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Describe an important decision made with the help of other people: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What the decision was
  • Who helped you / how they helped
  • Why you needed help
  • And explain the result of the decision
Show all 55 answers

Cue 1:What the decision was

  • Clearly state the important decision you made, ensuring it is specific and relevant.
  • Provide context about why this decision was significant to you.

Example

The important decision I made was to pursue a master's degree in business administration. This was a significant step for me as I wanted to enhance my career prospects and gain deeper knowledge in my field.

Cue 2:Who helped you / how they helped

  • Mention the people who assisted you in making this decision, such as family, friends, or mentors.
  • Explain the specific ways they contributed, whether through advice, encouragement, or sharing their experiences.

Example

My parents played a crucial role in this decision. They encouraged me to pursue higher education and shared their own experiences of how it helped them in their careers. Additionally, my friend, who had already completed his MBA, provided insights into the program and its benefits.

Cue 3:Why you needed help

  • Discuss the reasons you felt you needed assistance in making this decision.
  • Highlight any uncertainties or challenges you faced that prompted you to seek guidance.

Example

I needed help because I was unsure about the right course and institution to choose. With so many options available, I felt overwhelmed and wanted to ensure that I made the best choice for my future.

Cue 4:And explain the result of the decision

  • Describe the outcome of your decision and how it impacted your life.
  • Reflect on any lessons learned or changes that occurred as a result.

Example

As a result of this decision, I successfully enrolled in a reputable MBA program. It has opened up numerous opportunities for me, including internships and job offers. I learned the importance of seeking advice and support from others when making significant life choices.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, making the decision to pursue my MBA with the help of my family and friends was a transformative experience. It taught me the value of collaboration and the importance of seeking guidance when faced with important choices.

    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 too general when describing the decision. Vague answers can make it hard for the examiner to understand the significance of the decision and the role of others.

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    Tip

    Provide specific details about the decision, including what it was and the exact contributions of those who helped you.

    2: Neglecting Personal Impact

    Don't forget to explain how the decision affected you personally. Failing to do so can make your response less engaging and meaningful.

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    Tip

    Include your feelings and thoughts about the decision and how it changed your perspective or situation.

    Ignoring the Result

    Avoid omitting the outcome of the decision. Not discussing the result can leave your answer incomplete and less impactful.

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    Tip

    Clearly explain the result of the decision and how it influenced your life or the lives of others involved.

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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

    So an important discussion I made with the help of other people was being a physiotherapist. So when I was up to 12, when I was in high school, I always wanted to be an MBBS doctor. But after 12, I was very dicey about my decision. I was not sure I want to spend 10 years of my life to, you know, to MBBS and be a doctor. So my mother helped me a lot. She opened up the alternative pathways, becoming a doctor. And I've always wanted to help people to relieve their pain. And she showed me about, she made me learn about physiotherapy, and I did a lot of research about it. And I saw like, I don't need to spend 10 years of my life to help people leave their pain. It was this field called physiotherapy. And I was very happy about it. Not once I have regretted my decision about it.

    Band 6-7

    one day I took an important decision with the help of my mother the decision was choosing my master studies in Germany so that I required some help with my mother firstly I passed this message directly to my mother first she not accepted but later I convinced her with my stability and with my confidence later on she accepted I needed her help because of if I planning to Germany I need lots of money so that's why I asked her for help that get loans from the banks and some documents are required in the bank so after taking the decision with my mother I felt very happy and moved to Germany and I completed my masters in two years and then get a job within one year within one year I struggled to get a job lot later on present at this situation I am completely free and I'm going to my job morning and coming back to my home evening yeah life is going well and it's good to take decision with my mother I felt very very lucky to have that mother for me thank you

    Band 6-7

    کی Disneyland !! That was the decision of changing my current job during last year because my one of the my best friend helped me to switch my current job because there was an opening or requirement in their organization and they forwarded my resume to their HR and HR conduct interview along with the managers and all the concerned person and in that way I found a new opportunity in an organization and the need was changing the organization because where I was working before here is a very not too much good environment was there too much workload also was there and the system systematic process was not defined for that company so it was very difficult to sustain there because if in some environment SOPs or system is not developed or without systematic work suffered a lot and it is very difficult to work in such organization now currently I am working with Mandeep San organization now I feel that everything is systematic workload is not too much and we can we have enough opportunity to learn and grow and in such kind of organization where we get some good reward recognition and such kind of such kind of environment where we can grow personally and professionally then such kind of environment will helpful to grow us and in current organization teams our team is very good and all personnel support you a lot

    Band 6-7

    Firstly, as soon as I completed my graduation, I have planned to pursue higher studies in Germany. As I said to my father, he could not understand and he forced me to study in India and make a job by your skills. After convincing my father, he did not agree. So I went to my close relative friend, Srinivas, who is a best friend of my father. So I went to him and asked him, Sir, can you just give opinions of studying abroad in Germany and give more benefits. So as soon as I told to uncle, he called my father and explained that nothing will happen. By going abroad, he can settle there, settle life and gain knowledge also. My father tells that he is a boy, he is just a child, he cannot bear the loneliness. So uncle said that why do you fear. My child also went two years back, he has settled there. So he suggested my father to send me for higher studies in abroad. As my uncle said, my father convinced and we have taken the, sorry I have submitted my application in university and the university has granted my application and got the visa and I am planning to go abroad next month. By giving a suggestion of other person, which helps my future, I am so excited and I am really thankful to my uncle, that's it.

    Band 6-7

    After I finished my tenth standard, I was unsure whether to choose biology group or IP group or whether commerce. So, I was sure that I had an interest in biology sector, but I was unsure whether I will be able to manage all the physics, chemistry and other subjects. So, my mom and my sister made sure that I knew everything about the course and they ensured me that I would be able to shine in that subject. So, finally I chose biology as my mainstream and till now I am sure that I had the right choice. Now, I chose biotechnology for my college education and I am very interested in it. And I am going to pursue masters in food science and technology. So, these might not have happened if my parents were so supportive to me at that time. Now, biotechnology is like one of the key definition in my life. I love how biotechnology shaped my life and now I am interested in every subject that biotechnology has offered me.

    Band 6-7

    The decision was to moving abroad for my higher studies. My family helped me for making this decision. The decision was difficult for me because I am having already a master's in mechanical engineering from India. Also I am well paid job in. Now it was the decision to moving abroad for my next master's. Second master's is like that because it gives me the opportunity to go foreign to learn the cultures. Also it is beneficial for me in my career as well. So we made a decision to moving abroad for the studies. Then maybe

    Band 6-7

    The important decision which was helped by other people for me was buying the helmet. My friend who was an expert in vehicle and had a good knowledge of helmet, he guided me to buy the best helmet to be protected when I was planning to buy a new bike. So he suggested me various brands such as Vega and many other brands and he suggested a perfect one in my budget with the color it suited the bike. He even suggested me which jacket should I buy with the gloves so that it become a total pair of riding gear and it helped me to be safe whenever we go on ride and it make me look cool on the bike as it has a perfect color matching and it suits me and my bike. The friend had a great knowledge so he could help me buying the things.

    Band 6-7

    The important decision I took with the help of the others was staying in the hostel. When I was studying my 8th standard, my parents put me in a hostel. And usually, at the beginning of my hostel life, I cried 2 times in a day and went to home weekly twice. So, I feared that my parents won't want me anymore. While I was in the hostel, I made some friends. The friends were the ones who made me lose my fear and gave me some suggestions on how to stay in the hostel and what kind of activities you can do with your friends while staying away from your home and how to mingle with others. So, it was the best decision they gave me. The result of the decision was so abstract for me. Till today, I can live in a faraway place without staying near to my parents. So, I think the decision of staying in the hostel makes me an independent person.

    Band 6-7

    A few years ago, I got the chance to work for a company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I had given interview and cleared all rounds and my visa processing was going on. But I was not sure whether I want to move to Netherlands or not. I tried to weigh the pros and cons for this. I thought about it a lot. I tried discussing with my friends and family. On the one side, it was a good opportunity. I would get to learn a lot of new things. I would get to explore a new culture. But on the other side, I like living in India because of a lot of things. I am close to art, I am close to my family and these things are really important to me. So I was not sure whether I want to go or not. So my friend Varsha Israni helped me. I asked her whether I should move or not and she said to me that you can get these kind of opportunities in the future also. But if at this point of time, your family and your theatre is very important to you, you can try giving it more years and then later you can decide if you still want to move outside or not. So that was like a good nudge in the right direction and I thought about it. I can definitely have these kind of opportunities in the future also. So I decided to stay and as an outcome, I have done a lot of plays in India and I am happy that I didn't take the opportunity. Opportunities may come and go but what really matters is that you are happy wherever you are.

    Band 6-7

    So there are a lot of important decisions that I have made in my life by myself or by taking help of others but today I am going to talk about one of the most important decisions that I have took after completing my twelfth. After I completed my twelfth and I gave my JEE mains exam, I don't get my desired score in that exam. So I am not getting my desired college that I want an NIT, TRICHY and so at that time I felt blue and I am very anxietic. So because I want to do engineering, one of my friend named as Aman helped me in this. He suggested me if I am interested to study engineering especially automobile engineering that so Germany is the perfect destination for my study abroad because Germany offers a good course, Germany offers variety of, because Germany have a lot of good institutions along with affordable tuition fees. When it comes to, when we think of study abroad, the first thing comes to our mind is expensive tuition fees but in Germany the scenario is just opposite. There are a lot of public universities which offer zero tuition fees so after hearing my friend I felt over the moon because it can be a very good decision for me to go and study abroad in a great country like Germany because it's the third largest economy. So that is the decision that I made with the help of my friend Aman. So for this I will really thank my friend Aman. Thank you.
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