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Describe An Important Decision You Made: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What was it?
  • When did you make it?
  • What music does he/she like?
  • What was the result?
  • Explain how you felt about it.
Show all 43 answers

Cue 1:What was it?

  • Clearly state the important decision you made, providing context to why it was significant.
  • Include details about what led you to make this decision.

Example

The important decision I made was to pursue my master's degree abroad. After completing my undergraduate studies in India, I realized that further education would enhance my career prospects and provide me with a global perspective.

Cue 2:When did you make it?

  • Mention the time frame when you made this decision, including any relevant events leading up to it.
  • Explain how you felt at that moment and what influenced your timing.

Example

I made this decision in early 2022, just a few months after graduating. I had been contemplating my future and discussing options with my family and friends, which helped me finalize my choice.

Cue 3:What was the result?

  • Describe the outcome of your decision, including both positive and negative aspects.
  • Share any specific experiences or achievements that resulted from this decision.

Example

As a result of my decision, I was accepted into a prestigious university in the UK. This experience not only expanded my knowledge but also allowed me to meet people from diverse backgrounds, enhancing my interpersonal skills.

Cue 4:Explain how you felt about it.

  • Share your emotions regarding the decision before and after making it.
  • Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

Example

Initially, I felt anxious about leaving my comfort zone and moving to a new country. However, once I arrived and started my studies, I felt a sense of accomplishment and excitement. Overcoming the challenges of adapting to a new culture made me more resilient.

Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, making the decision to pursue my master's degree abroad was a pivotal moment in my life. It not only shaped my career but also contributed significantly to my personal growth, and I am grateful for the experiences I gained during that time.

    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: Lack of Specificity

    Being vague about the decision can make your answer less engaging. Specific details help the examiner understand your experience better and showcase your language skills.

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    Tip

    Focus on providing clear details about the decision, including the context and your thought process at the time.

    2: Ignoring Emotional Impact

    Failing to express how you felt about the decision can make your response less personal and relatable. Emotions add depth to your story.

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    Tip

    Include your feelings before, during, and after making the decision to create a more compelling narrative.

    Neglecting the Outcome

    Not discussing the result of your decision can leave your answer incomplete. The outcome is crucial for understanding the significance of your choice.

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    Tip

    Clearly explain the results of your decision and how it affected your life to provide a full picture.

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    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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.

    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 6-7

    The important decision in my life, it was during 12th result. When the result came, all my friends had chosen the course, engineer, MBA like that. But I was struggled to take that decision because I am having both course. One is Computer Science Engineering and another one is Civil Engineering. Although my father is Civil Engineer, I want to become a Civil Engineer. I want to choose Civil Engineer. But everybody in my surroundings choose Computer Science Engineering. So my thoughts were decided to take Computer Science Engineering. Then I relaxed and think more than two weeks. Then I made the decision Civil Engineer. Then I have completed the course very good. Now I felt the decision was very amazing because now as a Civil Engineer, I am handling the labours with flow of project. In many ways I am wondering about my decision because it makes me proud in all the things. Everyone confused me. That was the struggle that made me struggle.

    Band 6-7

    the best decision important decision I have made in my life it may be a decision to move Pune for my graduation studies after my after my junior college result and CET scores there was an opportunity for me to for graduation studies in Pune but I was very I was very afraid because I have never live far away from home or far away from home and my parents it was very much big decision for me after I took the decision that I should move to Pune for my for my graduation studies studies studies my parents also supported their decision after all it was the best decision if I stayed in my hometown I cannot get as much opportunities as I get as I get in Pune after graduation it I think it was my best decision to move to Pune for graduation study as it resulted in my overall personal development and and it also helped me to live independently and far away from my family

    Band 6-7

    An important decision I made was to take a drop year right after school. I took a drop year just after twelfth grade because I hadn't figured out what I really want to do in my life. I was never the child who had it all figured out, who knew that she wants to be a doctor, engineer or a lawyer. I was always clueless. I never found my true calling that okay I want to do this in my life or I want to choose this profession or career. Thus I found it a wise decision to take a drop year and actually figure out what I really want to do in life. So it actually turned out to be the most important decision I have ever made because in this year I realized that I want to be a journalist. This actually happened because I had the time of exploring my career options. I got to read a lot, I got invested in current affairs, I read the newspaper, I did an internship in a media house. So overall it gave me the time to really hover around and explore all of my options and such that I don't really hold any regrets later on in life. So I think this was a really wise decision I made.

    Band 6-7

    Personal development is the process of improving ourselves, our skills, habits, and attitude to become better people in life. It's about learning new things, setting goals, and working on both our strengths and weaknesses. I believe personal development is very important because it helps us succeed not only in studies but also our career or our personal life. For me, personal development started when I realized that growth never stops after school or college. I began reading motivation books, watching education videos to learn how to manage time and stay positive. I also started journaling, which helped me understand my thoughts and set clear goals for the future. Another part of my personal growth came from experience. For example, during my internship, I faced many challenges while working with the team. Instead of getting upset, I used that situation to improve my communication and problem-solving skills. I learned that every difficulty is an opportunity to grow. Personal development also means taking care of our mental and emotional health. When we stay confident, calm, and open-minded, we can handle stress better and make wiser decisions. In conclusion, personal development is a lifelong journey. It's not just about being perfect but also about becoming a little better every day. When we invest time in improving ourselves, we may build a stronger, happier, and more successful life.

    Band 6-7

    So the important decision that I made was in regards to my postgraduate degree. So I decided to take a risk and move abroad and study as this is a risky move because my course is a very well and growing course in all the countries. So if I were to complete my masters abroad, usually the degree isn't recognised by RCI India but I am trying to get into a very good university so that my degree is validated back in India as well. The important decision that comes along with me moving completely for my postgraduate is that I'll be leaving my family and moving all together, living an adult life where I'd learn to just take care of myself and I think this decision is a very critical one in my life as it is going to help me grow professionally and personally. I'm really excited to see the outcomes of this decision that I've taken.

    Band 6-7

    The very crucial decision I made in my personal life is the second marriage. Actually, I got second time married in 2023. So, the first marriage happened on 2010 itself. I was very younger, even I just majored in as per India's laws. So, at that time I don't have any idea about marriage rights and all. But after that, my first husband passed away. So, after his condolences, I took some time for healing from that pain. And after 7 years of his condolence, I took a big decision as a second marriage. Why because it's a very big and crucial decision is I have a girl baby and she is in a teenage. So, at this time everyone in my village think about is this a really good idea or is this needed and all. Even in my family, my own mother asking me. But I just think about my daughter and myself also. So, for our protection, for our mindset, for our healing time, I thought we need some space. So, that will be the second marriage. I took that decision. So, I faced some blah blah blah gossips in my village but I overcome it. And now I got a second baby and we are in still love. We are having a good family. So, I loved it and that was a very big decision in my life.

    Band 6-7

    Good morning, today I'd like to talk about one of my decisions which changed my life. That decision was to go to hit gymnasium and take care of my body. When I was a child, I was not at all aware about the requirement of physical fitness and how the physical fitness can lead to a mental clarity. So I was ignorant about nutrition, hydration and its requirement. So I was obese during those days and I continued to have that habit of overeating and lack of exercises for a long time. One day I met with a situation where I had to run for some time, where I found that I could not do it because of my health condition. So that moment I decided that I cannot take it anymore and I had to go and hit the gym. And I took an appointment with a physical trainer and I started my workouts. Hopefully, I could build some muscles and it improved my cardiovascular health as well. So I think it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

    Band 6-7

    Well, today I would like to talk about an important decision I made in my life. So after completion of my graduation, I decided to start a business, especially I got this idea of business during the covid, previously I used to have but I don't have any particular thing what I have to do in a business. So after the covid, many people are just avoiding healthy food because of no time for the preparation and busy schedule. So I started preparing the healthy food from the starting day to end of the day, snacks, breakfast, lunch as well as dinner and during the short breaks we are providing the refreshments. So I started with 2 lakhs investment, now the business has grown to many other cities especially the districts with the name of refreshment foods. Now I have made 6 outlets, I am ending the 2 outlets in Varangal and other 4 outlets are managed by my friends. Its main intention is to provide the healthy food and healthy life to my customers, so that is the main motive. I felt very good because of the knowledge I gained during my graduation and my parents are very happy because of seeing my potential and I am self confident because of my idea and the hard work I did, so that would help me to get it done.

    Band 6-7

    The important decision I took recently was studying abroad. This was my dream from very long ago. Since I was in school, I had a plan of going abroad and studying. So I got this plan from my parents. I really got inspired by my cousin sister. When I was in school, she went to Germany for her Masters. From the time she went to do Masters at Germany, whenever she calls me on video call, I always thought, yeah, even I need to go there and I need to study there. So that is where it all started. Right now, I am working as a developer at Arteria Technologies. I have taken a decision to quit my job and study abroad. This is a great decision I have made. This decision is for myself to achieve my dream. I know there will be a lot of challenges on my way, so I am ready to face them.

    Band 6-7

    Well, decision making is a common part of our life. Every day we take so many decisions regarding our household chores and some are regarding our professional lives. So here I would like to speak about a decision that was really significant for me and it was really hard for me to taking that decision. The decision was doing job in our college. To be very honest, in my family, women don't go out for doing job because my family thinks that they provide sufficient resources to us for fulfilling our needs. So that's why they don't give permission to us to go out and do any work. But when I completed my masters at that time, I decided that I would become a teacher, especially an assistant professor in our college because I love teaching others. So at that time, firstly, I shared that dream of mine with my father and after that with my mother. Firstly, my father denied and he didn't give me permission. But after a few days, when I requested him constantly, he gave me permission to go out and for taking that decision, my friends play a big role because they all were doing work. Some are in our MNC and some are in our college as a professor. So they also want me to see grow in my career. So that's why they helped me a lot. Even when my father gave me permission, my mother also really assisted me to go out and do my work. So that was the toughest decision of my life, but I think it was really beneficial and important for me because just because of that decision, nowadays I have wings to fly in an open sky. So that was an important decision that I took.
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