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Describe A Period When You Were Busy: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • When was the period?
  • Describe the tasks that kept you busy.
  • Explain how you managed your time during the period.
  • Share how you cope with these busy schedules.
Show all 10 answers

Cue 1:When was the period?

  • Clearly state the time frame when you were busy, such as a specific month or season.
  • Mention any significant events or reasons that contributed to your busy schedule.

Example

The period when I was particularly busy was during my final exams in May last year. It was a crucial time as I was preparing for my graduation, and I had to balance studying for multiple subjects.

Cue 2:Describe the tasks that kept you busy.

  • List the specific tasks or responsibilities that occupied your time.
  • Include both academic and personal commitments to give a full picture.

Example

During this time, I had to study for my core subjects like Mathematics and Physics, complete assignments, and also prepare for presentations. Additionally, I was involved in organizing a farewell party for my classmates, which added to my responsibilities.

Cue 3:Explain how you managed your time during the period.

  • Discuss any strategies or tools you used to manage your time effectively.
  • Mention how you prioritized tasks to ensure everything was completed.

Example

To manage my time, I created a detailed study schedule that allocated specific hours for each subject. I used a planner to track my assignments and deadlines. I prioritized my tasks based on urgency, focusing on exam preparation first, while fitting in party planning during my breaks.

Cue 4:Share how you cope with these busy schedules.

  • Explain any techniques you used to handle stress and maintain productivity.
  • Mention any support systems or breaks that helped you recharge.

Example

To cope with the busy schedule, I made sure to take short breaks every couple of hours to relax and recharge. I also relied on my friends for support; we studied together, which made learning more enjoyable. Additionally, I practiced mindfulness techniques to stay calm during stressful moments.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, that busy period taught me valuable lessons about time management and the importance of balancing responsibilities. Despite the challenges, I successfully navigated through my exams and the farewell party, which made the experience rewarding.

    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 Time References

    Avoid being unclear about when the busy period occurred. Specificity helps the examiner understand your experience better.

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    Tip

    Clearly state the time frame, such as 'last summer' or 'during my final exams', to provide context.

    2: Listing Tasks Without Detail

    Simply listing tasks without explaining them can make your answer sound flat and unengaging. It’s important to elaborate.

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    Tip

    Describe each task briefly, explaining what it involved and why it was important to you.

    Neglecting Time Management Strategies

    Failing to discuss how you managed your time can make your response seem incomplete. Time management is key to handling busy periods.

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    Tip

    Share specific strategies you used, like creating a schedule or prioritizing tasks, to show your organizational skills.

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    All Answers

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

    Band 6-7

    When I was studying in my 11th grade, I completed my examination and in the end of year, I received my marks sheets. I have noticed this, my family was running out of money. I decided that I have to work a lot to make sure that I am making money for my own self and for my family. I left my school, I made the resume and I applied for multiple companies in my city. And luckily, with my own capabilities, I got multiple opportunities to give an interview. And luckily, I got my job and it was night shift. I had to go during midnight and have to work till 6 am in the morning which was not an easy task. So, during night, I used to work whole night there. I used to come back at my home and used to eat my food and sleep for few hours. And I used to work again in another company which was real estate work and I have just tried making sure that I am trying to manage my time successfully in a good manner. Like I used to make sure that I am eating dinner and having my lunch with the perfect timings. I am getting 3-4 hours of sleep and that's it. And I was just working, working, working and I was so busy during all these times. And that's how I made my...

    Band 6

    the period when I was very busy was during my internship time I was posted in Bangalore so at that time I was very busy with my patient loads as I am an audiologist and speech-language pathologist I have to work for nine hours continuously from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. so at that time I have to deal with so many patients from geriatrics to pediatrics so I have a plenty of work to do and also I have to complete so many reports of that patient so for that for going to that hospital I have to travel one and a half hours from my hostel so approximately there are four hours of traveling from and to from and to my hospital so at that time I was very busy with handling those patients and also and also my patients are all are at the stage of coma so at that time I have no nothing to do that with patients are also I have to handle so many emergency cases at that time so I I managed that time by talking with my friends and family and all so I managed my time should lose by taking so many time tables and by putting so many efforts into that so that's the time I was really busy

    Band 6

    During my PhD period I was quite busy in the work because it's everything related to the research we have to keep ourselves updated learn most important tools the AI tools that will help out along with the house course work and other office things related to the office also we have to go regularly there attended try to improve the accuracy regarding working under the server try to prove ourselves every day we have to like mark and set a limit so that we could do the work with full motivation and accomplish that task whatever the server has given us along with the PhD work which was going on simultaneously to cope with the situation I feel I think the better way is to do the proper time management if you do the proper time management and you would be able to do any task in the given time more the pending work will give will be more time it will take so that was my busy period concluding here

    Band 6

    This was just 2 days back when I had received a notice from my PG owner to vacate the premises within 2 days because the building was going to get demolished. We had no other option but to move. And we had to move quickly because it was just a 2 days short notice given to us. And I had my office to manage, I had my exams to prepare for and I did not have anyone else to help me out with the moving. But I managed it, I called a few of my friends, I asked them for help. I had no bags to put my stuff in so I called one of my friends who I knew would have the sufficient bags that I would require to get that to me so that I could pack my stuff. I called another friend from my office who is a dear, dear friend of mine. He agreed to help me out with the moving and packing and moving, the whole sort of thing because he has a car. He agreed to that and because I have a good rapport with everyone in the office I requested my manager to give me half days for 2 days so that I could manage my work and I could prepare for my exams and I could pack my stuff and transport it to another location. And I just think keeping a constant outlook, thinking that this could happen to anyone. This is not the stuff that will come up and you can just lose all your hopes. You have to find different ways to cope up with these things. You have to have a presence of mind to cope up with these things. So I guess just keep it that way.

    Band 6

    Well, to begin with, the period I was busy, I felt busy was when I went to Hyderabad on December 2024. The purpose I went to Hyderabad was to pursue my job. I got a job in Panchagutta, Hyderabad, named Dr. Holistic Allied Physiotherapy Clinic. There are lots of cases when I went there. I was literally tough, busy that time. Because of the cases, like in a day, there are five cases per day for each person, like a person can't handle a patient within one hour because I'm a physiotherapist and it is a physical work, it is too difficult for a physiotherapist to handle five persons per day. So it became a huge thing to me and became very tough to manage my time. And there's no time sometimes to eat, however, it is difficult to cope with my busy schedules and later, at the end of the day, I complete my schedules and I go for a dinner and go for a sleep normally. This is the way.

    Band 6

    Well, one time I was extremely busy, was during my final year of graduation, final year of college exams, about two years ago, around the same, we also have a big family function, my sister's cousin's wedding, and I had to help with the preparation and decoration as well as with a lot of work. In addition, I was waking early to revise and attending wedding-related functions and managing travel. Moving further, I hardly had time to sleep properly or right on time. I remember preparing for my marketing exam, and in the next room they were dancing late at night and while people were dancing in the next room. It was honestly quite stressful, I felt mentally and physically exhausted, but somehow I managed to give all my exams on time and enjoy the wedding too. On the top of that, after it was over, I felt really proud of myself for handling everything under pressure.

    Band 6

    Well, there has been various incidents when I was as busy as a bull is in... Well, there has been various incidents when I was as busy as a bull could be on a farm. But I would like to share an incident which was a major incident in my life. It is six months ago when I started my real mini project of my own. It was a big deal for me because this was something which I would be doing for the very first time. And initially, starting any research, you have to do a lot of literature review prior to the real research work or the real lab work. And this literature review takes months or weeks for instance. But fortunately, I had a very mini project of mine. But yet, I had to review more than hundred, I guess 250 to be very precise, 250 types of research papers. And it was not a small deal. I mean, I had to read for days and days. I had to engage myself in reading. It also gave a lot of physical strain on my eyes, which still helps. So I have been busy at many different types of incidents. But the most important or worth mentioning would be when I was doing a mini project of my own. This was the very first time I was doing some kind of research, which had no support from any other means. And I was on my own and I was as busy as a bull could be on a scrotching farm. Let me tell you how a research work goes on. So initially you have to do a lot of literature review. During this period, you have to review number to be very precise, more than 500 types of literature or research papers. And it is not a small deal. Let me tell you, it takes hours and hours to just review one research paper. And that was the most difficult part of any kind of that research project. So during that period, I used to be awake for like 3 o'clock to 3.30 of the morning. During that period, to make my life easier, I created a roadmap and a proper schedule. So that I can utilize most of my time. But yet it was not a small deal. It was a very tiresome thing to do. And at that time, I still remember my friends and my family supported as much as they could. I mean, after a very long day, after a very tiresome day, I remember my mother making some dishes that I would be craving for. The hot meal would just help me to calm my nerves. Along with it, meditation was another thing which helped me to stay focused and stay patient and calm.

    Band 6

    The period I was busy was the current one, because in this period I am busy with my work, there is lots of staff shortage and so that I am busy. Also after coming from the work, I have lots to study to prepare IELTS and all. So this is the time I am not getting time to eat and to enjoy and to give time to myself. I think this is the time that during my life, this is the period which was too busy.

    Band 5-6

    Hello, myself Hashmi. I was very busy on my teenage days, yeah, because I have many exams to be done. I was concentrating and I was not covered the lessons whole yearly. The last minute of last day, I just opened my book and sitting like anything and I just by guarding the lessons. So, I feel very stressed and so much of busy in that time. And I am very, I am very, I am very tired in that days and I was waiting for the end of the exam. When I was there before one day night, I am just studying the exam, I would feel that so, so difficult for me. And I was so alright about that, it would be, make my mistake correctly, I realized my mistakes and I overcome in that. I was very thankful to that period, I was missing that too a lot.

    Band 5

    So, as I am a student, I was not even, I am not very much busy in doing such works, but when I was, but few months ago, I was preparing myself for my high school final exams. So, I was busy in that revising the chapters and revising the whole syllabus thoroughly, so that I can score good grades in my final exams.
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