arrow back icon Top Answers

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.
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.

    bulb icon

    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.

    bulb icon

    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.

    bulb icon

    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.

    calendar icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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.

    All Answers

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

    Band 8

    One plan that I had to change recently was the short weekend trip I had arranged with a few close friends. We had originally decided to visit Puri, a coastal town in Odisha, to enjoy the beach and take a break from our busy schedules. Everything was finalized, from the train tickets to the hotel bookings, and we were all eagerly looking forward to it. Unfortunately, just a day before our departure, a cyclone warning was issued in the region. Traveling under such conditions would have been risky, so we had no choice but to cancel our seaside holiday. At first, I was quite disappointed because I had been craving the sound of the ocean waves and the fresh sea breeze. Instead, we decided to make the best of the situation by planning a local gateway. We booked a cozy resort on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by greenery and open fields. It turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. We spent the weekend playing outdoor games, sharing long conversations by the bonfire, and even trying our hand at cooking together. Although the change was unexpected, I actually felt happy about how things unfolded. It reminded me that what truly matters is not the destination, but the company of the people you're with. In fact, this unplanned retreat gave us more quality time together than a crowded tourist spot ever could.

    Band 7

    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.

    Band 7

    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.

    Band 7

    So, not too long ago, I had a plan to travel abroad for an academic conference. The original plan was to attend in-person, network with peers, and gain insights into the latest research in my field. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, like travel restrictions and safety concerns, I had to change that plan and pivot to attending the conference virtually. In adapting to this change, I had to make the most of online platforms. Instead of in-person networking, I engaged in virtual seminars, participated in webinars, and connected with fellow attendees through digital forums. While it was a bit of a shift, it also allowed me to attend sessions that I might have missed otherwise and even connect with international peers from the comfort of my home. Initially, I felt a bit disappointed by the change, as I was looking forward to the in-person experience. However, over time, I began to appreciate the flexibility and accessibility of the virtual format. Ultimately, it was a valuable learning experience, and it taught me to be adaptable and open to new ways of engaging with the world. Overall, I'm grateful for the experience and how it broadened my perspective. You need to speak for 2 minutes and 5 seconds. Understood. I'll make sure to fully utilize that 2 minutes and 5 seconds window for cue card responses. Thanks for the clarification. Whenever you're ready, just give me the next cue card topic, and I'll make sure to provide a thorough and well-timed response. Yeah. Describe a plan that you had to change recently. 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. Are you ready? Absolutely, I'm ready. Here we go. Recently, I had a plan to attend a professional development workshop in another city. The original plan involved traveling there in person, engaging in hands-on activities, and networking directly with other participants. However, due to unexpected travel restrictions and certain health and safety concerns, I had to adapt and change the plan to an online format. In response to this change, I shifted to participating virtually. This meant that instead of in-person interactions, I engaged in webinars, virtual breakout sessions, and online discussions. I also utilized digital tools, collaborated with peers, and attended live-streamed lectures, which in some ways offered even more flexibility. Initially, I felt a bit of disappointment because I was looking forward to the immersive in-person experience. However, as I adapted, I began to appreciate the convenience and the broader accessibility that the virtual format provided. It allowed me to connect with experts and peers from around the world, and I gained new insights that I might not have had otherwise. In the end, while the change was initially challenging, it ultimately proved to be enriching and a testament to adaptability. It broadened my horizons and highlighted the importance of flexibility in today's world.

    Band 7

    So here I want to recount an experience I had when I changed my plan for a trip. After my marriage, me and my husband decided that we go to Poonmudi Hills. But unfortunately, the rain played havoc and we had to immediately change our destination. Besides that, due to the rot constructions, the transport was also disrupted. Therefore, we opted for a nearby place. It was also a wonderful place to visit. It's called Munro Islands. As we know that it is located in the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River. It's really famous for its tranquility and serenity. After I reached the place, I observed that it's very pleasant and it lifted my spirits on reaching the destination. They also provided a lot of wide variety of foods. It actually satisfied us a lot. I was proud to say that I found the right place which was much better and safer than the previous one. Although Poonmudi is also a wonderful place to visit, Munro Islands provided us with all the needs that could satisfy us. For example, it actually calmed our minds and also gave us much more personal space to spend throughout our journey. I felt like it was also a better choice for having such a good and mesmerizing moment.

    Band 7

    There are a lot of things that I do plan in advance but at the end moment I have to change those because of some circumstances. Here I would like to talk about a situation where I planned to go to Lille and Ladakh on Kashmir side only but I had to change this plan particularly because of a terrorist attack that happened in Pahalgam. I really wanted to go to this particular place because it's kind of a childhood dream and also doing all the preparation for it costed me an arm and a leg but I understood the conditions there and I thought that maybe I need to change this particular plan. Initially I really felt very bad because I planned everything, I booked the flights, I did everything and I arranged this particular trip along with my friends. This was going to be the very first trip with them but unfortunately I couldn't make it but instead of it we all decided that we are going to visit Udaipur. So now we are planning to go there very soon because it is considered to be the royal city of India. I believe that surely Kashmir side is very beautiful, very good but Udaipur is no less than anything else in India so I really want to enjoy with my friends, that really matters to me no matter where I go. So I am really looking forward to go to this particular place so that I can visit the beautiful places like the different sort of museums located there, lakes and monuments which are situated in Udaipur particularly. Also I believe that whatever happens, happens for a reason so I am just happy because of this change in my life.

    Band 7

    Although my original plan was to pursue law further, as I have done my bachelors in law itself, but due to curiosity in me to explore more, after one experience at a workplace at NCPCR, wherein I found myself questioning about the policies and the grassroot level reality in the country, I thought of shifting or transitioning myself into public policy. It made me land to the fellowship that I am doing currently with Teach for India. Although the experience in law was very enriching and personally it gave me a lot, I thought of pushing myself out of my comfort zone to do more and better for the society at the ground level only. Currently the fellowship is giving me a lot, it has broadened my horizon, it has given me the kind of experience that I couldn't have if I was in the law. Furthermore, the students I am working with are a bunch of talented human beings.

    Band 7

    The plan I had originally was for my clinic set up. So last year I had quit my job as a head dentist in Africa and we decided to shift back to India because of some personal issues. So after coming here my original plan was to take over an already running clinic from another dentist. So I took over the clinic and I started practicing. But soon I realized within a month that it was difficult for me to commute as the clinic was far away from where we were staying because of the issues with the school we had to stay in a particular location which was far away from the clinic. So coming up like commuting to and fro from the clinic became a challenging aspect considering it wasted a lot of time and I couldn't give enough time and attention at home and I often got tired when I came back from long commute on the bike. So it became clear to me that I need to shift the location of my clinic and I decided to shift it. So I found a new location which was near my house which would not take that much time commuting and yes so I was very happy with the decision. It took to like a while and a little bit of a hustle to take all the things from the old clinic and to settle in a new clinic. But it was worth the efforts because now I could not only go to the clinic in time and come back but I can also pay equal attention at home and I found that work life balance that everyone talks about. So I was very happy with my decision and I'm certain that this decision would help me and in the betterment of like my future. Yes that's what I feel.

    Band 7

    I would like to talk about a plan that I had to change recently. The original plan was to go on a short weekend trip with my friends to a hill station near my city. We had already booked the hotel and arranged transportation. I was really excited because I love nature and was looking forward to spend some peaceful time away from my busy schedule. However just a day before the trip, the weather forecast showed heavy rainfall and landslides in the area. For safety reasons, we decided to cancel a trip. The first I was quite disappointed because we had been planning it for a week. Instead of the trip, we made a new plan to meet in the city itself. We went to a nice cafe, watched a movie together and later had a dinner. Even though it was not as adventurous as traveling to the hills, we still enjoyed each other's company and had a good time. Looking back, I think it was the right decision because safety comes first. I also realized that what really matters is spending time with friends, not just the place. So even though our plan changed, I still felt happy and satisfied.

    Band 7

    Well, a plan I had to change was related to my studies. Initially, I planned to study law because I thought it was a promising career path, but over time, I realized that my true passion lies in history. The turning point was when I started comparing my feelings toward both subjects, law felt like a duty while history inspired genuine interest and curiosity. The reason I had to change this plan was emotional tension and lack of connection with law as a subject. I felt like I was forcing myself to follow a path that wasn't truly mine. This made me rethink my goal and decide to shift my focus entirely to history, which aligned more with my natural interests and strengths. My new plan becoming pursue a degree in history and look for career opportunities related to this field. This shift felt risk at first, but I also felt relief and excitement knowing that I was following something I love. Looking back, I feel proud of making this decision. It required courage to divert from what seemed like a safer path. This challenging plan can be difficult, but in my case, it helped me to find something that resonated with my true self.
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
    ielts logo

    Get the IELTS Prep App

    Star rating icon

    4.2

    1M+ Installs

     app download banner image

    Get the app link on your phone

    +91

    Or download app from

    google play storeapp store
    master ielts speaking ad