“Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You” is a cue card topic often asked in the IELTS Speaking Part 2. The topic is included to explore the communication and English speaking skills of candidates based on their real-life experience. The test-takers are mainly assessed on speaking skills, fluency, confidence, and ability to structure thoughts clearly in English, rather than focusing on the accuracy of the story.
Test-takers need to speak about any funny incident that occurred to them for about 2-3 minutes. You can include real-life stories to make the conversation more engaging; however, describing a real-life incident is not mandatory. The IELTS cue card “Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You” is a part of the Speaking 2 test, which is further followed by a series of follow-up questions. In this article, you'll find a complete guide to the IELTS cue card: Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You, including a sample answer, vocabulary suggestions, and follow-up questions for IELTS Speaking test Parts 2 and 3.
Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You: IELTS Speaking Cue Card Overview
While answering the Speaking test in the IELTS exam, maintaining a proper structure can be highly rewarding. Although there is no fixed format to respond to the cue card topic “Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You,” candidates are encouraged to include specific points to make their answers more organised. You should include the following points to frame your answers:
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Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You: Model Answer 1
IELTS Cue Card Topic: Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You
Sample Answer:
When and where it happened
What happened
How you reacted
And explain why you found it funny
I’d like to talk about a really funny incident that happened to me during my college days. It was around two years ago, during a group presentation in one of our marketing classes. We were all supposed to wear formal clothes and speak in turns with confidence. Everything was going smoothly, but then something totally unexpected happened.
While I was standing in front of the class, just about to explain one of the main points, my phone suddenly started playing a song loudly from my pocket. The worst part? It was a really silly Bollywood song that my younger brother had set as a prank ringtone. Everyone in the class turned toward me, and I just froze for a second. I quickly fumbled to stop it, but my hands were shaking so much that it took me a while to silence it.
Instead of being embarrassed, I burst out laughing along with everyone else. Even my professor couldn’t hold back a smile. From that day onwards, my classmates started calling me “DJ Presenter” as a joke. Honestly, it turned into a sweet memory rather than a bad one.
I found it funny because it was such a classic moment of bad timing, but the way everyone reacted made it feel light and harmless. It reminded me that sometimes, it’s okay to laugh at yourself.
Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You: Model Answer 2
IELTS Cue Card Topic: Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You
Sample Answer:
When and where it happened
What happened
How you reacted
And explain why you found it funny
One funny incident I clearly remember happened last year at my cousin’s wedding. It was a huge family gathering, and everyone was super dressed up for the sangeet function. There was music, dancing, and lots of excitement. I was wearing a heavy lehenga and heels that I wasn’t used to at all.
During one of the dance performances, I decided to join the crowd and show off a few moves. But as I tried to spin around, I completely lost balance and fell right into the flower decoration. What made it even funnier was that I didn’t just fall, I took two other cousins down with me! We all landed in a pile of petals and laughter.
At first, I was super embarrassed. But once I saw everyone else laughing, I couldn’t help but laugh too. Even the videographer captured the whole thing and played it on the screen during the wedding reception, calling it “the fall of the year.”
It was funny because it was such a harmless, silly moment that brought everyone together in laughter. Now, whenever there’s a family function, someone always brings it up, and we all laugh about it again.
Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You: Model Answer 3
IELTS Cue Card Topic: Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You
Sample Answer:
When and where it happened
What happened
How you reacted
And explain why you found it funny
I’d like to talk about a funny incident that happened to me at work a few months ago. It still makes me laugh whenever I think about it.
It happened on a Monday morning in our office meeting room. We usually have a quick weekly team catch-up to discuss our tasks, and on that day, I was a bit sleepy because I’d stayed up late the night before. I was also in charge of presenting our team’s progress report, so I had prepared a few slides and was mentally going over them.
Now here comes the funny part. As soon as the meeting started and everyone settled down, I confidently began my presentation, but instead of sharing the screen with the report, I accidentally shared a tab that had an open YouTube video I’d watched the night before. And it wasn’t something professional, it was a compilation of funny cat videos. The moment it popped up on the screen, everyone went silent for two seconds, then burst out laughing. My manager even jokingly said, “Now that’s a productive start to the week!”
At first, I was so embarrassed that I wanted to hide under the table. But then I laughed along with everyone, quickly stopped the video, and shared the correct file. The whole presentation went well after that, but the “cat video incident” became an inside joke in our team for weeks.
I found it funny because it was so unexpected, and honestly, it lightened the mood for everyone. It reminded me that sometimes, even small slip-ups can bring a bit of joy and make the workplace feel more human.
Describe a Funny Incident That Happened to You: IELTS Speaking Part 3 Follow Up Questions
Here are some common follow-up questions for the IELTS Speaking Part 3:
1. Do you think humour is important in daily life?
Ans. Yes, I believe humor is a very important part of our lives. Humor makes our lives more exciting and joyful. Sometimes, it helps us to escape the stress and sadness in life and live more comfortably. Even humor makes our social interactions more exciting and cheerful.
2. Is it okay to laugh at someone else’s mistakes if they find it funny too?
Ans. Yes, it is okay to laugh at someone else’s mistakes if they find it funny too. If the person himself finds it funny, laughing can make the situation calmer and joyful. It also helps in developing close bonds with people, however, we should always follow our limits to not make them uncomfortable.
3. What kind of things do people in your country usually find funny?
Ans. In my country, people often find things funny based on friends, colleagues, relatives, daily struggles, and funny incidents. People also watch comedy shows and stand-up comedy shows and find them funny.
4. How do funny incidents affect workplace relationships?
Ans. Funny incidents at work workplace help to develop close bonds among colleagues. It helps people reduce social anxieties and grow social interactions. Funny incidents also help in reducing work stress.
5. Do you think people of different ages find different things funny?
Ans. Yes, I believe age can differentiate the perspective of humor in a society. For example, children find cartoons funny, adults mostly prefer witty or situational humour, and teenagers enjoy sarcasm or inside jokes.
6. How important is a sense of humour in friendships and relationships?
Ans. A sense of humor is a crucial element in friendships and relationships. Nowadays, most friendships and relationships are developed on humor. People often consider humor as a deciding factor in interacting with people.
7. Do you believe being funny is a natural trait or can it be learned?
Ans. I think humor or being funny is more of a natural trait than a learned behavior. People generally develop humor and wittiness by string observation of society and people. One makes any incident and stories funny by reading the room, proper timing, and imitation skills.
8. How should we react if someone tells a joke we don’t find funny?
Ans. We should react positively with a smile or a laugh, depending on the intensity of the joke. However, if you find any joke more offensive than funny, always show discomfort and confront them directly.
9. Can humour be used to reduce stress? How?
Ans. Yes, I think humor can be used to reduce stress. Light jokes and sarcasm can sometimes help people forget their stress and sadness and engage in cheerful moments.
10. Have you ever seen someone use humour in a serious situation? Was it effective?
Ans. Yes, I have seen my friends use humour in serious situations. While studying, they used to crack jokes on exams, teachers, and people, which made the situation more cheerful and reduced the academic stress.
Talking about a funny incident is a great way to showcase your storytelling skills in the IELTS speaking test. Focus on being genuine, adding humor, and keeping your answer well-structured.
If you want to refine your speaking skills or need more tailored examples, contact the upGrad experts. Their guidance can help you craft memorable responses and achieve your target IELTS score. Take the next step in your IELTS preparation with upGrad’s dedicated support!
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I make up a story for this cue card?
Yes, you can make up a story for this cue card. It is often suggested to use real-life stories or incidents to answer the question; however, if you are unable to recollect any funny incident, use made-up stories. Answer confidently and speak fluently to make your story sound more natural.
Is it okay if the story isn’t too funny?
Yes, it is completely okay if the story is not too funny. Humor is always different for people. Many students find simple situations funny, whereas some people need specific situations humor to laugh or smile.
How long should my answer be for this cue card?
You should answer around 2-3 minutes for this cue card. You will be given an extra 1-2 minutes in the beginning to prepare your answer and around 2-3 minutes to speak on the given topic.
What kind of vocabulary should I use in this answer?
The vocabulary you should use in this answer includes silly, clumsy, awkward, prank, hilarious, embarrassed, unexpected, giggle, burst out laughing, etc.
What if I forget parts of the story while speaking?
If you forget parts of the story while speaking, do not panic. Take a small pause to recall your story. If you are unable to recall the parts, make your own story to sound confident and fluent. The test evaluates your speaking fluency, not your memory.
Can I laugh during my answer if the story is funny?
Yes, you can laugh naturally while answering. However, do not completely burst out laughing. Show a simple smile or short laugh to sound natural.
Should I mention other people involved in the story?
Yes, you can mention other people involved in the story. However, do not mention too many names in a story. Try to use made-up names or address them as friends, family, or colleagues.
How do I end my answer naturally?
End your answer by saying how the incident made you feel or why it stayed in your memory. Use phrases like “It still makes me laugh when I think about it” to make the story more natural.
Will I lose marks if I use informal expressions or jokes?
No, you will not lose marks if you use informal expressions or jokes. However, try to use appropriate words and jokes, judging the intensity of the interview.
Can I use past and present tenses together in my answer?
Yes, you can use past and present tenses together in your answer. Use the past tense to describe the story; however, speak in the present tense to describe how you feel about the story now.
upGrad abroad Editorial Team |2735 articles published
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