leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu
cue_card_backround_image_mobile

IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe A Mistake You Have Made: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Sep 12, 2024, 09:03

Overview

In this IELTS Speaking topic, “Describe A Mistake You Have Made”, you are expected to talk about a season you particularly enjoy and why it holds a special place for you. This topic requires you to express your personal experiences and preferences, describe the season's characteristics, and explain why it stands out among others. Key factors to consider include the season’s weather, activities, and emotional impact on you.

 

Practising this topic will enhance your ability to speak fluently and coherently about personal subjects. By articulating why a particular season is your favourite, you will improve your descriptive language skills and your ability to provide detailed explanations. This exercise will help you build confidence in discussing personal topics, which is a crucial skill for the IELTS Speaking Test.

 

Cue Card/Topic: Describe A Mistake You Have Made

You should say

  • What mistake was it?
  • When you made it?
  • How you made it?
  • How did you feel about it?
Sample Answer 1

Introduction (Covers: What mistake was it?)

 

  • One mistake that I remember is when I decided to skip studying for an important maths exam during my final year of school. I was overconfident and thought I could easily pass without much effort.
  • I believed that because I had done well in previous exams, I didn’t need to put in the same amount of preparation this time. It turned out to be a huge mistake.
  • I underestimated how challenging the exam would be and how crucial it was to revise thoroughly.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest  (Covers: When you made it? )

 

  • This mistake happened during my 12th standard, just a few days before my board exams. I was more focused on preparing for a friend’s birthday party than my studies.
  • I remember telling myself that I would catch up on the revision later, but as the days went by, I found it harder to cover all the topics.
  • On the day of the exam, I realised how unprepared I was and immediately regretted my decision to slack off.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: How you made it? )

 

  • The main issue was my lack of planning and overconfidence. I didn’t set aside enough time for revision and kept procrastinating until it was too late.
  • I made the mistake of assuming that I could breeze through the exam based on what I had learned in class alone, without any additional study.
  • During the exam, I struggled with several questions, and I knew I could have answered them if I had prepared properly.

 

Conclusion (Covers: How did you feel about it? )

 

  • I felt a deep sense of regret and disappointment in myself after the exam. I knew I had let myself down by not putting in the effort.
  • This experience taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of preparation and not taking things for granted.
  • Since then, I’ve made it a point to always prepare thoroughly for any important task, whether it’s an exam or something else in life.
Sample Answer 2

Introduction  (Covers: What mistake was it?)

 

  • One significant mistake I made was during my college days when I missed a crucial assignment deadline. 
  • I was juggling multiple tasks and thought I could finish the assignment at the last minute.
  • I underestimated the amount of work required and assumed I could handle it without much effort. This turned out to be a poor decision.
  • I realised too late that missing the deadline would have serious consequences for my grades.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: When you made it?)
 

  • This happened during my second year of college, a few months before the end-of-semester exams. I had a lot on my plate, including other assignments and preparations for exams.
  • I initially planned to start the assignment early but kept postponing it, thinking I had more time than I actually did.
  • When the deadline approached, I found myself overwhelmed and couldn’t complete the assignment on time.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: How you made it? )
 

  • My mistake was not managing my time properly and failing to prioritise tasks effectively. I procrastinated and left the assignment to the last minute.
  • I also didn’t seek help or inform my professor about my situation, which could have provided some leeway.
  • The result was that I received a lower grade and had to face the consequences of my poor planning.

 

Conclusion (Covers: How did you feel about it?)

 

  • I felt quite frustrated and regretful about missing the deadline. It was a wake-up call about the importance of time management.
  • This mistake taught me to plan my tasks better and not leave things until the last moment.
  • Since then, I’ve made sure to organise my schedule more effectively and tackle assignments as soon as possible to avoid similar issues.
Sample Answer 3

Introduction (Covers: What mistake was it?)

 

  • One major mistake I made was missing an important meeting with a client during my internship at a marketing firm. 
  • I was supposed to present a project update but got my schedule mixed up.
  • I didn’t double-check my calendar and assumed I had more time to prepare. This oversight had significant repercussions for the project.
  • Missing that meeting affected the client’s trust and delayed our progress.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: When you made it?)

 

  • This happened during my internship in the summer of my final year. I was new to the professional environment and still adjusting to the fast-paced work schedule.
  • I was juggling multiple tasks and thought I could manage everything without detailed planning.
  • On the day of the meeting, I was caught off guard when I realised I had missed it, which was a crucial moment for presenting our progress.

 

Key Highlights  (Covers: How you made it? )
 

  • The main issue was my poor time management and lack of attention to detail. I didn’t properly track my appointments and deadlines.
  • I also didn’t communicate effectively with my team to confirm meeting times and responsibilities.
  • The impact was that we lost the opportunity to update the client on time, and it affected the project timeline and our team’s credibility.

 

Conclusion (Covers: How did you feel about it?)
 

  • I felt deeply embarrassed and stressed about the mistake. 
  • It was a learning experience that highlighted the importance of being organised and attentive.
  • This incident taught me to be more diligent with scheduling and to verify important dates and meetings.
  • Since then, I’ve adopted better organisational habits and always double-checked my schedule to ensure I meet all deadlines and commitments.

 

Also Read: Best IELTS Cue Cards for 7+ Band Score

When the cue card section begins, the examiner will hand you a cue card titled "Describe A Mistake You Have Made" along with a pencil and paper. 

 

You’ll have one minute to make notes and prepare your answer. After that, you’ll need to speak for up to two minutes on the given topic.


The best way to answer a cue card is to break it down into smaller pieces: introduction, describing your experience, key highlights, and conclusion. To structure your response effectively, you can explore various tips and tricks for the IELTS speaking test.

 

Introduction (Covers: What mistake was it?)

 

  • Start by briefly introducing the situation.
  • Mention when the mistake happened.
  • Provide some context to help the examiner understand the background.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: When you made it? )

 

  • Explain the situation in which you made the mistake.
  • Discuss what led to the mistake—was it due to inexperience, a wrong decision, or a misunderstanding?
  • Be honest and clear about what happened.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: How you made it? )

 

  • Focus on the specific actions or decisions that resulted in the mistake.
  • Describe any challenges or obstacles you faced.
  • Mention any immediate consequences of the mistake.

 

Conclusion (Covers: How did you feel about it? )

 

  • Reflect on how the mistake made you feel—were you embarrassed, regretful, or perhaps you learned something valuable?
  • Discuss any lessons you learned from the experience.
  • End by mentioning if this mistake has changed your approach in similar situations.

 

By following this structure, you can ensure your response is clear, organised, and within the two-minute limit.

 

Also Read:

 

Follow-Up Questions

In the IELTS Speaking test, the follow-up questions, also known as Round 3, come after the cue card section. This round focuses on a more general discussion and is designed to explore your thoughts and opinions on broader themes related to the cue card topic. 

 

Expect to discuss these themes in detail, providing personal insights and reasoning. These questions often require you to reflect on societal issues or personal experiences, and they help assess your ability to articulate complex ideas clearly.

Q1. Do children make mistakes easily?

Answer 1: Yes, children do tend to make mistakes easily because they are still learning and developing their skills. Their cognitive and emotional maturity is not fully developed, which means they might not always grasp complex concepts or foresee consequences. For instance, young children might struggle with understanding the cause and effect of their actions, leading to frequent mistakes.

 

Answer 2: Children often make mistakes more frequently than adults due to their inexperience and ongoing learning processes. They are exploring new skills and knowledge, which naturally involves trial and error. For example, a child might repeatedly make errors while learning to write or solve maths problems because they are still mastering these skills.

Q2. What can we learn from our mistakes?

Answer 1: From our mistakes, we can learn valuable lessons about how to improve and avoid repeating the same errors. Mistakes provide insight into what went wrong and help us develop better strategies and solutions. For instance, if you make a mistake in a project, analysing what went wrong can lead to improved methods and increased proficiency in future tasks.

 

Answer 2: Mistakes are excellent learning opportunities because they reveal areas where we need to grow. They teach us about our weaknesses and strengths, and they encourage personal development. For example, if you make a mistake in a presentation, it can help you learn how to communicate more effectively and manage your time better in future presentations.

Q3. What should parents do if their children make mistakes?

Answer 1: Parents should approach their children’s mistakes with understanding and guidance rather than criticism. They should help their children analyse what went wrong and how they can improve. Offering support and encouraging a growth mindset can help children learn from their errors and build resilience.

 

Answer 2: When children make mistakes, parents should provide constructive feedback and teach them how to correct their errors. It’s important for parents to remain calm and supportive, helping their children understand the mistake and find ways to avoid it in the future. This approach fosters a positive learning environment and boosts their confidence.

Q4. What do children learn from teachers and parents?

Answer 1: Children learn a wide range of skills and values from both teachers and parents. Teachers impart academic knowledge and critical thinking skills, while parents provide emotional support and life lessons. For example, teachers might teach problem-solving techniques, while parents might teach values like responsibility and empathy.

 

Answer 2: From teachers, children learn subject-specific knowledge and social skills that are crucial for their development. Parents, on the other hand, often teach fundamental values and personal skills, such as discipline and respect. Both sources of guidance are essential in helping children grow into well-rounded individuals.

 

Pace Up Your IELTS Preparation With Our Expert Masterclass!

FAQs

Q. What can I do if I don’t understand the cue card topic?

Ans. If you don’t understand the cue card topic, ask the examiner to clarify or repeat it. Use the one minute of preparation time to brainstorm ideas based on what you do understand. Focus on discussing aspects of the topic that you can relate to or find easier to talk about. It’s important to remain calm and use the information you have to provide a relevant response.

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

Ans. While a conversational tone is acceptable, you should avoid using overly informal language or slang in your cue card task. Aim to speak clearly and use appropriate vocabulary and expressions that reflect a high level of proficiency. Balancing a conversational style with a degree of formality will help demonstrate your language skills effectively.
 

Q. What are some of the common cue card topics?

Ans. Common cue card topics include describing a memorable event, a favourite book or film, a place you would like to visit, a person who has influenced you, or a significant achievement. Other topics may involve discussing a hobby, an important decision, or a challenging experience. Familiarising yourself with these types of topics can help you prepare effectively for the test.

IELTS Important Information

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Universities

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Accepting Countries

Top Speaking Sample with Answers

Master IELTS Speaking for ₹99