Describe a way/change that helps you save a lot of time: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

How is it?
How do you implement it?
How difficult is it?
And explain how you feel about the way/change.

33 unique answers with expert feedback

What other time-saving strategies do you use in your daily life?

In addition to meal prepping, I also use a digital calendar to schedule my tasks and set reminders. This helps me stay organized and ensures I don't forget important appointments or deadlines. I also try to batch similar tasks together, which makes my workflow more efficient.

How has meal prepping affected your eating habits?

Meal prepping has significantly improved my eating habits. I find myself eating healthier meals since I plan nutritious options in advance. It also reduces the temptation to order takeout or eat unhealthy snacks when I'm busy, as I have balanced meals ready to go.

Do you think meal prepping is suitable for everyone?

While meal prepping can be beneficial for many, it may not suit everyone's lifestyle. Some people might prefer cooking fresh meals daily or may not have the time to dedicate to prepping. However, I believe with some adjustments, most people can find a way to incorporate it into their routine.

Band 6-7

00:00

In today's fast-paced world, managing time effectively is crucial for productivity, efficiency and overall well-being. One significant change that has helped me save a tremendous amount of time is embracing technology, especially task management tools and apps. Prior to adopting these tools, I relied on traditional methods like paper planners, sticky notes and mental reminders. While these methods worked to some extent, they were often cumbersome, disorganized and prone to errors. I would spend hours each week planning, organizing and rearranging my tasks, which took away from the time I could dedicate to actual work. By implementing such tools in my life, like setting reminders and notifications, collaborate with others where I can share tasks, projects and calendars with colleagues, family, friends, making teamwork and coordination seamless, and to centralize my tasks, all my tasks, reminders and deadlines are now in one place, easily accessible and organized. By doing all these, I have been able to save a significant amount of time each week, according to my estimates. I have reduced my planning and organization time by at least 50%. This saved time is now allocated to more important tasks, such as learning new skills, working on certain projects or simply enjoying quality time with my loved ones.

Follow up questions

What specific task management tools do you use?

I primarily use tools like Trello and Todoist. Trello helps me visualize my projects with boards, while Todoist allows me to create detailed task lists with deadlines and priorities. Both tools have mobile apps, making it easy to manage tasks on the go.

How has technology changed your daily routine?

Technology has streamlined my daily routine significantly. I start my day by checking my task management app, which gives me a clear overview of what needs to be done. This helps me prioritize tasks and allocate my time more effectively, reducing stress.

Can you share an example of a project where these tools made a difference?

Certainly! Recently, I worked on a team project for work. By using shared calendars and task lists, we coordinated our efforts seamlessly. Everyone was aware of their responsibilities, which led to completing the project ahead of schedule and with better collaboration.

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 would advise them to start small, like adjusting their clocks or creating a to-do list. Decluttering their space can also help. Additionally, it's important to ask for help when needed; delegating tasks can relieve pressure and improve overall time management.

Show all 33 answers

Cue 1:How is it?

Begin by describing the specific way or change that helps you save time.
Mention the context in which you use this method or change.

Example

One significant change that has helped me save a lot of time is using a digital planner instead of a traditional paper diary. I started using it about a year ago, and it has transformed how I manage my daily tasks and appointments.

Cue 2:How do you implement it?

Explain the steps you take to use this method effectively.
Share any tools or apps you use to make this process easier.

Example

I implement this by setting aside a few minutes each morning to plan my day. I use an app called Todoist, where I list all my tasks and set reminders. This way, I can prioritize my work and ensure I don’t forget important deadlines.

Cue 3:How difficult is it?

Discuss any challenges you faced when adopting this change.
Explain how you overcame those challenges.

Example

Initially, I found it a bit challenging to switch from paper to digital. I was worried about losing my data or not being able to access it when needed. However, I overcame this by regularly backing up my planner and learning more about the app's features through online tutorials.

Cue 4:And explain how you feel about the way/change.

Share your feelings about the effectiveness of this change.
Mention any positive impacts it has had on your life.

Example

I feel incredibly positive about this change. It has not only saved me time but also reduced my stress levels. I can now focus more on my work and personal life without the constant worry of forgetting tasks. Overall, it has made me more organized and productive.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, switching to a digital planner has been a game-changer for me. It has streamlined my daily routine and allowed me to manage my time more effectively, which is essential in today’s fast-paced world.

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. It's important to provide specific details about the way or change you are describing to engage the listener.