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.

68 unique answers with expert feedback

Top Answers How to Answer

Band 7

00:00

Okay, so one way or change that I've inculcated into my life that helps me save a lot more time is more mindful time management. How this works is basically you track what you do of a particular day and you start to observe all the empty spaces of your day and all the unproductive activities that you mindlessly engage in throughout the day and you start leveraging the empty spaces to make more time and eliminating the unproductive activities so that you have more time for the ones that actually matter. I believe that productivity and growth is more subtractive in nature. So it is not about adding more productive routines into your life. I believe it's more of eliminating the ones that do not contribute towards your growth and development. I believe it's all about mindful awareness and making more appropriate choices in regard of your time. And about the difficulty, I would say it is fairly difficult at the beginning, especially if you're someone who is who was not conscious about how they spend their time. But as you keep practicing it, you would eventually learn and it becomes more natural and comes more naturally to you. This mindset of managing my time has really helped me throughout various realms of my life, including academics and working on my goals and sparing some time for my hobbies and improving myself.

Band 7

00:00

A change that has helped me save a significant amount of time is meal prepping. Essentially it involves planning and cooking meals in bulk so that I don't have to cook from scratch every single day. I usually set aside a few hours on Sunday to do my grocery shopping and prepare my meals for the week. First I decide on a simple menu, often dishes that are easy to cook in large batches like pasta, stir fries or soup. Then I chop all the vegetables, cook the protein and portion everything into containers. I store them in the fridge or freezer, ready to be reheated when I am pressed for time during the weekdays. Initially it was a bit challenging because I had to get used to cooking multiple meals at once and figuring out the right quantities. However, after a few attempts, I developed a system that works for me. Now it's much easier, in fact it's become a weekly routine that I look forward to since it saves me a lot of hassle later on. I feel incredibly relieved because it frees up my weekday evening, instead of worrying about what to cook after a long day, I just heat up a pre-made meal. This has helped me manage my time better, reduce my stress level and even eat healthier. Overall I am very satisfied with this change and highly recommend it to anyone looking to streamline their daily 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.

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Band 6-7

00:00

In today's era, where the information technology has boomed quite a lot, it is quite imperative to understand the nuances of using the internet properly. So I have made a conscious effort to understand the tricks that are involved in operating the internet. The various resources are available online, as well as there are short-term professional courses which enable us to fulfill this intention of ours. This using internet can save us a lot of time, energy, as well as hard-earned money, so that it is quite beneficial. Various ways in which internet can be useful are booking a train ticket or a travel or airline ticket if you have to go somewhere, booking a movie ticket, etc. For example, if we have to earlier book a train ticket, we need to go to the train station, fill out the form, stand in queue, also pay for the conveyance expenses, which can now be avoided. We can just buy a few clicks, we can book the train ticket, which saves us an enormous amount of time and also gives us lots of comfort and conveniences. Similarly, it is with the other services that internet provides. For example, if we need to book a movie ticket, we can do it online rather than visiting there and booking it offline, which helps us to obtain the confirmed seat as well as the necessity to stand in queues. So, I guess the ability to operate internet.

Band 6-7

00:00

The change that helps me save a lot of time is planning the task ahead at the start of the day. It helps me keep track of the task throughout the day and be focused within the time allotted for the task. And discipline helps me to navigate the task well and being consistent saves me a lot of time and it keeps me efficient and complete. So through these three things, discipline, planning, consistency, I am able to complete the task efficiently in a day. Moreover, it makes me feel good if I am able to complete more number of tasks planned which makes me do the tasks of next day much better than I have done currently the previous day. So it helps me to, it motivates me to improve on doing that task much better and being more efficient throughout the day. So this is how, this is one of the one change that helped me a lot to save a lot of time that is recent past. And I keep working on my discipline and my efficiency. Yep, that's it.

Show all 68 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.

Tip

Use clear examples and specific details to illustrate your points. For instance, mention a particular app or method you use to save time.

2: Ignoring Implementation Steps

Failing to explain how you implement the change can leave your answer incomplete. It's crucial to show the process behind your time-saving method.

Tip

Break down the steps you take to implement the change. Describe your routine or the tools you use to make it effective.

Neglecting Personal Feelings

Not sharing your feelings about the change can make your response less engaging. Personal reflections add depth and interest to your answer.

Tip

Include your emotions or thoughts about the change. Explain how it has positively impacted your life or made you feel more productive.

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