Describe a plan that you had to change recently: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What the original plan was?
Why you had to change it?
What you did differently?
And explain how you felt about the change.

135 unique answers with expert feedback

What motivated you to switch from hospital work to gym training?

I realized that my passion lies in sports and fitness. Working as a trainer allows me to connect with athletes and help them recover, which aligns with my childhood dream of being involved in sports. This change has given me the opportunity to gain practical experience in a field I truly love.

How do you feel about your decision to pursue sports physiotherapy?

I feel very positive about my decision. It has allowed me to explore my interests and gain valuable experience. I believe that working in sports physiotherapy will enhance my skills and knowledge, ultimately making me a better physiotherapist in the future.

What are your future plans after completing your internship?

After my internship, I plan to pursue a master's degree in sports physiotherapy. I want to deepen my knowledge and skills in this area to better serve athletes and contribute to their recovery and performance. My long-term goal is to work in a sports rehabilitation center.

Band 7

00:00

Recently, I had to change one of my plans and it was quite unexpected. I had planned to spend an entire weekend preparing for an important task, my upcoming exam. I even made a small timetable, gathered all the materials and mentally prepared myself for two days of serious study. But at last minute, one of my close relatives announced a small family get-together. It was not something I could skip because the relative had come from another city after a long time and everyone in the family was expected to be there. Honestly, I felt a little frustrated in the beginning because my study plan was well organized and I didn't want to break the flow. However, I didn't want to disappoint my family so I changed my plan. Instead of studying the whole weekend, I decided to attend the gathering and then shift my study sessions to late evenings. It was not easy because I was tired by the time I got home, but I still managed to finish a portion of my syllabus. In the end, it actually turned out okay. The family time was refreshing and the change of environment helped me feel less stressed. Even though the plan changed suddenly, I realized that sometimes being flexible is important. Life does not always go exactly as we expect and adjusting gracefully is a part of growing up, according to me.

Follow up questions

How do you usually prepare for important exams?

I typically create a detailed study plan, allocate specific time slots for each subject, and gather all necessary materials in advance. I also try to minimize distractions and ensure I have a quiet space to study effectively.

What do you think is the importance of family gatherings?

Family gatherings are important as they strengthen bonds and create lasting memories. They provide a sense of belonging and support, allowing family members to reconnect and share experiences, which can be refreshing and uplifting.

How do you handle unexpected changes in your plans?

I try to remain flexible and adapt to the situation. Initially, I might feel frustrated, but I remind myself that unexpected changes can lead to new opportunities and experiences. I focus on finding a balance between my responsibilities and personal life.

Band 7

00:00

Initially, in grade 11, I decided that I wanted to pursue my education in India for my Bachelors. So I have joined a coaching institute called Akash for my Joint Entrance Exam, which is the exam to prepare engineering students for their Bachelors degree. And days after days, my academics were dropping down, my test scores weren't satisfactory at the satisfactory level and furthermore, my mental health was deteriorating. In addition, I was in the brink of depression, but winning the National Innovation Hackathon in Hyderabad quite literally changed my life. I found it very welcoming and I decided from that moment on, I would stop my GE preparation and pursue my higher education, not in India, but in the countries, in the diverse countries of the world. And ever since that, I've started preparing my college applications to various countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore. And ever since I've made that decision, it hasn't been a day that I have regretted it. But looking back, there might be a few challenges because a lot, many people in my neighborhood or in my school apply abroad. And in that scenario, I was very lonely, I had no one to support me or motivate me. So I was just motivating myself and I found inspiration from those, from my seniors who did this.

Follow up questions

What were the main factors that influenced your decision to change your education plan?

The main factors included my declining academic performance, deteriorating mental health, and the inspiration I gained from winning the National Innovation Hackathon. These experiences made me realize that pursuing education abroad could be a better fit for my aspirations and well-being.

How did you feel when you made the decision to study abroad?

I felt a sense of relief and excitement. It was a pivotal moment for me, as I was finally taking control of my future. Although I was initially lonely in my decision, the prospect of exploring diverse cultures and educational systems motivated me greatly.

What challenges did you face while preparing your college applications?

One of the biggest challenges was the lack of support from peers, as most of my friends were applying locally. I had to rely on my own motivation and seek inspiration from seniors who had successfully studied abroad. Additionally, navigating the application process itself was quite daunting.

Practice other cue cards

Describe a risk you took that you thought would lead to a terrible result but ended up with a positive result

View answers

Describe a piece of good advice that you gave to someone

View answers

Describe a difficult skill you learned.

View answers

Describe A Skill That You Learned In Your Childhood

View answers

Describe an ambition that you haven't achieved.

View answers

Describe A Resolution You Made In The New Year

View answers

Describe a time you taught something new to a younger person?

View answers

Describe A Time When You Needed To Search For Information

View answers

Describe Something You Do That Can Help You Concentrate On Work/Study

View answers

Describe a thing you did to learn another language?

View answers

Describe the type of home you'd like to reside in.

View answers

Describe A Volunteering Experience You Have Had

View answers

Describe A Time When You Helped Someone

View answers

Describe An Success You Are Proud Of

View answers

Describe a natural talent you want to improve.

View answers

Describe an exercise you know.

View answers

Describe something you taught to your friend/relative.

View answers

Describe a daily routine that you enjoy

View answers

Describe A Difficult Decision That You Made And Had A Good Result

View answers

Describe Something You Do Regularly That Helps You Work And Study Better

View answers

Describe a skill that was difficult to learn

View answers

Describe an important thing you learned (not at school or college)

View answers

Describe a book you recently read.

View answers

Describe a piece of advice you recently received.

View answers

Describe Something Healthy You Enjoy Doing

View answers

Describe an important decision made with the help of other people

View answers

Describe Something You Do To Keep Fit And Healthy

View answers

Describe Something That Helps You Concentrate

View answers

Describe a habit your friend has and you want to develop.

View answers

Describe an impressive talk/conversation you had that you remember well

View answers

Describe an article about health that you read.

View answers

Describe a goal you set that you tried your best to achieve

View answers

Talk about a time you learned a new skill.

View answers

Describe a time when you changed your opinion

View answers

Describe An Activity You Do To Keep Fit

View answers

Describe a difficult task that you completed at work/study that you felt proud of

View answers

Describe an event that ended in failure.

View answers

Describe A Positive Change In Your Life

View answers

Describe an achievement/success you are proud of

View answers

Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve.

View answers

Describe an activity you enjoyed in your free time when you were young.

View answers

Band 7

00:00

Making plan is a part of everyday life, whether it's about work, travel, or personal goal. However, things don't always go as expected, and sometimes we are forced to change our plan due to unexpected circumstances. Today I would like to talk about a recent plan I had to change at the last moment. A few weeks ago, I planned a weekend trip to Mount Abu with my cousin. Everyone was super excited. We booked a resort, made an itinerary, and applied for leave from work. This was a purpose to spend quality time with family and take a short break from our busy schedule. Unfortunately, just two days before the trip, my cousin's younger brother had a minor accident and had hospitalized for a few days. Although it was not very serious, he needed someone to be around to take care of him. So naturally, we had to cancel the trip and focus on supporting the family during that time. Honestly, I felt quite disappointed at first as I was really looking forward to the break. But at the same time, I understand that family always comes first, and his health is more important than any vacation. So in the end, we decided to postpone the trip rather than cancel it completely. Hopefully, we will be able to go once every day settled down.

Follow up questions

How do you usually plan your trips?

I usually start by deciding on a destination and then researching places to stay and things to do. I like to create an itinerary to make the most of my time, but I also leave some flexibility for spontaneous activities.

What do you think is the importance of family in such situations?

Family is incredibly important, especially during tough times. Supporting each other strengthens our bonds and shows that we prioritize each other's well-being over personal plans. It's essential to be there for loved ones when they need help.

Have you ever had to change plans for other reasons?

Yes, I have had to change plans due to various reasons like bad weather or work commitments. Each time, it taught me to be adaptable and to find alternative ways to enjoy my time, even if it wasn't what I originally planned.

Band 7

00:00

Recently, my friend and I were supposed to travel to London, but the recent Air India air crash to London derailed our plans and we couldn't travel. The week that originally we were supposed to travel to London, I had sublet my apartment to a fellow neighbor and due to the last moment derailment of our plan, that week, I had to My friend Shikha and I had a plan to travel to London to see Adele's concert, but recently the flight that we were supposed to be taking Air India had a crash due to which all the subsequent flights were derailed and this caused a damper in our travel plans. The week that we were supposed to travel at, I had sublet my apartment already, due to which I had no place to stay, so I ended up staying over at another friend's place and even though this caused a change in our original plans, it turned out to be quite fun as I got to reconnect with my friend and we spent the entire night revisiting our childhood memories and it was a good bonding experience. Subsequently, we went out the next day to the airline to figure out the alternative travel plans as we had already made down payments for our flight tickets and accommodation. The airline reverted to us saying that our refund would be processed in a month. Further, they also offered alternative flight tickets next month, which Shikha and I were very eager to take as Adele also said she will be hosting another concert in London in the following month that we were considering to travel. And like they say, all's well that ends well. Our travel plans although may have been derailed, but we were able to come up with a backup option to finally visit London.

Follow up questions

How did you feel when your travel plans changed unexpectedly?

Initially, I was quite disappointed because I was looking forward to the concert. However, as time passed, I realized that staying with my friend turned out to be a positive experience, allowing us to reconnect and enjoy each other's company.

What alternative plans did you consider after your trip was canceled?

After the cancellation, we considered rescheduling our trip for the following month when Adele would be performing again. We also explored other activities we could do locally while waiting for our refund and new tickets.

What lessons did you learn from this experience?

I learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability in travel plans. It's essential to have backup options and to stay positive when things don't go as planned. Ultimately, the experience brought me closer to my friend, which was a valuable takeaway.

Show all 135 answers

Cue 1:What the original plan was?

Begin by clearly stating what your original plan was, including details like the time and place.
Mention any specific goals or expectations you had for this plan.

Example

My original plan was to travel to Manali with my friends for a week-long vacation during the summer holidays. We had booked our tickets in advance and were really looking forward to enjoying the beautiful mountains and the cool weather.

Cue 2:Why you had to change it?

Explain the reason for the change, focusing on any unexpected circumstances that arose.
Be honest about how this change affected your initial excitement or plans.

Example

However, just a week before our trip, I received a call from my family informing me that my grandmother had fallen ill. I felt it was important to stay back and support my family during this difficult time, so I had to cancel my trip.

Cue 3:What you did differently?

Describe what alternative plans you made instead of the original trip.
Share how you adjusted your time and activities to accommodate the change.

Example

Instead of going to Manali, I decided to spend my time at home with my family. I helped take care of my grandmother and also spent quality time with my relatives who came to visit. We shared stories and memories, which brought us closer together.

Cue 4:And explain how you felt about the change.

Reflect on your feelings regarding the change, both positive and negative.
Discuss any lessons learned or insights gained from the experience.

Example

Initially, I felt disappointed about missing the trip, as I had been looking forward to it for months. However, as I spent time with my family, I realized how important it was to be there for them. It taught me that sometimes, family comes first, and I felt a sense of fulfillment in being supportive.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, while I had to change my travel plans due to unforeseen circumstances, I found value in the time spent with my family. This experience reminded me that life can be unpredictable, and adapting to changes can lead to meaningful moments.

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. Candidates often fail to provide specific details about their original plan or the changes made, which can lead to a lack of engagement.

Tip

Be specific about your original plan and the changes. Use clear examples and details to illustrate your points.

2: Neglecting Emotions

Ignoring how you felt about the change can make your response less personal and relatable. Candidates often focus only on facts and miss the emotional aspect of their experience.

Tip

Include your feelings about the change. Describe how it affected you emotionally to create a more engaging narrative.

Lack of Structure

A disorganized response can confuse the listener. Candidates sometimes jump between points without a clear structure, making it hard to follow their story.

Tip

Follow a clear structure: start with the original plan, explain the reason for the change, describe what you did differently, and conclude with your feelings.

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.