Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What the goal is
How long have you had this goal
How you would achieve it
And explain why you set this goal.

3 unique answers with expert feedback

What steps are you currently taking to achieve your long-term goal?

Currently, I am saving a portion of my income each month and researching the best locations for a beach cottage. I am also learning about hotel management and hospitality to prepare myself for running a hotel. Additionally, I am working on my budgeting skills to ensure I can afford this dream.

How do you plan to balance work and your personal life while pursuing this goal?

I believe in setting clear boundaries between work and personal time. I plan to prioritize my relationship and leisure activities, ensuring that I dedicate time to my partner and our shared interests. This balance will help me stay motivated and focused on achieving my long-term goal.

What challenges do you anticipate in reaching your goal?

I anticipate financial challenges, as saving enough money for a beach cottage and hotel will take time. Additionally, there may be obstacles in finding the right location and managing a business. I will need to be adaptable and resilient to overcome these challenges as they arise.

Band 6

00:00

This is the goal that I want to pursue my study in the foreign nation as I completed my senior secondary education and I had a dream to pursue my further studies in a foreign nation and now I am preparing for an English language exam which is helpful for me to do study in the foreign nation. I want to achieve this goal because it is my family's goal, family dream to do study in the foreign nation. Moreover, I also want to do work along with my studies which is provided in the foreign nations. So this is the goal that I want to achieve in

Follow up questions

What specific country do you wish to study in and why?

I wish to study in Canada because it has a high-quality education system and is known for its multicultural environment. Additionally, the universities there offer programs that align with my career goals, and I believe the experience will broaden my horizons.

How do you plan to balance work and studies while abroad?

I plan to manage my time effectively by creating a schedule that allocates specific hours for studying and working. I will prioritize my studies, but I also believe that working part-time will help me gain practical experience and support my living expenses.

What challenges do you anticipate while pursuing your studies abroad?

I anticipate facing challenges such as adapting to a new culture, managing homesickness, and the academic pressure of studying in a foreign language. However, I believe that these challenges will help me grow and develop resilience.

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.

Band 6

00:00

My goal is to study in a college in UK, because I believe that I have a certain standard to live up to in my family, in front of my mom and dad, my cousins, and it has been my dream for now. And I have been like searching about many colleges, universities, the scholarship facilities and everything that can be provided that would help me in studying. And I would consider studying in an abroad college as well as finding a job and having a settled life over there to live the life of my dreams, not to have the worry of what I am doing or wondering where my life is heading at. And I would prefer to study there and maybe have a house and a dog maybe and be happy. That would be my long term goal to not be worried about anything, to not stress about any work or not overthink about life or anything. I think that is a really must and should for every person, you know, like to not worry about things and to just let it go and go with the flow.

Follow up questions

What specific college or university are you considering in the UK?

I am particularly interested in universities like the University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh. They have strong programs in my field of interest and offer great scholarship opportunities for international students.

How do you plan to finance your studies abroad?

I am exploring various scholarship options and also considering part-time work while studying. Additionally, my family has been supportive and is willing to help me with some of the expenses.

What challenges do you think you might face while studying abroad?

I anticipate challenges such as adapting to a new culture, managing my finances, and being away from my family. However, I believe these experiences will help me grow and become more independent.

Show all 3 answers

Cue 1:What the goal is

Clearly state your long-term goal and provide a brief description.
Make it relatable by connecting it to your personal interests or experiences.

Example

My long-term goal is to become a successful entrepreneur and start my own sustainable fashion brand. I have always been passionate about fashion and the environment, and I believe that combining these two elements can create a positive impact.

Cue 2:How long have you had this goal

Mention when you first realized this goal and any experiences that influenced it.
Reflect on how your understanding of this goal has evolved over time.

Example

I have had this goal for about five years now. It started during my college days when I took a course on sustainable practices in business. That course opened my eyes to the possibilities of creating a brand that not only focuses on style but also on sustainability.

Cue 3:How you would achieve it

Outline the steps you plan to take to reach your goal.
Include any resources, skills, or support you will need along the way.

Example

To achieve this goal, I plan to gain experience in the fashion industry by working with established brands for a few years. I will also pursue a business management course to enhance my skills. Additionally, I intend to network with other entrepreneurs and seek mentorship to guide me through the process.

Cue 4:And explain why you set this goal

Share your motivations for setting this goal and its significance to you.
Discuss how achieving this goal aligns with your values or aspirations.

Example

I set this goal because I want to contribute to a more sustainable future and inspire others to make conscious choices in fashion. I believe that fashion can be both beautiful and environmentally friendly, and I want to be a part of that change.

Conclusion

Summarize your long-term goal and its importance to you.
Reiterate your commitment to achieving this goal and the positive impact it can have.

Example

In conclusion, my long-term goal of starting a sustainable fashion brand is not just a career aspiration; it is a way for me to make a meaningful contribution to society. I am committed to working hard and taking the necessary steps to turn this vision into reality.

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