This IELTS cue card question ‘’Describe a time when you got up early ‘’ will help you with your IELTS speaking test. This section of the IELTS test your speaking abilities through conversation with the examiner. You will be allotted 1 minute to prepare the topic and 2 minutes to speak on it. So let’s get started with today’s topic. So let’s get started with our topic for the day.
Morning Flight: Describe a Time You Got Up Early: IELTS Cue Card
Introduction
We have all heard the benefits of waking up early from our elders. Especially our generation who chooses to stay awake often as late as 2:00-3:00 am, including me. But today I would like to share about a time when I accidentally woke up early.
When was it?
This happened a few years ago when I was in college. I was coming back home during summer vacation and I had to get up early in the morning to board my flight which was at 7:30 am. I wanted to book a flight in the afternoon but it was expensive so I had to book the one that was at 7:30.
Why did you get up early?
I got up early because I had to board an early morning flight to my hometown. Normally, I book a flight that’s in the late afternoon or evening but this time all those flights were expensive so I had to book an early one.
What did you do after getting up?
I got up at 4:00 am as I had to leave early. I brewed some coffee for myself and sat on the balcony to have it. I usually don’t have much time in the morning since I wake up late but today I had plenty of time, so I decided to do some household chores before leaving for the airport. I cleaned my house, washed dishes and was even able to do some last-minute packing.
How did you feel about it?
Honestly, I felt great about it. I must say I was tired at the end of the day but I was shocked to see how much one can get done if they wake up early. I was not expecting to clean my house or do the dishes but since I decided to wake up early, I was able to accomplish all of these.
Conclusion
Waking up early is under appreciated. After this time, I decided to wake up early every day as it has many health benefits and one can get so much done in the morning they normally don’t have time for.
Example 2: Describe a Time You Got Up Early
Introduction.
Getting up early has many health benefits. From ages, people who wake up early have led a happy and healthy life. Today I’m going to talk about an incident when I decided to wake up early.
When was it?
This happened last year when I was in high school. During summer vacation I gained some weight and when I went to school after the holidays, I was bullied for my weight. I did not like it so I decided to lose weight by exercising.
Why did you get up early?
After I got back home from school, I told my mother what the other kids did to me and asked her for help. She advised me to wake up early everyday in the morning, have some warm water and go out for a run.
What did you do after getting up early?
I took my mother’s advice and got up early the next day. It was a little difficult as I have never gotten up so early but I was determined this time. After waking up I brushed my teeth and washed my face with some cold water. Then I went to the kitchen and heated water in a pan. After drinking Luke’s warm water, I put on clothes I had laid out the night before and went for a run.
How did you feel about it?
As I stepped out of my house, everything around me felt different. It was all so quiet and morning birds were chirping. I saw so many other people on the road that day, it felt weird just to see people and no vehicles on the road. I also saw the sun rising with a beautiful hue of red and orange. I felt peaceful and satisfied that day.
Conclusion.
From last year till today, I did not leave my habit of waking up early in the morning. I lost the desired weight and now I’m in perfect shape. Apart from losing weight, waking up early also added extra fruitful hours to my day. Everyone should wake up early as it has many benefits.
Example 3: Describe a Time You Got Up Early
Introduction
To honestly answer this I will have to admit that I’m not an early bird. I am more of a night owl. I stay awake late and scroll through my phone watching movies and short videos. But there’s this one incident I remember when I woke up early and I would like to talk about it.
When was it?
I woke up early when I was in class 10th and It was board exam season I had to take my math exam the other day and I knew I had to wake up early to study.
Why did you wake up early?
I woke up early as I had to take my math board exams that day. I must let you know that I was weak in math and did not like studying it at all. I knew if I wanted to pass my exams I had to put my heart into studying the subject I did not like. So a month before the exam I started taking math seriously. I was prepared but I still wanted to do some last-minute revisions. So I woke up early that day to revise math.
What did you do after getting up early?
After getting up early the first thing I did was to take a cold shower. My mother told me that cold showers help our brain get up and not feel tired. After brushing my teeth and taking a shower, I had some fruit and sat down at my study table to revise my maths.
How did you feel about it?
Waking up early that day helped me do some quite needed last-minute revision. I did not realise how refreshing it feels to wake up early because that is what I felt that day after waking up early. I also felt positivity for the rest of the day.
Conclusion
To conclude, after that day I made it a habit to wake up early for the rest of my exams and do the revision. I was able to retain things actively and ace my exam. I have lost that habit now but soon I will start waking up early again.
Other IELTS Cue Card:
Describe A Resolution You Made In The New Year
Describe Something Important That You Lost
Describe A Time When You Needed To Use Your Imagination
Follow-up Questions: Describe a Time You Got Up Early
1. When you hear this, you would remember an instance, then what exactly was the reason you woke up early on that day?
There are many situations where I had to wake up early, like family functions, special occasions, exams, etc. But I just remember a day when I slept early and woke up early. I just couldn’t sleep and started to work. It was a very productive day.
2. Did waking up early help you in any kind of way?
Yes, it obviously did. It gave me better sleep, better productivity, more energy, gave me time to exercise and meditation, etc. When I wake up early it gives me extra time to focus and work on myself. Starting the day off with no stress but only peace is the best way to do it. But in the long run, it helped me with mental stability, better cognitive function, better concentration, etc.
3. Did you try to make a habit out of it or was it just the once?
Yes, I tried to make a habit out of it. Now I am used to it. I adjusted my screen time and made my bedtime as a usual routine. There are some days when I just can not get up and my habit breaks out for a few days but I again get on track and wake up early. I always make gradual adjustments of 15 to 20 minutes when I break out of my habit and it helps.
4. Many studies state that waking up early helps your mood and brightens your day, was it the same for you?
Initially, it was a real problem. Breaking my routine, stopping my sleep, and controlling it the whole day, was very hard. But once I got the hang of it, it helped. At first, I observed the extra time then I slowly started to notice my extra productivity. And slowly I got used to waking up early.
5. As you had a problem up early, can you state some major issues which affected that?
The main problem is adjusting to the new thing. We are not just waking up but adjusting our whole body and brain to a new clock which can be very hard. At the start, the lack of sleep hits you to snooze this thing. We have to control it. Waking up early can spoil your late-night plans and it can be pretty bad sometimes. We have to manage our life around it. But all these problems can be overcome if you are determined.
Neha Sharma is an IELTS faculty with a decade of experience in teaching IELTS. She holds a PhD in English from Stanford University, USA. Excelling in tailoring her teaching to individual student needs, she has helped over 50,000 students achieve their target scores. Actively involved in research, she ensures that her methods remain effective and innovative.
