Describe an ambition that you haven't achieved.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What is it?
Why haven't you achieved it?
How did you feel about it?

28 unique answers with expert feedback

What specific area of healthcare do you want to research?

I am particularly interested in molecular biology and its applications in healthcare. I want to explore how cellular processes can lead to advancements in treatment and prevention of diseases, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

How do you plan to overcome the challenges of pursuing a PhD?

I plan to overcome the challenges by developing a strong support system, seeking mentorship, and managing my time effectively. I also intend to stay focused on my research interests and maintain a balance between my academic and personal life.

What experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a PhD?

My experiences in undergraduate research, internships in healthcare settings, and discussions with professionals in the field have all influenced my decision. These experiences have solidified my passion for research and my desire to contribute to advancements in healthcare.

Band 6-7

00:00

My ambition of doing my master's from abroad An ambition that I haven't achieved yet would be getting a master's An ambition that I haven't achieved yet would be pursuing my master's from abroad I am currently working towards that ambition and preparing for my IELTS exam so that I can start applying to the colleges abroad I have also started preparing for the materials that would be required for the college applications and I am really excited and nervous while taking myself along in this journey I feel I will learn a lot from this and I will be satisfied once I achieve this ambition

Follow up questions

What specific field do you want to pursue for your master's degree?

I am interested in pursuing a master's in Environmental Science because I am passionate about sustainability and climate change. I believe this field will allow me to contribute positively to the environment and make a difference in the world.

How do you plan to prepare for the IELTS exam?

I am preparing for the IELTS exam by taking online courses, practicing with sample tests, and improving my English skills through reading and speaking. I also plan to join a study group to enhance my learning experience and gain feedback from peers.

What challenges do you anticipate in achieving your ambition?

I anticipate challenges such as the competitive nature of college admissions, financial constraints, and adjusting to a new culture. However, I am determined to overcome these obstacles by staying focused and seeking support from friends and family.

Band 6-7

00:00

The career which I always believed to achieve was that I wanted to own my own restaurant and take care of it. I love to cook food and make different dishes which I already do in my own house, trying different kinds of cuisines and traditional dishes that we, family members cherish together. I always thought in mind that I would open a restaurant abroad which would, which takes a lot of money and investment. I was unable to do so as I did not have much of finances due to restricted support from the family but now as I hope that sooner or later I'll have it on my own and I'm working as I'm trying to work on it as fastest and quick possible. As it's said that if you have a will there is a way out. So I believe in myself and I think sooner or later I will be achieving my goal and food is my weakness. I always love to prepare different dishes and I like to try explore number of things with food items with my husband and always travel with my kids.

Follow up questions

What specific cuisine would you like to serve in your restaurant?

I would love to serve a fusion of traditional and modern cuisines, incorporating flavors from my heritage and other cultures. Dishes that reflect my family's recipes, along with innovative twists, would be the highlight. I believe this would attract a diverse clientele and create a unique dining experience.

What steps are you currently taking to achieve your restaurant dream?

Currently, I'm taking culinary classes to enhance my cooking skills and learning about restaurant management. I'm also saving money and researching the market to understand what it takes to run a successful restaurant. Networking with other restaurant owners has been invaluable for gaining insights.

How do you think owning a restaurant will change your lifestyle?

Owning a restaurant will definitely be a big change. It will require a lot of hard work and dedication, but I believe it will be fulfilling. I hope to create a space where families can enjoy meals together, just like my family does. It will also allow me to express my passion for cooking on a larger scale.

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Band 6-7

00:00

The ambition which I have not achieved yet is being a singer. Since my childhood I always loved to sing. It all started when I sang and a person in the church complimented my voice and that I sang very beautifully. That compliment got stuck in my mind and from then onwards I started to think that really I like music and I love music to sing in front of everyone. It has been not fulfilled in my life to this day because as parents want us to pursue the career which is more stable, which has more security. For that reason I started studying something else and the other reason is that I feel like I have a little less confidence and I thought I should really work on my singing ability but someday I will pursue it. I will focus on it and work on it and the feeling I get when I am singing is really great. I cannot put that in two words and I want everyone around me to feel the same.

Follow up questions

What steps do you think you could take to pursue your singing ambition?

I believe I could start by taking singing lessons to improve my skills. Additionally, I could join a local choir or participate in community events to gain more experience and confidence. Setting small goals, like performing at family gatherings, could also help me gradually work towards my ambition.

How do you think your life would change if you became a singer?

If I became a singer, my life would likely be more fulfilling as I would be doing something I love. I would have the opportunity to express myself creatively and connect with others through music. However, it would also come with challenges, such as managing public expectations and the pressures of the music industry.

What other ambitions do you have besides singing?

Aside from singing, I have ambitions related to my current studies, such as excelling in my career and making a positive impact in my field. I also dream of traveling the world and experiencing different cultures, which would enrich my life and possibly inspire my music.

Band 6-7

00:00

My ambition that I haven't achieved so the my ambition has always been to become an entrepreneur to have some company and work of my own but in the process but to become an entrepreneur you require a great idea a good team and most importantly funding to enable or enable the all these processes and the fact that I haven't achieved this ambition yet makes me makes me feel a bit low but but this also gives gives me motivation to get out of the situation and face my challenges upfront although I have been very although I have not been very proactive in in the process of achieving this ambition I feel I have been working enough on the necessary skills required to get started with this process

Follow up questions

What specific skills are you working on to achieve your entrepreneurial ambition?

I am focusing on developing my leadership and management skills, as well as enhancing my financial literacy. Additionally, I am learning about marketing strategies and networking, which are crucial for starting and running a successful business.

What kind of business do you envision starting in the future?

I envision starting a tech-based company that focuses on innovative solutions for everyday problems. I am particularly interested in areas like app development or e-commerce, where I can leverage technology to create value for customers.

How do you plan to overcome the challenges of funding your business?

I plan to explore various funding options such as seeking investors, applying for grants, or even crowdfunding. Additionally, I am considering saving a portion of my income to invest in my business when the time is right.

Show all 28 answers

Cue 1:What is it?

Clearly state the ambition you have in mind, making it specific and relatable.
Provide some context about why this ambition is important to you.

Example

One of my biggest ambitions is to become a successful author. Ever since I was a child, I have loved storytelling and dreamed of publishing my own novel.

Cue 2:Why haven't you achieved it?

Discuss the obstacles or challenges that have prevented you from achieving this ambition.
Mention any personal circumstances or external factors that have played a role.

Example

Unfortunately, I haven't achieved this ambition yet due to a lack of time and resources. Balancing my job and family responsibilities has made it difficult to dedicate time to writing. Additionally, I often feel overwhelmed by self-doubt, which holds me back from pursuing this dream.

Cue 3:How did you feel about it?

Share your emotions regarding the unachieved ambition, highlighting both disappointment and hope.
Reflect on how this ambition has influenced your life and aspirations.

Example

I often feel a mix of disappointment and frustration about not having achieved my ambition. It can be disheartening to see others succeed in their writing careers. However, I also feel hopeful because I believe that with persistence and effort, I can still make my dream a reality someday.

Conclusion

Summarize your ambition and the key reasons for not achieving it.
End on a positive note, expressing your determination to pursue it in the future.

Example

In conclusion, while I have not yet achieved my ambition of becoming an author due to time constraints and self-doubt, I remain determined to work towards it. I believe that with dedication, I can eventually fulfill this dream.

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

Avoid being unclear about your ambition. Vague answers can confuse the examiner and fail to engage them. Specificity helps convey your passion and commitment.

Tip

Clearly define your ambition with specific details. Explain what it is and why it matters to you.

2: Neglecting Emotional Impact

Failing to express how you feel about your unachieved ambition can make your answer less relatable. Emotions add depth to your response.

Tip

Share your feelings about not achieving your ambition. Use phrases like 'I felt disappointed' or 'I was motivated to try harder.'

Overly Negative Focus

Focusing too much on the negative aspects of not achieving your ambition can leave a poor impression. Balance is key.

Tip

While discussing challenges, also mention what you learned or how you plan to pursue your ambition in the future.

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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.