Cue Cards

Understanding Cue Cards and their usage scenarios

Understanding Cue Cards

Cue cards allow test creators to enhance a question by adding supporting textual, visual, or auditory information in the form of text, image, audio, or video clip. These cue cards provide helpful context, enabling test-takers to better understand the question prompt and respond more effectively.

Test creators can upload up to 2 cue cards per question using the drag-and-drop area in the question's configuration panel (as shown in the image below).

Type of Cue Card formats

Let us examine each cue card type and understand how can they be used with some examples:

Text

Test creators can add text as a cue card to display written content alongside a question. Text cue cards are useful for providing additional instructions, reference material, or other supporting information that the test taker should read and refer to before and while answering the question.

For example, a test creator creating a mock IELTS speaking test could ask the following question: "Describe something you couldn't afford before but have recently bought. Speak for at least one full minute minute." The accompanying text cue card could then include the following prompts: "You should say"

• "What the thing is"

• "Why you wanted it"

• "How you managed to buy it"

• "Whether you are satisfied with it"

Image

Test creators can upload a photo/illustration to support their main instructions. This is effective for conveying stylized written information or presenting visual prompts.

For example, as a part of a Task Achievement question, a test creator could upload the timetable (as shown in the image below) to create a decision-making question, like: "You wish to arrive at Treasure Island by 2:00 PM. Which ferry should you take, and what will be the ticket cost?"

Or, as a part of an open-ended question, a test creator could upload an image of a crowded market (shown in the image below) and ask: "Tell us what's happening in this photo."

Audio Clip

Test creators can upload an audio clip for questions requiring test-takers to listen to a prompt before responding to the question. This format suits spoken instructions, dialogues, or descriptive content.

For example, as a part of an open-ended question, an audio clip featuring a speaker describing their experience at a traditional hometown festival (food, music, community gatherings) could be uploaded. Then , the test-taker could be asked about the speaker's favorite aspect of the festival and the reasons for their enjoyment.

Cover Image for an audio clip

Test creators can upload a cover image to make their audio clip cue cards more engaging. This option is located within the cue card section (as highlighted below) and becomes available right after an audio clip is uploaded.

Video Clip

Test creators can upload a video clip for questions requiring test-takers to view a short video before responding to the question prompt. This format is ideal for demonstrating an action or providing a visual stimulus.

For example, in a read-aloud question, if the text is about apple trees, a test creator could display a video of actual apple trees (shown in the image below) alongside the text the test-taker needs to read.

To see how each of these cue cards appears to the test-taker for different question types, refer to the respective question type's user guides.

Audio and Video controls in Test Taker View

In the test-taker view, audio or video clips will automatically start playing when the question appears on the screen (if there are multiple cue cards, they will play one after the other)

Note: Test-takers cannot control playback (e.g., pause, rewind) of the clip.

To offer test-takers the ability to re-watch a video, question replay must be enabled from the settings page.