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Describe A Rule That Is Important In Your School Or At Work: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What is the rule about?
  • What happens when people break the rule?
  • Why do you think it is an important rule?
  • And explain how you feel about the rule.
Show all 123 answers

Cue 1:What is the rule about?

  • Clearly state the rule and its purpose in your school or workplace.
  • Provide context about how this rule is applied and who it affects.

Example

One important rule in my school is that students must submit their assignments on time. This rule is crucial because it helps maintain discipline and ensures that everyone is keeping up with the syllabus.

Cue 2:What happens when people break the rule?

  • Explain the consequences of breaking the rule.
  • Mention how these consequences affect both the individual and the group.

Example

When students fail to submit their assignments on time, they usually receive a penalty, such as a reduction in marks. This not only affects their grades but also disrupts the learning process for others, as teachers have to spend extra time addressing late submissions.

Cue 3:Why do you think it is an important rule?

  • Discuss the benefits of having this rule in place.
  • Relate it to broader values such as responsibility and time management.

Example

I believe this rule is important because it teaches students the value of responsibility and time management. Learning to meet deadlines is a skill that will benefit us in our future careers, where punctuality is often crucial.

Cue 4:And explain how you feel about the rule.

  • Share your personal feelings about the rule, whether positive or negative.
  • Explain how it has impacted your own experience in school or work.

Example

Personally, I appreciate this rule because it has helped me become more organized. Initially, I struggled with deadlines, but over time, I learned to manage my time better, which has reduced my stress levels significantly.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, the rule of submitting assignments on time is vital in my school. It not only fosters discipline but also prepares us for future responsibilities. I feel that such rules are essential for personal growth and academic success.

    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 the rule, leading to a weak response.

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    Tip

    Be specific about the rule. Explain it clearly and provide examples to illustrate its importance.

    2: Ignoring Consequences

    Not discussing the consequences of breaking the rule can weaken your answer. Candidates often overlook this aspect, making their response less engaging.

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    Tip

    Clearly explain what happens when the rule is broken. This adds depth to your answer and shows its significance.

    Lack of Personal Opinion

    Failing to express personal feelings about the rule can make your response less relatable. Candidates sometimes forget to share their perspective.

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    Tip

    Include your feelings about the rule. Discuss why it matters to you personally to make your answer more compelling.

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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 7

    One important rule in my school was the school uniform rule. According to this rule, every student had to come to school wearing the proper uniform, which included a light colored shirt, dark trousers, a tie and black shoes. This rule also required us to maintain good grooming like neat hair and no accessories. When students broke this rule, they usually received a warning from the class teacher and sometimes they were sent to the office to explain the reason. In a few cases, students were asked to call their parents or go back home and come again in the correct uniform. So the school took this rule very seriously. I think this rule is important because it creates a sense of discipline and equality among students. When everyone wears the same uniform, there is no comparison based on clothes or fashion, and it reduces distractions. It also makes it easy for teachers to identify students inside and outside the campus, which improves safety. Personally, I feel that school uniform helped me develop a habit of being neat and responsible and presentable. Even now, I try to dress properly and maintain discipline in professional settings because of this rule. So overall, I believe it played a positive role in shaping my behavior.

    Band 7

    So, when I was playing badminton as a professional, I was in this hostel called Hudson Badminton Center and they had one major rule, namely, no phone rule. So as the name suggests, we are not allowed to use our mobile phones from morning 6 AM till night 8 PM and they will only give our phones back after 8 until 9 o'clock. So this rule was really efficient for us because it kept us really focused and it helped with our training sessions because when we have a phone at hand, we tend to use it a lot more and often it really tires the brain out and it blocks out any energy levels that we would get during our rest periods. And since badminton is a really mentally and physically stressful activity, we need that kind of energy levels which we only get during our rest times. And the punishments would be an extra day of training or a very intensive workout session such as one hour of running or maybe even one hour of random punishment in badminton terms. So this was very, like I mentioned, very efficient way to keep us focused and I love this rule.

    Band 7

    So, a rule that I think is really important is something that we learnt in school. This rule is one of the fundamentally most important things that one learns in life. We had this rule in our school where if someone was caught cheating in an exam, they would get suspended, at least for a week. I think this is a really important rule. This is a rule that teaches discipline and self-control in young kids so that they know that if they cheat in an exam they are likely to be punished. I feel that this rule is extremely justified as it shows and teaches young kids that hard work leads to success. Cheating is not the way, even later in life, they would often learn that if one cheats, whether it be in a job or in an exam, they were likely to be caught and later punished. In fact, people who cheat others of their money are likely to lose everything in the end. In school, when people cheated they would get caught and their parents would be called and they would be suspended. So the next time that they wanted to cheat, they would remember that this is not the way. They would have to study, work hard and then only would they get the fruits of their hard work.

    Band 7

    Well, I am a doctor and I am practicing in the hospital. So the most important rule that is implemented or considers essential at my workplace is the work ethics and the respect that we should keep towards our senior doctors and the empathy that we should be showing in the patient care. This rule is important because it hastens up the patient care treatment.

    Band 7

    A rule that is very important at my school is the 75% attendance. Basically what this means is, if your attendance is less than three quarters of the assigned working days, you are not allowed to give the final exams. And as it is widely known, final exams are important to graduate any kind of course. Therefore, not meeting with this rule has severe repercussions. The reason for this rule being applied is to make students attend classes more regularly. And it can be seen that the attendance has increased since the inception of this rule. Moreover, I feel this rule has brought upon better results because of students just listening to the content delivered by the lecturer. I personally feel this rule can be a bit unnecessary, but it is a part of the curriculum and I have followed it so far.

    Band 7

    One of the most crucial regulations in my school was that students were strictly prohibited from using mobile phones during school hours. This rule was enforced primarily to minimize distraction and cultivate a focused learning environment. The school authorities were of the opinion that excessive phone usage could adversely affect concentration, academic performance and social interactions. Students who caught violating this rule would face strict consequences. The phone would be confiscated and returned only after a week. And in some instances, parents were informed for a formal discussion. Although it might have seemed very strict at that time, in hindsight I realized it was a beneficial measure. I think this rule was particularly important because it instilled discipline, self-regulation and interpersonal skills. It also encouraged us to engage actively in classroom discussions, collaborate with peers and maintain meaningful relationships rather than being perpetually glued to the screens. Honestly, I believe such regulations are instrumental in fostering a productive and balanced educational environment. I think it is really important to establish these kinds of rules to all educational institutions, especially in primary schooling and high schooling.

    Band 7

    One rule that I consider extremely important at my workplace is maintaining punctuality and adhering strictly to deadlines. In the field of civil engineering, we often work on large-scale projects that require meticulous planning and coordination between multiple teams, including architects, contractors, and suppliers. Even a small delay from one person can create a chain reaction, causing the entire project timeline to suffer. This rule is rigorously enforced by our project managers and senior engineers. They monitor attendance, track progress on assignments, and hold team meetings to ensure everyone is aligned with the schedule. Personally, following this rule has instilled a strong sense of discipline in me and has significantly improved my time management skills. It also fosters accountability because each team member knows that their actions directly impact the overall success of the project. I believe this rule is vital not only for the smooth functioning of work but also for building a professional culture based on reliability and mutual respect. In my experience, workplaces where such rules are strictly followed tend to be more productive, harmonious, and stress-free because everyone understands their responsibilities and obligations clearly.

    Band 7

    Maintaining at least 75% of attendance is an important rule in our university. However, if a person fails to maintain the attendance, they are not allowed to sit in the examination. I believe this kind of rules are important. It helps the student to follow the coursework properly. It helps them to engage with their classmates and in the discussions. It helps them to create a bond with their professors. In case they have missed, they have not been able to come regularly to the university, they are supposed to fill a condemnation form and they will be allowed to ask the higher authorities to let them write in the examination.

    Band 7

    A rule that is important in my work would be the weekly reporting to the supervisor about the work done in the week. If one breaks this rule, it would be affecting their efficiency and keeps the managers dubious about our efficiency. To be specific, this rule is important to keep our supervisor confident as well as track our performance ourselves. Hence I consider this rule is important in my work.

    Band 7

    One important rule in my university is punctuality. All students and faculty members are expected to be on time for classes, meetings and events. This rule is strictly followed at my university where I am pursuing B.P. Honors. Punctuality is emphasized across all aspects of university life. Classes have fixed schedule and students who arrive late may not be allowed to enter. Similarly, assessment and project have strict deadlines and late submission often result in penalties. Even extracurricular activities, club meetings and examinations follow a strict time policy. This rule is important because it instills discipline, responsibility and professionalism in students. Professional role in punctuality is highly valued whether in corporate jobs, entrepreneurship or any other field. It helps in time management, improves productivity and creates a culture of respect for others time. Additionally, adhering to schedule ensures smooth academic operation and reduces unnecessary disruption in lectures.
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