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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.
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33 unique answers with expert feedback

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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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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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    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.
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    Anonymous student Band 8

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    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.
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    Anonymous student Band 6.5

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    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.
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    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.
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    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

    A technique that has helped me save a lot of time is the practice of finishing every task that can be done under five minutes instantly. Because once we start ignoring tasks and activities which take a lesser amount of time, they end up accumulating and piling up which eventually creates a lot of stress and we need to stop doing something that is extremely crucial and take care of these tiny activities which have now become great in number. So what I have started doing is, if there is any activity which I know that can be done under five minutes which has popped up in my mind, I do it right away. If there is a mail that needs to be written which does not require a lot of data accumulation or tabulation, I simply send it then and there while I am walking during my lunch break or going for a coffee break. If there is an activity that requires assistance and my parents want me to help them out with probably enrolling into an account or signing in, I do it right away and I don't procrastinate or delay it for later and that has helped me feel free, less stressful and eventually made me realize that I have more time for myself because these tiny activities were taken care of in the right time.

    Band 6-7

    So, one change I made to my habits is organizing and preparing beforehand for any task that I do. It can be anything from small packing to my trips or preparing for an exam or a meeting or anything it can be. However, this was very difficult to practice in the beginning because I have to spend a stipulated amount of time to prepare but in the long run it was very effective and I found I had developed this pattern of preparing and organizing beforehand which was helping me during the task to be more focused and live in that moment rather than thinking about the clutter and the mishaps that were going to present itself. I was trained to do this by packing my essentials to a trip, that's where it all started. I had everything laid in order beforehand from my hair clip to my shoes, socks and medicines and everything was packed and kept intact. I also found this useful to help other people in my family when we went on trips because I had every essential ready for them as well. So, this tip was making me very proud of myself when I call it a day at the end and it had been very wise task to keep everything ordered, arranged and organized neatly beforehand. This was not just a means of practice, it was very challenging in the beginning to practice it but over time it was very beneficial to myself and the people around me as well because I didn't run out of time, I didn't run to catch a train.

    Band 6-7

    Accordingly, there are many changes which I have implemented in my life for saving time. For example, earlier I used to get up in the morning and just lie down and scroll the phone and I was just wasting time but now I generally wake up and do my all of things and start working about the day, what I am going to do today, like I make the list of all things what I am going to do and I start doing one by one, one by one and that make my day very clear and potential. Earlier I don't go to the gym but now I am going to the gym as like for my health and etc. When I used to make a schedule of the day, what I am going to do, it saves me, it saves a lot of time, for example, it saves time for me, for myself, including my work and etc. I do all of my works by the schedule and by the time, so I can find my time for me and my family etc. and I go out with my family, make dinner, eat something etc., that's all.

    Band 6-7

    The way that can save a lot of time is using Google Maps. Google Maps are the navigation map which deals with satellite connection and also it helps us to reduce our time and in addition to it, it saves our time for finding the best route to our destination. However, it is a social website so it is easily available in everyone's mobile phone. Everyone can have an access to it by logging the Gmail into the Google Maps. It is a website which helps each and every people to get over their destination within time because it has an additional extra feature in it like showing short skirts or avoid traffic jams in the junctions. Google Maps is a way to find the best routes in the city. Moreover, it is not difficult and it is very easy to operate because it is just simple features in it like he will show the arrows wherever you wanted to go and speak by the phone speaker, take a left turn, take a right turn, avoid traffic jam like this. I feel like whenever I use this Google Maps, I will be on cloud 9 and it is just a piece of cake for me because to use it, it is very easy and it has an extra feature.

    Band 6-7

    A way that helps me save a lot of time is making a timetable. Every night before I sleep, I schedule about my day and the things I have to make sure I do before the completion of the day. I can implement it by being in my discipline and control. This helps me evaluate what I am trying to do and also helps me to estimate the maximum time taken by one each activity.

    Band 6-7

    The best way that helps you save a lot of time is to wake up early in the morning. I know, I know youngsters nowadays believe that waking up early is not cool. Believe me, I was one of them. I used to go to sleep at night around 2-3am and couldn't get up before 11am. And whenever I used to wake up this late, I felt a lack of freshness or a lack of productivity in my system. I decided one day to change my situation and I started sleeping early at around 10am. Now I wake up at 6-7am everyday without any alarm because it has become one of my routines and I agree this is the best way to save your time. Not only because it is you getting up early but because you yourself will feel more productive. Overall, I think the best way to save your time is by having dinner early and sleeping early. For most people, sleeping early is not that easy. One of the main reasons for that is mobile. Many people prefer looking at social media before trying to sleep and therefore they cannot sleep that easily. If we change that and we stop using any kind of digital instrument before trying to sleep, we will have a better sound sleep. That will help you getting up early in the morning and be more productive.

    Band 6

    A change that helped me a lot to save my time is this app that I downloaded which is named the Habit Tracker. It has different slots and alarms to it and I have personally added 7 alarms to it. The first one is to wake up by 7am, second is to wake up and make my bed by 7.15am, after that there is an alarm for 7.20am which states that I have to have my green tea. It has helped me a lot to reach to a better schedule and also my parents were impressed a lot that our daughter is waking up on time and making her bed, making her green tea, is doing her skin care on time, is preparing for her exams on time and apart from all this still she is saving time out of it and has time to do other things which were not so important earlier but as now she has saved a lot of time, she can do it like taking my dog out on a walk which my mother used to do it earlier because I was not free enough to take other responsibilities apart from my own work so yeah this app has helped me a lot.

    Band 6

    In my daily routine, time management is difficult to me, so I try to do a lot of things to wake up in a proper time, because I mostly wake up late, so when I reach office lately, so I try to do a lot of thing to wake up in early morning, mostly I use my mobile phone and set a alarm in early in the morning, so first time the alarm I can't hear, it doesn't bother about the phone is alarm or not, I just switch the phone again and sleep again, so after 2-3 week, I recovered from a lot of thing, I learned a lot of thing, I experienced lot of things by using an alarm, so alarm helps me a lot, alarm helps me to become a good person, it changed my life and changed my habits, my personal habits, then I wake up 6.30 and go for a walk, after that I have a lot of time spent before going to the office, so alarms make me something, it's a big change in my previous life, not only me, even old people are using alarm for their personal choice, for their personal choice and their personal needs and preferences.

    Band 6

    Personally, I think discipline is a virtue that everyone should have if they want to get better in their life. To implement discipline, you need to stick to your schedule. You need to create a schedule and stick to it every single day. It takes 21 days to build a habit and building discipline as your habit will not only help you right now in the present way or change that helps you save a lot of time. Personally, I feel it is time management. It is quite difficult to implement time management. But I personally feel that if you have a schedule and you stick to the schedule and you are disciplined, then it will be very easy to manage your time for both personal and work discipline, you need to be disciplined. Before you start your next day, I would say before you sleep, you need to create a schedule for the next day and stick to it. You should be disciplined to implement time management. It is quite hard to implement time management as you also need to be disciplined and not procrastinate. And to do those things, you need to be quite strong mind, strong willed. I think you need to create a schedule and stick to it every single day. It takes 21 days to build a habit or build a virtue within yourself. So, at least practice, discipline and procrastinate for 21 days and then you would realize that your time management is being better.

    Band 5-6

    I choose to implement to speak with new people in an interactive way to make awesome discussions with them. Never try to fed up the things that makes them boring by choosing topics, all the things that I feel so. There is a probability of making the good things with people, it is not much difficult to find it in a step-by-step variation. Firstly it gonna be a difficult challenge for a new person to meet and it makes a strange feeling how we attire ourselves and see the confidence of ourselves to speak with a person. That the time we should be very cheerish and propitiate to estimate ourselves to discuss and meet with the people in appropriate. It is very difficult to implement ourself to talk with the new strangers, that's really a horrible situation like you were in the ingenuity thinking about the things. I implement this way with smiling on my face, carrying on eye and that's make me huge concentrating by interacting with people, I make reverence on them by talking much more time and participating with the hobbies, needs and interests that makes me to feel in a very exuberant way and I feel a ubiquitous times to be noticed all the time. I makes very self-loved and providence to be feel at acquaintance situations. I feel by meeting with people that makes a lot of enormous knowledge to be get shared off from myself.
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