Describe an Important Decision You Made- IELTS Cue Card

Introduction to IELTS Cue Cards

An IELTS cue card is a task card provided to candidates during the IELTS speaking test. It contains a topic or a prompt on which students need to speak for 2 minutes. These cue cards assess a candidate's ability to speak fluently, coherently, and effectively on a given topic. IELTS cue cards are designed to stimulate a natural conversation topic, that requires you to organize your thoughts quickly. Thus, our next section talks about how to answer the cue card in the speaking portion of IELTS.

How to Answer the Cue Card?

To score well in the cue card section, you need to speak with confidence and fluency. Once you have received the cue card, you will get one minute to think about what you’re going to say. Make the most of this time by brainstorming ideas about the topic you will be discussing. After preparing, you need to speak on a topic for 1-2 minutes. Your scores are based on four criteria: Fluency, Lexical Resources, Accuracy, and Pronunciation. However, by the end of your IELTS speaking part 2, the examiner will have a rough idea of your band score. In addition, to make you more clear on how to answer the cue card see the sample responses in the below section for the topic “Describe an Important Decision You Made.”

You must frame your answer on the given points for the topic “Describe an Important Decision You Made.”

• What was it?

• When did you make it?

• What was the result?

• And explain how you felt about it.

Let us show you how a cue card looks like in your IELTS exam. Take a glimpse at the image below.

Now you have looked at the most likeable cue card that you can get in your exam. Let’s now discuss further in this blog the sample answers for the cue card “Describe an Important Decision You Made.”

Describe an Important Decision You Made- Sample 1

Here is the first sample answer for your cue card that you can use in your exam. This response can enhance your skills in how to use the right words.

Introduction

Making decisions is an inevitable part of life. Every day, we make several decisions, some trivial, some rather complex, and some life-changing. Today I’ll be talking about the decision that I made.

What was it?

One significant decision that holds great importance in my life was to pursue higher education abroad. After completing my secondary education, I was at a crossroads, unsure about my future path. I meticulously weighed the pros and cons and sought advice from my family and mentors.

When did you make it?

I decided after doing a lot of research and considering the potential benefits, such as improving my English language skills, broadening my horizons, and learning about a different educational system. It was a life-altering decision that meant leaving behind the familiar and stepping into the unknown. I underwent a rigorous application process, including securing scholarships, preparing required documents, and navigating visa procedures.

What was the result?

The results of this decision were life-changing. It had a profound impact on my personal and professional growth. Studying abroad was an incredibly enriching experience that allowed me to learn and grow in ways that I never could have imagined. I gained indispensable academic knowledge, building lifelong friendships, and developed a global network. Furthermore, the experience honed my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, preparing me for the challenges of the competitive job market.

And explain how you felt about it.

Looking back, I felt immensely grateful for the decision to pursue higher education abroad. It has provided me with a wide perspective, opened doors to exciting opportunities, and shaped me into a more confident and well-rounded individual. This decision has taught me to be more independent, adaptable, and open-minded.

Conclusion

Overall, studying abroad gave me the confidence to pursue other opportunities that I might have previously thought were impossible.

Describe an Important Decision You Made- Sample 2

Here is the second sample answer that you can use in your IELTS speaking section. This will help you to know the right framing of the response.

Introduction

Making a decision is a skill, and only the knowledgeable and experienced can make the right decision at the right time. People who cannot make the proper decisions suffer a lot.

What was it?

Here I am going to talk about a very important decision I made: stopping eating fast food. I was experiencing some ailments in my body, and my health was deteriorating continuously. My father asked me to consult a family doctor, but I refused by saying that I didn't need to see a doctor; I was perfectly fine.

When did you make it?

I made this decision when I experienced a sudden health scare. One day, while climbing the stairs, I found breathing almost impossible. I decided to go to the hospital and get myself diagnosed for what was wrong with my health. When I reached the doctor, he talked in detail about my symptoms and recommended several blood tests and other diagnostic reports to understand what was wrong with my health.

What was the result?

After examining the reports the doctor suggested some serious lifestyle changes which included physical activities and not eating fast food. This decision was important for my health otherwise I could've faced impairment of organs. But I wanted to live healthy so I decided not to eat anything out and eat only healthy food that is made at home.

And explain how you felt about it.

After deciding not to eat fast food, I felt really good and energetic. This worked well with a good exercise regime and diet control. Everyone in my family was delighted to see me as a healthy person and was proud of the choice I made not to eat fast food.

Conclusion

Finally, this was one of the important decisions I have made in my life that brings me happiness and prosperity in my health and life.

{{IELTS_speaking_mock_test}}

Describe an Important Decision You Made- Sample 3

This is the third sample answer that you can use in your IELTS exam. It will help you to frame the sentences better in your response.

Introduction

Making important decisions is a very complex task and also challenging. We make many hard and soft decisions in our lives.

What was it?

Well, I can think of an important decision that I made a few years ago that was quite challenging for me. The decision was to quit my stable and well-paying corporate job to pursue my passion for writing. At that time, I was working as a marketing manager in a big and reputable company, and the job provided me with financial security and solidity; I found myself increasingly unfulfilled and unhappy. I was always passionate about writing, and I realized that it was time for me to take a leap of faith and pursue it as a full-time career.

When did you make it?

I still remember the moment when I made the decision very clearly. I was sitting at my desk, staring at my computer screen, feeling incarcerated and uninspired. I knew that I wanted to make a change, but I also knew that it was a risky move, especially if I talk about the current economic climate. It was terrifying for me to give up the security of a stable job and enter the unknown world of freelance writing. To make the decision, I spent a lot of time researching the writing industry, networking with other writers, and weighing the pros and cons.

What was the result?

Despite all the challenges, I knew that it was the right decision for me, and I never regretted it for a single moment in my life. Pursuing my passion for writing has allowed me to feel fulfilled and happy in my career, and I got the opportunity to work on projects that I’m truly passionate about. Also, there was fear of failure but I never gave up and entered into the unpredictable and competitive world of freelance writing.

And explain how you felt about it.

I felt good and the happiest person on earth after leaving my corporate job and pursuing my passion for writing. It was one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made, and it has changed my life in so many positive ways. I like it, and I’m comfortable doing this now.

Conclusion

In essence, I should’ve made this decision a long time ago, but for some reason, I couldn’t. But now I am truly happy and enjoying my work to the fullest.

Lexical Resources

Lexical resources are all about how easily and fluently you can find the right words and can transform them into meaningful sentences. Thus, in the table below, you will be looking at the words with their meaning that will help you enhance your vocabulary for IELTS.

Lexical Resources	Meaning
Inevitable	Unable to be avoided and prevented
Trivial	Having little value or importance
Crossroads	A place where two roads cross and meet each other
Meticulously	In a way that shows great care
Broadening	To become wider
Altering	To change something usually slightly
Rigorous	Careful to look at something
Honed	Having been refined over a period of time
Enriching	To improve the quality of something
Indispensable	Absolutely necessary
Ailments	Illness
Deteriorating	To become worse
Diagnosed	To recognize and name the exact disease or a problem
Impairment	The act of spoiling something
Solidity	The quality of being hard or firm
Freelance	Doing particular pieces of work for different organizations
Incarcerated	To put or keep someone in prison
Regretted	To feel sorrow or remorse

The above-given list will help you to increase your grammar for the speaking section in the IELTS exam. Now, the next section covers some follow-up questions that can be asked in your IELTS speaking part 3.

Follow-Up Questions

After completing your cue card round, the examiner will move on and ask you some follow-up questions. These questions are built on the flow of the conversation or previous answers, going into a certain response or statement from the person. It lasts for 4-5 minutes. Thus, this section covers the possible follow-up questions that will be asked after your IELTS speaking part 2.

• What factors influenced your decision-making process?
• Do you face any challenges or obstacles while making the decision?
• Do you constantly seek advice before making a decision?
• Do you think teenagers can make decisions on their own?
• Why can some people make quick decisions and some cannot?

These are some of the possible follow-up questions that an examiner can ask you in your IELTS speaking exam. Now let’s discuss the tips that will help you to excel in the cue card round.

Tips to Excel in IELTS Cue Card

Preparing for a cue card in the IELTS exam is crucial for delivering a well-structured and logical speech that lasts for 1-2 minutes. Thus, to help you out there are some tips mentioned below which will help you to ace the cue card round.

• Take note of the key points you need to cover in your response.
• Enhance your language skills by learning new words, phrases, and idioms related to a wide range of topics.
• Regularly read books, and news articles, and listen to podcasts to develop different styles of language and improve your vocabulary.
• Practice delivering concise and well-structured responses within the given time frame.
• Use linking words and transitions in your speech and make your response more coherent.
• Maintain fluency and clear pronunciation.
• Speak on different topics and receive feedback from experienced IELTS trainers.
• Use a mix of simple and complex sentences.

Must Read: https://www.gradding.com/blog/ielts/describe-a-sports-program-you-like-to-watch-ielts-cue-card

Conclusion

Overall, preparing for the IELTS speaking section, especially mastering the cue card round, requires practice, strategy, and the right tools. However, this blog covers an overview of the sample answers for the cue card topic “Describe an Important Decision You Made.” Also, the follow-up questions and some tips will help you in your speaking test. Still, if you are facing trouble in your preparation then take our IELTS mock test for all the sections and see where you stand. Also, you can join our offline or online IELTS classes at Gradding.com