS sample).
I'm going to talk about a cream-coloured cotton panjabi that I've had for about two years. For anyone who doesn't know, a panjabi is a long, loose shirt that comes down to the knees, and it's what most men in Bangladesh wear for religious festivals and family occasions. Mine is quite simple: it's made of khadi, a slightly rough, handwoven cotton, with a narrow band of dark brown embroidery around the collar and cuffs, and wooden buttons instead of plastic ones.
The way I got it is a little unusual. Most people just buy a ready-made one, but on a visit to my grandparents in Cumilla, which is well known for its khadi, my grandfather took me to a tiny fabric shop he's been going to for decades. I picked out the cloth myself, and a tailor in our neighbourhood in Dhaka stitched it to my measurements. He also suggested the embroidery, which I wasn't sure about at first but now love.
Obviously, I don't wear it every day. It comes out mainly for Eid, for Friday prayers now and then, and for weddings or family dinners when I want to look smart without being too formal. I wore it on Pohela Boishakh last year as well.
There are a few reasons I enjoy wearing it. The first is purely practical: khadi is wonderfully breathable, so even on a sticky, humid day I don't feel suffocated the way I would in a synthetic shirt. Secondly, because it was made for me, it fits far better than anything I've bought off the rack. But what I like most is the story behind it. Every time I put it on, I think of that afternoon in Cumilla, watching my grandfather haggle over the price of the cloth, and it makes me feel connected to where my family comes from.
Useful phrases from this answer
- picked out
- chose something carefully from a group
- now and then
- sometimes, but not regularly
- look smart
- look neat, clean and well dressed
- off the rack
- ready-made in standard sizes, not made for you
- a sea of colour
- a large area full of many bright colours
- fit in with
- be accepted as part of a group
- the backbone of
- the most important part that supports something
- hit the economy hard
- damage the economy badly
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
Do people in your country still wear traditional clothes?
Yes, very much so, although how often depends on age, gender and setting. Most women in Bangladesh still wear saris or salwar kameez on a daily basis, especially outside the big cities, while many men wear a lungi at home and in villages. For festivals like Eid and Pohela Boishakh, almost everyone dresses traditionally, so the streets become a sea of colour. In offices and universities, however, Western-style clothes like shirts and trousers have become the norm, particularly for men. So I'd say traditional dress hasn't disappeared at all; for some groups it has simply become more tied to particular occasions.
Why do some companies require their employees to wear a uniform?
There are several reasons, but the main ones are identity and professionalism. A uniform makes staff instantly recognisable to customers, which is useful in places like hospitals, airlines or shops, where people need to know quickly who to ask for help. It also helps create a consistent brand image. In some jobs, such as factory or construction work, uniforms are essentially safety equipment. Another argument is that uniforms reduce visible differences in wealth between colleagues and save employees from worrying about what to wear each morning. The downside, of course, is that people lose some freedom to express their personality.
How much does fashion influence young people's choices?
Quite a lot, I'd say, and probably more than ever because of social media. Young people are constantly exposed to influencers and celebrities, so trends spread incredibly quickly, and there can be real pressure to look a certain way to fit in with friends. Fashion also shapes choices beyond clothing, like how people spend their money or which brands they feel loyal to. Having said that, I don't think young people are simply passive followers. Many use fashion creatively to express their identity, and some are turning to second-hand clothes or reviving traditional styles, which suggests they're also questioning mainstream trends.
How important is the clothing industry to a country's economy?
It depends on the country, but for some it's absolutely vital. Bangladesh is a good example, because the garment industry is the backbone of our export economy and employs a very large number of people, many of them women from rural areas who might otherwise have had few chances to earn an income. It has also helped related sectors grow, like shipping and textiles. However, relying so heavily on one industry is risky, since a fall in global demand or a shift of orders to other countries could hit the economy hard. In wealthier countries, the industry is more about design and retail than manufacturing, so its role is different.
What are the environmental effects of cheap, fast fashion?
The effects are quite serious, in my opinion. Fast fashion encourages people to buy large amounts of cheap clothing and throw it away after a few wears, so enormous quantities end up in landfill or are burned. Producing these clothes also uses a lot of water and energy, and in manufacturing countries, dyes and chemicals are sometimes discharged into rivers, harming both wildlife and local communities. Many cheap garments are made from synthetic fibres, which shed tiny plastic particles when they're washed. I'd argue the solution lies partly with brands, through stricter regulation, and partly with consumers buying fewer, better-quality items.
Practise this cue card out loud
Free, no account needed. Use Chrome or Edge with a microphone; you'll get a band estimate for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Want the technique behind a strong Part 2? Read the free Speaking lessons.