Describe a Time You Were Very Busy: IELTS Cue Card 2024

“Describe a time you were very busy” is a popular cue card topic asked in the speaking section, part 2. You can describe the incident when you were busy and share your series of events in the incident.

The IELTS Test is trusted by 12,000 organisations globally. The test is divided into four parts-

• Reading Section
•  Writing Section
•  Speaking Section 
•  Listening section.

The IELTS speaking part 2 is usually the Individual long run section. In this section, the examiner will give you a topic to talk about by providing a Cue Card. 

 

Duration of the Part 2	3-4 minutes
Speaking Time	2-3 minutes
Preparation Time	1 minute

In this cue card section, you can describe the time you were very busy and how you achieved your goal in that time frame.

This blog will discuss the IELTS cue card “Describe the time you were busy”. And will understand how to answer your Cue Card section in original, impressive and effective ways.

How to Answer the Cue Card: Describe a Time You Were Very Busy

Once you are assigned the topic and your preparation time starts- you should start preparing your answer.

To answer the question, you must start with the introduction, give details about the topic, and provide concluding remarks to conclude your topic. For the same, you can address all the aspects (usually 3-4) related to the topic, such as:

Overview

• Mention the general information of why you think people are busy.

Describe the time and location you were busy

• State an overview of the situation and the location of your busy place.

Explain the reason for being busy at that time

• Mention the objectives of being busy in that situation.

Conclusion

• Summarise the points you have made in all the above aspects of the topic.

Describe a Time You Were Very Busy: Sample Answer 1

Overview

It had become so hectic to complete my tasks for the day that managing my time had been a challenge, and I was mostly busy with my work.

Describe the time and location you were busy

A couple of years ago, my basketball league and final exam dates clashed in standard 10th. I was an enthusiastic player and an average student in the class, so I couldn’t compromise on any of them. 

Explain the reason for being busy at that time

My dates for final exams and basketball league were approaching, so I was busy then. For one weekday, I used to go to my team practices, and at night, I used to study for my exams.

Conclusion

It was a busy week during my final exams and basketball league. I had first given up on managing both things, but I could work both with my friends and family’s support. Initially, I was struggling to manage my time, but after one or two days, I got into the routine and could abide by it.

Describe a Time You Were Very Busy: Sample Answer 2

Overview

Managing time is a skill that everyone should acquire, as even I sometimes get too busy and I am unable to manage time.

Describe the time and location you were busy

A few months ago, one of my close family members was hospitalized due to a mishappening. And at the same time, I had a tight target to achieve at the office, which couldn’t be compromised.

Explain the reason for being busy at that time

I was very busy during that month as I had to divide my day into two halves. My first half of the day was occupied in the office by completing the task, and the other half went to visiting a family member in the hospital.

Conclusion

That particular month was very hectic and tiring, but I strived well in the situation and was able to manage both my personal and professional life. I learned how to tackle both places without compromising on the work.I usually am not busy and I tend to maintain my daily routine but during that month it was a little difficult to keep up with other tasks as my priorities were different for that month.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Discussion

After completing the speaking part 2 test, the examiner might ask follow-up questions related to the cue card topic in speaking part 3 or the discussion round. 

We have curated some follow-up questions with answers for your better understanding.

Q. Are you often busy?

Answer. Yes, I am often busy as I have a tight routine. I wake up at 4 in the morning for some exercise,cleaning and preparing food for myself. After freshening up I tend to leave for office and come back late evening. Then i finally prepare my food, take some time out to read on news and then go back to sleep.

Q. What do you think is a advantage and disadvantage of being busy?

Answer. I think being busy has both positives and negatives reasons. It is a advantage because you get to stay productive and you can stay away from negative thoughts. And disadvantage for being busy is that you dont get time to spend time with your friends, family and even with yourself.   

Q. How do you manage your time?

Answer. I manage my time on the daily basis by following a time table. I have prepared my time table according to my class timings, coachings and other extra curricular activities. At first I complete the task which is urgent or is important and then I work on the next task. 

Q. what is the most difficult work that you have completed while you were busy?

Answer. The most difficult task that I have completed while I was busy was completing my research on the final year project. My research paper submission date and my brothers wedding day was clashing so,I had to manage my work and the responsibilities to contribute to the wedding. In that course of time whenever I use to get time after completing my work at home I used to work on my research paper. 

Q. How do you prioritise when you have a lot of work to do?

Answer. I prioritise work according to the urgency and importance. I first try to finish the work based on the urgency which is crucial and then move to the next task. One way to priortise work can be based on the deadlines. For example, if you have your maths project deadline on 3rd january and english project deadline on 7th january. You should first complete 3rd january project and then complete the 7th january assigned project. 

To Sum Up

The IELTS speaking test is a relatively of small duration than other IELTS test parts. However, the weightage of the score band is equally divided among all the test sections that is writing, reading, listening and speaking.

To ace the cue card section, you should practice similar topics everyday to understand the section better.

Contact Leap Scholar today to learn more and get in-depth guidance in your IELTS test preparation!

Here are some similar Cue Card topics to practice:

• IELTS CUE CARD: Describe a  person who you believe dresses well 
• IELTS CUE CARD: Describe an invention changed the peoples life 
• IELTS CUE CARD: Describe a cafe you like to visit 
• IELTS CUE CARD: Describe a Time When You Observed the Stars 
• IELTS CUE CARD: Describe a long car journey you went on

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