Describe a goal you set that you tried your best to achieve: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What Is the Goal?
When did You First Begin to Have This Goal?
How You Would Achieve the First Step of Your Goal?
How Easy or Difficult Do You Think It Will Be to Reach This Goal?

100 unique answers with expert feedback

What specific steps did you take to achieve your goal?

To achieve my goal, I focused on my studies, set a study schedule, and sought help from teachers when needed. I also made sure to stay motivated by reminding myself of the end goal, which is to make my parents proud and eventually buy them a house.

How do you handle setbacks while pursuing your goals?

When I face setbacks, I try to stay positive and view them as learning experiences. I remind myself of my ultimate goal and the reasons behind it. This helps me to refocus and work harder, rather than getting discouraged.

What other goals do you have for the future?

In addition to making my parents proud, I want to contribute positively to my community and pursue a career that allows me to help others. I also aim to continue my education and possibly travel to broaden my horizons and experiences.

Band 7

00:00

I think a goal that I am still currently working on is learning French. This was in fact my New Year's resolution that I wanted to maintain a 365-day streak on Duolingo. So far I have maintained a 265-day streak, so I still do have another 100 days to go. I first began working towards this goal last December. The reason I did want to learn French was because this was a language that I did briefly learn in school. From grades 5th to 10th, French was my third language. And even though I was not able to perfect my pronunciation during that time, I did learn quite a bit in terms of grammar as well as conjugation. A lot of my friends were also practicing different languages on Duolingo, and that sort of motivated me to revisit a language that I was very fond of, which is French. I think so far I have been able to maintain a good streak on Duolingo, and hence I think I would easily be able to achieve my goal. However, there are certain days where I am very packed with work or personal commitments, and that time it becomes a little difficult to be able to spend enough time learning this language. However, I think the vast range of features that Duolingo presents definitely makes it easier for anyone to be able to learn a language on it. Duolingo also allows us to maintain streaks with our friends, and I think that's a very cute experience, because every time I forget to practice French, a friend of mine would just nudge me, and then the app would send me a push notification to remind me to take my session for the day. So yes, that's the goal that I am currently working on.

Follow up questions

What challenges have you faced while learning French?

One of the main challenges I've faced is finding time to practice consistently due to my busy schedule. Some days, work and personal commitments make it hard to dedicate time to learning. Additionally, perfecting pronunciation has been tricky since I didn't focus on it much in school.

How do you stay motivated to achieve your language learning goal?

I stay motivated by maintaining my streak on Duolingo and seeing my progress. The friendly competition with my friends who are also learning languages keeps me engaged. The app's reminders and features make it fun and encourage me to practice daily.

What benefits do you think learning French will bring you?

Learning French will open up new opportunities for travel, work, and cultural experiences. It will allow me to communicate with French speakers and understand their culture better. Additionally, being bilingual can enhance my career prospects in a globalized job market.

Band 7

00:00

From past 5 years, I am interested in creating content and I want to become a content creator who markets digital products like journals, workbooks or e-books related to personal development. So I started a theme page almost 2 years ago and it got enough views, a good reach, good amount of followers but the only problem was I was never able to understand the exact algorithm in which I have to upload these videos. So I started taking help from AI, Instagram creators and many other YouTubers. Then I got a lot of knowledge about these things and I started a new page again about women empowerment and I continue to upload videos related to that particular topic. Now my particular goal is to sell my e-books and make a good amount of income from that and make it one of my income sources.

Follow up questions

What challenges did you face while pursuing your goal?

I faced several challenges, including understanding the algorithm for content visibility and engagement. Initially, my content didn't reach as many people as I hoped. I also struggled with consistency and finding the right niche that resonated with my audience.

How do you measure the success of your content creation efforts?

I measure success through various metrics such as follower growth, engagement rates on my posts, and the number of e-books sold. Additionally, I pay attention to feedback from my audience to understand what content resonates most with them.

What motivates you to continue working towards your goal?

My motivation comes from my passion for personal development and the positive impact I can have on others. Seeing my audience engage with my content and share their stories inspires me to keep creating and improving my work.

Practice other cue cards

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Describe A Time When You Needed To Search For Information

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Describe A Positive Change In Your Life

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Band 7

00:00

One significant step I took towards my personal development was joining a public speak course. I enrolled in it about 6 months ago during my summer vacation. It was offered by the local training center and the course lasts for the 8 weeks. The reason I decided to take this step was that I used to be extremely shy and nervous while speaking in front of others, especially in English. I knew that effective communication is an essential skill for both academic and professional success. So, instead of avoiding presentation and group discussion, I chose to work on this weakness. The course includes various activities such as impute speeches, group debates, and one-on-one feedback session. At first, I felt awkward and unsure about myself, but gradually I gained confidence and began to enjoy the process. The trainer was very supportive and gave personal tips to improve body language, voice modulation, and vocab. This experience helped me grow in many ways. Not only did I become more confident in public speaking, but I also developed better listening skills, critical thinking, and self-awareness. Now, I can express my thoughts clearly and handle pressure during interviews or discussions. Overall, it was a turning point in my personal development and I am really proud that I took that initiative.

Follow up questions

What challenges did you face while taking the public speaking course?

Initially, I struggled with anxiety and self-doubt. Speaking in front of others made me feel uncomfortable. However, with practice and the supportive environment of the course, I gradually overcame these challenges and became more confident.

How has this goal impacted your personal or professional life?

Achieving this goal has significantly improved my communication skills, which has helped me in academic presentations and job interviews. I feel more confident expressing my ideas and engaging in discussions, which has opened up new opportunities for me.

Would you recommend public speaking courses to others? Why?

Absolutely! I believe public speaking courses are beneficial for anyone looking to improve their communication skills. They provide a safe space to practice and receive constructive feedback, which can help individuals grow both personally and professionally.

Band 7

00:00

Affected by my lethargic lifestyle, my mother tried to get me into a healthier mindset and a little more, a much more active lifestyle. So I was sent to yoga classes where I would try to achieve certain poses or at least get to a regular sort of routine. There was one pose that I was excellent at doing when I was little, but I realized that I wasn't able to do at all as an adult. I realized this around three years ago and this sort of devastated me because this was something I was able to do. I was excellent at it. I was able to do even more advanced stuff back then. But knowing that this is something I wanted to get to motivated me greatly to keep trying hard and learning from all the other people who are much older than me and also getting to do yoga for the first time. I realized how tough it would be to learn this as a grown-up with stiffer muscles, joints than for a little child to have done it when they were young and I grew to appreciate the pose. So the pose is the full wheel or chakrasana and it is indeed an advanced pose, but to me it was something to go back to. So I did get to achieve the goal after about a year of consistent practice and that is something I am proud of.

Follow up questions

What motivated you to set this goal in the first place?

My motivation stemmed from my mother's concern for my health and her encouragement to adopt a more active lifestyle. I wanted to prove to myself that I could overcome my lethargy and regain the flexibility and strength I had as a child.

How did you feel when you finally achieved your goal?

Achieving my goal felt incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. It was a mix of joy and relief, knowing that my hard work and dedication paid off. It also boosted my confidence and made me appreciate the journey I took to get there.

What challenges did you face while trying to achieve this goal?

I faced several challenges, including physical limitations due to age, frustration with my progress, and the mental hurdle of comparing myself to others. However, these challenges taught me resilience and the importance of patience in personal growth.

Show all 100 answers

Cue 1:What Is the Goal?

Clearly state the goal you set for yourself, making it specific and personal.
Explain why this goal was important to you and what motivated you to pursue it.

Example

The goal I set was to improve my English speaking skills, particularly to achieve a band score of 7.5 in the IELTS speaking test. This goal was important to me because I wanted to pursue higher studies abroad, and a good score in IELTS was a requirement for my university applications.

Cue 2:When did You First Begin to Have This Goal?

Mention when you first realized you wanted to achieve this goal.
Share any experiences or events that influenced your decision to set this goal.

Example

I first began to have this goal during my final year of college when I attended a seminar about studying abroad. Listening to the experiences of students who had successfully gone through the process inspired me to improve my English and aim for a higher score in IELTS.

Cue 3:How You Would Achieve the First Step of Your Goal?

Describe the initial steps you took to start working towards your goal.
Include any resources or strategies you used to help you get started.

Example

To achieve the first step of my goal, I enrolled in an IELTS preparation course. I also started practicing speaking with friends who were fluent in English. Additionally, I began watching English movies and listening to podcasts to improve my vocabulary and pronunciation.

Cue 4:How Easy or Difficult Do You Think It Will Be to Reach This Goal?

Reflect on the challenges you anticipate facing while pursuing this goal.
Discuss your mindset about overcoming these challenges and staying motivated.

Example

I think reaching this goal will be quite challenging, especially since I need to practice consistently and manage my time effectively. However, I believe that with dedication and the right resources, I can overcome these difficulties. I stay motivated by reminding myself of the opportunities that a good IELTS score will open up for me.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, setting the goal to improve my English speaking skills for the IELTS test has been a significant step in my academic journey. I am committed to working hard and believe that with perseverance, I will achieve my desired score and fulfill my dream of studying abroad.

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 Goal Description

Avoid being unclear about your goal. A vague description can confuse the examiner and make your answer less engaging.

Tip

Clearly define your goal with specific details. Explain what it is and why it matters to you.

2: Neglecting Timeline

Not mentioning when you started working towards your goal can make your response seem incomplete. It lacks context.

Tip

Include a timeline in your answer. State when you first set the goal and any important milestones.

Ignoring Challenges

Failing to discuss the difficulties you faced can make your answer sound unrealistic. It’s important to show the effort involved.

Tip

Talk about the challenges you encountered and how you plan to overcome them. This adds depth to your response.

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Answer

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Answer

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Anonymous student Band 6.5

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Answer

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Answer

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Answer

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