Describe A Good Decision You Made Recently: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What was it?
When did you make it?
What was the result?
How did you feel about it?

10 unique answers with expert feedback

Show all 10 answers

Cue 1:What was it?

Clearly state the decision you made, ensuring it is specific and relevant.
Provide context about why this decision was important to you.

Example

Recently, I made the decision to pursue a certification course in digital marketing. I realized that with the growing importance of online presence for businesses, enhancing my skills in this area would be beneficial for my career.

Cue 2:When did you make it?

Mention the time frame when you made this decision, whether it was a spontaneous choice or a well-thought-out plan.
Include any relevant details about the circumstances surrounding the decision.

Example

I made this decision about two months ago, after attending a workshop on digital marketing trends. The workshop inspired me to take action and improve my skills.

Cue 3:What was the result?

Discuss the outcomes of your decision, focusing on both immediate and long-term effects.
Share any feedback or recognition you received as a result of this decision.

Example

As a result of this decision, I completed the course successfully and gained practical skills that helped me secure a promotion at my job. My manager appreciated my initiative and the new ideas I brought to the team.

Cue 4:How did you feel about it?

Express your emotions regarding the decision and its outcomes.
Reflect on how this decision has impacted your confidence or future plans.

Example

I felt a great sense of accomplishment after completing the course. It boosted my confidence and motivated me to continue learning. I now feel more prepared to tackle new challenges in my career.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, making the decision to pursue a certification in digital marketing was a pivotal moment for me. It not only enhanced my skills but also opened new opportunities in my career, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning.

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 Responses

Giving vague answers without specific details can make your response less engaging and informative. It may leave the examiner unclear about your decision.

Tip

Include specific details about the decision, such as the context and your thought process, to make your answer more vivid and relatable.

2: Neglecting Emotions

Failing to express how you felt about the decision can make your response seem flat. Emotions add depth and personal connection to your story.

Tip

Share your feelings before and after making the decision to show its impact on you and to engage the listener emotionally.

Ignoring Results

Not discussing the outcome of your decision can leave your answer incomplete. The result is crucial in demonstrating the effectiveness of your choice.

Tip

Clearly explain the results of your decision and how it positively affected your life to provide a comprehensive answer.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

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.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

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.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

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.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

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.

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