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Describe a disagreement you had with someone: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • Who was the person?
  • Why did you have the disagreement?
  • Was the issue resolved? If yes, how?
  • And explain what happened after the disagreement.
Show all 113 answers

Cue 1:Who was the person?

  • Introduce the person you had the disagreement with, mentioning your relationship with them.
  • Provide some context about how long you have known this person and the nature of your interactions.

Example

The person I had a disagreement with was my younger brother, Rohan. We have been close since childhood, sharing everything from toys to secrets. We often have friendly debates, but this particular disagreement was more serious.

Cue 2:Why did you have the disagreement?

  • Clearly explain the topic of the disagreement and why it was important to both of you.
  • Share your perspective and Rohan's perspective to give a balanced view.

Example

The disagreement arose over our plans for a family vacation. I wanted to go to the mountains for some adventure, while Rohan insisted on a beach destination for relaxation. Both of us felt strongly about our choices, as I wanted to experience the thrill of trekking, and he wanted to unwind by the sea.

Cue 3:Was the issue resolved? If yes, how?

  • Discuss how you both approached the resolution of the disagreement.
  • Mention any compromises or discussions that led to a solution.

Example

Eventually, we decided to sit down and talk it out. We listed the pros and cons of each destination and realized that we could combine both ideas. We agreed to spend a few days in the mountains and then relax at the beach. This compromise made both of us happy.

Cue 4:And explain what happened after the disagreement.

  • Describe the aftermath of the disagreement and how it affected your relationship.
  • Share any positive outcomes or lessons learned from the experience.

Example

After resolving the disagreement, our relationship grew stronger. We learned to appreciate each other's viewpoints more. The trip turned out to be a fantastic experience, and we created wonderful memories together. It taught us the importance of communication and compromise.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, disagreements can be challenging, but they also provide opportunities for growth and understanding. My experience with Rohan taught me that listening and finding common ground can lead to better relationships and enjoyable experiences.

    Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

    Tips to answer this Cue Card

    1: Vague Descriptions

    Using vague language can make your answer unclear. It's important to provide specific details about the disagreement to engage the listener and demonstrate your language skills.

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    Tip

    Use clear examples and specific details about the disagreement, such as the person involved and the exact issue to make your response more vivid.

    2: Ignoring Resolution

    Failing to discuss how the disagreement was resolved can leave your answer incomplete. It’s essential to show how conflicts can be managed and resolved.

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    Tip

    Always include how the issue was resolved, whether through discussion, compromise, or another method, to show your problem-solving skills.

    Lack of Reflection

    Not reflecting on what happened after the disagreement can make your answer seem shallow. It's important to show personal growth or changes in your relationship.

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    Tip

    Conclude by explaining what you learned from the disagreement and how it affected your relationship with the person involved.

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    Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood
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    Anonymous student Band 8

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    The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.
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    Anonymous student Band 6.5

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    Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

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    As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.
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    When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.
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    Anonymous student Band 7.5

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    It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 8

    I had a disagreement with my high school colleague Ravi on sex education. I believe it is essential for students to understand their bodies, consent and safe practices. According to me, proper knowledge could reduce teenage pregnancies and the spread of STDs. Ravi, however, disagreed and argued that sex education would encourage students to become sexually active too early. He felt such topics should be discussed at home, not in classrooms. I countered saying many parents avoid the topic due to discomfort or lack of knowledge. I also emphasized that ignorance leads to riskier behavior, not information. He then agreed that moral values were more important than technical values. Later, we also got into the fact that morality and education were not mutually exclusive. I insisted that students were informed to make better choices. Ravi felt that schools should focus on academic excellence, not personal matters. I reminded him that mental and physical health are part of physical well-being. Our principal listened to both sides but leaned towards my view, citing public health data. And so, the debate was resolved, but it sparked a much-needed conversation among the staff.

    Band 7

    One disagreement I clearly remember was with my childhood best friend, someone I've been close to since primary school. What makes this memory stand out is that the whole issue started over something incredibly small. I made a harmless joke during one of our usual conversations. I honestly meant it in a playful way because that's how we normally speak to each other. But for some reason, she took it very personally that day. Instead of telling me that she felt hurt, she reacted quite dramatically and actually blocked me on every single platform, Instagram, Whatsapp, Snapchat, everything. At that age, it felt like the end of the world because we used to talk constantly and suddenly there was complete silence. Due to this misunderstanding, we ended up not speaking for nearly 3 months and for two people who were practically inseparable, that gap felt extremely long. We would still see each other in school and the atmosphere was so awkward. Our mutual friends tried to get us to talk but we were both too stubborn to make the first move. Eventually, the issue was resolved but it happened very naturally. One day she reached out and we finally had an honest conversation about the joke and how it made her feel. I apologized, she apologized for overreacting and we realized how easily a small misunderstanding can grow when there's no communication at all. After the disagreement, our friendship actually became stronger. We became more mindful of each other's feelings and we learned not to jump into conclusions or react impulsively. Even now, we laugh about the whole incident because it's funny how a tiny joke managed to create such a big gap between us.

    Band 7

    I remember having a disagreement with one of my colleagues when I was working on Bodhisattva. He is actually an experienced but old person. And at that time I was an apprentice. It was the first time me on Bodhisattva and I lacked the experience and the information about what to do. So this guy actually started to shout towards me as if I knew about what to do. This ended up in a heated discussion between us. However, we solved the issue between ourselves. I started to be open to him. I told him that I didn't actually know what needed to be done or how it should be done. So I asked to tell him the instructions or the information that I needed to do before the job was being done. So that I could prepare in advance. When I was so open to him, he started to become more friendly.

    Band 7

    The person with whom I had a disagreement is my mother regarding the topic of choice of dressing. My mother feels that wearing a certain kind of dress for women especially short sleeves or short tops or shorts in public is not a modest thing to do and it often gets associated with poor character. This was troubling for me to hear and we had a long discussion regarding where these feelings and thoughts came from. I explained to my mother that clothing choices were different people's preferences and it also just showed what they are more comfortable with and it could also be cultural. My mother explained to me how she was brought up in a system where certain kinds of clothes were associated with appropriacy and not wearing which could lead to judgment from those around her. Being deeply conditioned had affected how she thought about clothing for women in general. After our conversation, I cannot say that my mother was completely convinced about my argument but she was willing to listen and think about her own perspective and I also understood where I came, where she came from.

    Band 7

    One disagreement I clearly remember was with one of my closest friends during a group project in school. We were assigned to make a presentation on climate change and both of us had different ideas about how to approach it. I wanted to focus more on the scientific data and causes while she preferred to highlight the emotional and social impact through visual and stories. At first it seemed like a small difference but as we started planning it, it turned into a heated argument. Neither of us wanted to compromise because we both felt strongly about our ideas. The tension made it difficult for the whole group to work together. After cooling down, I decided to speak to her privately. We both realized that we were letting our egos get in the way. So we decided to So when we communicate through each other, the disagreement can be turned into an agreement and if we keep our egos aside, everything can be possible.

    Band 7

    The latest disagreement that I had was with my friend Lexi. It was over a topic of humanitarian crisis. Lexi believes that the humanitarian crisis that doesn't happen in our country or affects the people that we know shouldn't be of our concern. She explains that there are things that are happening in our country which should be more emphasized rather than things that happen in a different country of people that we don't even know. I let her know that although it is true that there is a lot of issues happening in our country, it is still important for us to have empathy for people that are suffering around the world. Even if you do not know them, empathy shouldn't be based on your relation with the person, but it should be based on your human essence. I explained to her that even if it is not a matter of our country, it is a matter of us humans. If in situations humans' life, their safety, their food and basic necessities have been threatened, then it becomes a concern for all of us. It talks about our ethics more than anything. When I explained it to her, she took it well. She understood that she lacked knowledge and she came off as ignorant. She promised me to read more upon it and work on her skills that she is lacking. Thank you.

    Band 7

    One disagreement I had was with one of my close friends Raj. It happened about a year ago and it was related to a social issue that we both felt strongly about. The importance of gender equality in workplace. We were having a casual discussion at the cafe and the topic of equal pay for men and women came up. I strongly believe that both genders should be paid equally for the same work, have same opportunities for promotions and leadership roles. However, Raj argued that sometimes men are more suitable for certain roles because of physical strength or leadership style and that difference in pay is often due to experience, not gender. I was really surprised by his opinion because I didn't expect such a mindset from someone educated and open-minded. Our disagreement became a bit heated and we both raised our voices. I tried to explain that many women are equally capable and that social structures often prevent them from reaching top positions, which leads to the so-called experience gap. After the argument, we stopped talking for a few days, but later Raj messaged me and suggested we meet again. He told me he had done some reading and watched a documentary about gender bias in corporate offices and he admitted that his views were a bit outdated. That conversation helped us both grow. I appreciated that he was open to learning and changing his perspective. After the disagreement, our friendship actually became stronger because we realized that it's okay to have different opinions as long as we are respectful and willing to listen.

    Band 7

    I recently had a disagreement with my teacher, Ishwari ma'am. I had the disagreement regarding the social issues. My teacher had a strong opinion that poverty is not such a significant social issue in our country, which I strongly disagreed since poverty is a multi-faceted issue with several underlying causes. Economic factors like unemployment, low wages and income inequality are the major contributors and many people are suffering from poverty. When the disagreement occurred, I convinced my teacher by creating awareness in her about the people suffering from poverty. In addition to that, I also supported my argument by providing necessary examples that in real life. I strongly discussed with my teacher that poverty is a significant issue that need to be considered carefully, wherein it requires government implications like providing more incentives to the developers and making affordable housing available for several people.

    Band 7

    I would like to talk about a disagreement I had with one of my close friends during my university days. The disagreement was about how we should approach a group project for one of our courses. My friend believed that we should divide the tasks equally among all group members and work separately, while I felt it would be better to collaborate closely and complete the projects together step by step. At first, it seemed like a small difference of opinion, but it eventually turned into a heated argument because both of us were very sure of our own approach. To resolve the issue, we discussed it with the rest of the group. In the end, we decided to follow a mixed method. Some parts were divided individually, but we also met regularly to check on progress and solve problems together. This compromise worked out quite well and our project was successful. Looking back, I realized the disagreement taught me an important lesson, that communication and flexibility are key when working with others, even though we argued, the experience actually strengthened our friendship because we learned how to respect each other's ideas.

    Band 7

    Recently, my friend Firoza and I were discussing about a very sensitive topic which is reservation. Should it be there in the country or should it not be? Well, from her point of view, she reflected the topic that it should not be continued in the country as people in this age of time are very advanced and there's hardly any tribe or any socially backward classes which are oppressed now. The education system has reached every corner of the country and is spreading like a wildfire. People need to realize, as per her point, that they should not be given a special treatment just because of the events of the past, whereas in my opinion, I personally feel that due to these events which occurred in the past, they play a very vital role in determining what the future of such communities is. And to ensure that these communities don't face the same issues which they had in the past, may be it be oppression by the upper classes or just the overall social outlook which they had to bear, they need to be given special status, especially in the reservation categories where their representation matters and they should know about that. They need to be represented in the majority form so that they can make a cohesive decision about their own society, about their own tribes, that even with all the population of the country, they get to represent and they get to present a point of where their interest lies in. And hence, I personally believe, and I am a firm believer of this, that there should be a reservation and it should be upheld in the country, as per the constitution itself.
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