IELTS SPEAKING CUE CARD
[PART 2]
Describe an important decision you made that was influenced by someone
You should say:
- What it was
- Who helped you
- When did it happen
And explain how you felt after
A N S W E R
Making life-changing decisions is never as easy as pie, especially if the decision that you’re going to make is about your career. A few days ago, I was more than perplexed to say yes to the job offer that an American community hospital had given me since if I accepted it, it meant that I would live away from my own family for three years and I would face many challenges on my own.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
As easy as pie [idiom] – extremely easy or simple
Perplexed [adj.] – confused
Tip: You can start your story with an adage or a saying to make your answer more interesting. In that way, your answer is more creative and you show to the examiner that you’re comfortable using the language.
Honestly, I never had any experience of working overseas, and living a life on my own is something unimaginable since all my life I’ve been with my parents. They’re always there to support me and guide me in my daily life, from waking me up early so I won’t be late for work to preparing my meals. You know being an only child in a family, I get all the attention and care. And that is something that scares me if I live away from my parents.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Overseas [adj.] – abroad
Unimaginable [adj.] – difficult to imagine or comprehend
Note: In this part, in order for the speaker to talk in length, he talks about how his life revolves around being too dependent on his parents, and that making a decision on his own is scary.
However, my mom wanted me to get out of my comfort zone. She has big dreams for me more than I have for myself. She really wanted me to go beyond my limit so I could grow as a person. She advised me that for me to see the world from a different perspective, I needed to experience living independently and what struck me the most from her pieces of advice was when she said that great opportunities in life knocked on our door once. That somehow enlightened me and that made up my mind not to turn down the offer that was given to me. Thanks to the words of wisdom from my mom, I was able to make a firm decision to never let that opportunity slip away. I really don’t know what my life would be like in the US, but I guess life is more fascinating without knowing everything.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Comfort zone [noun] – a situation where a person feels safe
Go beyond (the) limit [phrase] – to be more than the limitations
Opportunity knocks the door once [proverb] – you will only have a great opportunity in life
Enlighten [verb] – to realize
Slip away [phrase] – to stop having it
PART 3
What kinds of decisions are considered rational?
Well, that is something I have never expected, but let me think for a second, I believe rational decisions are those that are well-thought-out, that is, objectivity over subjectivity. For instance, if one wants to buy a car and let us say he lives in a place where the road conditions are severe such as climbing over boulders, tackling steep hills with a loose surface, or fording deep water, without a doubt, he would choose a four-wheel-drive car as its systems are designed to sustain in those situations.
He would never just buy a car for the sake of how trendy the car is, or how appealing the color and the design are, instead, he would get one that will surely meet his needs. That for me is being logical.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Well-thought-out [adj.] – well-planned that all details are considered
Boulder [noun] – a large rock; stone
Tackle [verb] – deal
Steep [adj.] – rising or falling sharply
Loose surface [noun] – with gravel or stones; the road is not concrete
Ford [verb] – to cross at a shallow place
Tip: The way the speaker starts his answer is really good as he was giving time for himself to think, we can assume here that the speaker finds the question difficult, and for him to avoid silence or dead air he has to say something. That kind of technique is indeed advisable, even though you are not ready to give your answer, you’re still using language to express yourself.
Should parents interfere when their children make decisions?
This is on a case-by-case basis, if we are talking about minor children, it is a must for parents to do so as minors are not yet mature enough to make sound decisions, especially at that stage of their lives when they are vulnerable. They make decisions based on their emotions without considering the consequences.
However, if we talk about young adults, I believe parents can provide guidance to their children in making some important decisions in life but not interfering with their own decisions. Interference is a form of control and based on my observation breaks many family relationships and that is something to be avoided.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
On a case-by-case basis [phrase] – according to; based on
Sound decision [noun] – having good judgment
Vulnerable [adj.] – in need of support
Tip: The speaker did not give a generalized answer, instead he talked about two kinds of situations and explained them one by one, which makes his answer longer and more logical.
In what situation do emotions influence people’s way of making a decision?
The best example I can give to this is when two lovers are in a heated argument. More often than that, it results in hurting each other physically or emotionally which may or will lead to the ending of their relationship, most especially when none of them compromises or swallows their pride to accept that one of them is really wrong.
The decision to go their separate ways is influenced by the extreme anger that both of them feel. Some people let their emotions overwhelm them and they decide to do something that is not supposed to be done. It is sad but that is just the way it is.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Heated argument [noun] – a quarrel in which people are shouting at each other and being angry
Compromise [noun] [verb] – agreement; to agree or understand in something
Swallow one’s pride [idiom] – to humble oneself
Go their separate ways [phrase] – end relationship
That’s the way it is [phrase] – used to say that it is a fact that bad or upsetting things happen
Develop a story better in Part 2 for
the recent IELTS Speaking CUE
CARD about
Describe A Thing You Have And You Want To Replace
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Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford
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