Describe a time you made a decision to wait for something: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When did it happen?
What are you waiting for?
Why did you make the decision?
Explain how you felt while waiting.

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Cue 1:When did it happen?

Begin by mentioning the specific time and context when you made the decision to wait.
Provide details about the situation that led to your decision.

Example

This happened last year during the festive season in India. I had been eagerly waiting for the launch of a new smartphone that was set to be released just before Diwali. I decided to wait instead of buying an older model.

Cue 2:What are you waiting for?

Clearly state what you were waiting for and why it was significant to you.
Mention any specific features or reasons that made you want to wait for this particular item.

Example

I was waiting for the latest smartphone model because it promised advanced features like a better camera and longer battery life. As a tech enthusiast, I wanted to ensure I had the best device for photography during the festive celebrations.

Cue 3:Why did you make the decision?

Explain your reasoning behind the decision to wait rather than settle for something available immediately.
Discuss any influences, such as friends or reviews, that contributed to your decision.

Example

I made the decision to wait because I had read positive reviews about the new model, and my friends who had similar interests encouraged me to hold off. I believed that the wait would be worth it for the enhanced features.

Cue 4:Explain how you felt while waiting.

Share your emotions during the waiting period, whether it was excitement, anxiety, or impatience.
Reflect on how the anticipation affected your daily life.

Example

While waiting, I felt a mix of excitement and impatience. Every day, I would check for updates and countdown the days until the launch. It was thrilling to think about how much I would enjoy using the new phone, especially during the festive season.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, waiting for the new smartphone was a significant decision for me. It taught me the value of patience and the joy of anticipation. When I finally got the phone, it felt even more rewarding, and I was glad I chose to wait.

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: Rushing Through Your Answer

Candidates often rush their responses, missing important details. This can lead to a lack of clarity and depth in their answers, making it hard for the examiner to follow.

Tip

Take a moment to think before speaking. Structure your answer by addressing each cue clearly and providing relevant details.

2: Being Vague or General

Using vague language or general statements can weaken your response. It makes it difficult for the examiner to understand your experience and feelings.

Tip

Use specific examples and descriptive language to illustrate your experience. This will make your answer more engaging and memorable.

Neglecting Emotional Aspects

Failing to express your feelings during the waiting period can make your answer less relatable. Emotions add depth and connection to your story.

Tip

Reflect on your emotions during the waiting period. Share how you felt and why those feelings were significant to your experience.

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.

All Answers

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

Band 6-7

Well, time play part and partial role in multidual's life. Time is like a water of rivers, if it lost, once it lost for a forever. So we should value of the time and time is the most precious commodity on the earth. We can buy gold and silver, but we cannot buy time. However, here I would like to mention about a time when I waited for something. I vividly remember during COVID pandemic, it was almost four years before and during that time, COVID pandemic was on the peak, all the shops were closed as per Indian government instruction. And at that time, I really need, I had really need of a laptop then because of, because of at that time everything works through technical gadgets like laptops and mobile phones and visions man did their work with the help of them. And students also attending the students were also attending their classes with them. However, I, I had not a laptop and I decided to buy it. When I told my father about, about it, then he advised me to purchase, to purchase second hand laptop because he had enough money. And he also told me that, or waited for a few months, like four, five, instead of, of a purchasing second hand laptop, then I decided to purchase, purchase new laptop and wait for a few months. So after that, after that, after five months, my father gave me a money and I purchased a LG laptop. So I felt over the moon because I purchased.

Band 6-7

I would like to speak about my decision. I am waiting for something. That decision was when I completed my 12th and go to college and that decision was my parents decision to go to college or not. I really want to go to college because this is my dream. In our house there is no one who completed her graduation or post graduation. I am the first girl who did it and I am really lucky to have that opportunity. That decision was very difficult because some are saying that to get married soon or some are saying that to get good marks and go to college. I really want to go to college because I really want to do it for myself first. When my parents decided that I have to go to college and we shortlisted some colleges and we go there and lastly I go to Hansraj Mahala Mahavidyalaya and that college was very brilliant. Firstly I am very nervous because I studied in the co-ed school and that was only girls college. So that's why I am very nervous because there are lots of girls here and I can't explain my feelings. The college was very good and I appreciate my parents decision.

Band 6-7

I made many kind of decision in my life right now I am talking about the decision which I made in 2009 because I was looking for a car because I'm working in a construction company and it's too far from my house it's around 40 kilometers 40 kilometer daily up down is a very exhausted for me so I decided to buy a car and then I make a plan I'll definitely and purchased a car I was looking a car that is a Kareta Hyundai company it was the feature of car was very good that's many of information about the car I was read on online and I was really excited for to purchase the car because it was the first experience for me when I was looking for a car I would decide many planning if I got a car and then I will definitely go with my family to a tour because my wife also had a demand if we bought a new car then we then you would definitely go for a tour to Rishikesh and we make a plan to go Rishikesh and we enjoyed a lot there it was the plan which I made and waiting for that that it was because I'm a working person as I told you it was not easy for me by a car I make installment of that car and and I purchased I make a plan to purchase that car it was the experience which I shared with you I was really excited for that because it was my first experience to buy a car thanks

Band 6-7

The time where I waited the most was in 2012 when I was looking for my university but unfortunately I was unable to get offer letters from all of the universities and few of them were still in process so I decided to wait for some more time so that I can make a finalized decision by gathering all information and making a intelligent and satisfying decision. I got anxious and nervous while waiting because it got me terrified of thinking that it will take much more time to release the offer letter by the university and till then my offer letter from the previous universities will get expired and I will unable to accept the letter that is sent by university.

Band 6

We come across many situations in which we have to wait for something. It can be products, it can be anything like events. So if we are waiting, we will get a skill of patience. And also today I would like to talk about a time when I had waited for a digital gadget. And what happens is that when I have completed my 12th board exam, I was searching for the higher education opportunities. So whenever I search for a course, these courses are related to technical side. So I definitely need to have a laptop or a MacBook or a high performance laptop. So when I thought about buying a laptop, but my parents didn't have a financial budget at that time. So when I waited till Diwali festival so that I can get heavy discounts on that day. So I waited till that time and it was a long time to wait but still I can save that money. At the time of Diwali festival, when I was searching through the applications, I saw that there was a 20% discount on MacBook. So at that time I purchased this and I really felt happy about it.

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