Describe A Time You Made A Promise To Someone: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

To whom did you make the promise?
What was the promise?
Why did you make the promise?
Was the promise easy to achieve?

16 unique answers with expert feedback

How did your parents react to your decision to change your career?

My parents were initially surprised because they had high hopes for my medical career. However, once I explained my passion for engineering and how it aligned with my interests, they became supportive and encouraged me to pursue what I truly wanted.

What challenges did you face while pursuing your new course?

Transitioning to engineering was challenging. I had to adapt to a new learning environment and catch up with my peers who had a stronger background in technology. There were moments of self-doubt, but my promise to my parents motivated me to overcome these obstacles.

How do you think making promises affects personal motivation?

Making promises can significantly boost personal motivation. It creates a sense of accountability, not just to oneself but also to others. In my case, promising my parents pushed me to work harder and achieve my goals, reinforcing the importance of commitment in personal growth.

Band 6-7

00:00

I actually made a promise to my mom dad about being honest with them about my love stories and everything. Basically the promise that I made to them was about the love that I will not love anybody in my life unless they select a boy or a man for me for my marriage. I would say that was very tough for me. I made this promise because one day I was caught by my dad talking to a friend of mine. He was about to make me foolish by telling many things. I was not in that age where I could grab things and understand what is happening in the lives. But my dad understood that he was making me fool and making me fall in his basket. On that day my dad told me that is not at all right to do. I made the promise of not lying about the love for them. At the end of the day the promise was not at all easy to achieve. I had made this promise when I was in my school days. But whenever I started growing old I was encountered with many of my friends and everything where I was in love with somebody. But even though I wasn't able to do anything about this since I have made the promise.

Follow up questions

How did your parents react when you made this promise?

My parents were actually relieved when I made the promise. They appreciated my honesty and felt that it would help me focus on my studies and personal growth without distractions. They always encouraged open communication, so they were supportive of my decision.

Have you ever felt tempted to break this promise?

Yes, there were times when I met someone special and felt a strong connection. It was challenging to stick to my promise, especially during my teenage years when emotions were high. However, I reminded myself of the reasons behind the promise and chose to stay true to it.

What lessons did you learn from making this promise?

I learned the importance of honesty and trust in relationships. This promise taught me to communicate openly with my parents and to think carefully about my choices. It also helped me understand the value of patience and the significance of family expectations.

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.

I believe keeping promises is very important. It builds trust and strengthens relationships. When I make a promise, I feel a sense of responsibility to fulfill it, as it reflects my character and values.

Show all 16 answers

Cue 1:To whom did you make the promise?

Begin by introducing the person to whom you made the promise, including your relationship with them.
Share a little background about why this person is significant to you.

Example

I made the promise to my younger sister, Priya. She is someone I am very close to, and we share a strong bond. Growing up, I always tried to be a good role model for her, and she looks up to me for guidance.

Cue 2:What was the promise?

Clearly state what the promise was, making sure to include specific details.
Explain the context in which the promise was made to give it more depth.

Example

The promise I made was to help her prepare for her upcoming board exams. She was feeling overwhelmed and anxious about her studies, and I assured her that I would dedicate time every day to tutor her and help her with difficult subjects.

Cue 3:Why did you make the promise?

Discuss your motivations for making the promise, focusing on your feelings and intentions.
Mention any specific events or conversations that led to this promise.

Example

I made this promise because I could see how stressed she was becoming. I remembered how I struggled during my own exams, and I wanted to support her in any way I could. I felt it was my responsibility as her older sibling to be there for her.

Cue 4:Was the promise easy to achieve?

Reflect on the challenges you faced while trying to keep the promise.
Share how you managed to fulfill the promise despite any difficulties.

Example

Initially, it was challenging to balance my own work and studies while helping her. However, I created a study schedule that worked for both of us. I found that dedicating just a couple of hours each evening made a significant difference, and it was rewarding to see her progress.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, making that promise to my sister not only strengthened our bond but also taught me the importance of commitment and support. It was a fulfilling experience, and I was proud to see her succeed in her exams, knowing I played a part in her journey.

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 Responses

Avoid giving vague or unclear answers. Being too general can make your response less engaging and informative, which may not impress the examiner.

Tip

Provide specific details about the promise, including who it was made to and the context, to create a more vivid picture.

2: Neglecting Emotions

Failing to express emotions related to the promise can make your answer less relatable. Emotions help to connect with the listener and add depth to your story.

Tip

Share how you felt when making the promise and any emotions involved in keeping or breaking it to enhance your narrative.

Ignoring Challenges

Not discussing any difficulties faced while keeping the promise can make your answer seem unrealistic. Challenges add interest and show personal growth.