Describe a time when you tried to do something but weren’t very successful IELTS cue card
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
Describe a time when you tried to do something but weren’t very successful.
You should say
When it was?
What you tried?
Why it was not very successful?
And how you felt about it?
NOTE – The examiner gives you one minute to plan your answer, and to help you prepare for the topic, the examiner provides you with a pencil and a notepad. You’ll have to answer the questions given on the topic for one-to-two minutes
Sample Answer 1
Introduction
Being an innovative person, I try to take part in new activities. Sometimes I gain success, and sometimes failure.
When it was? and What you tried?
Last year on my friend’s birthday I tried to give a public performance as a singer. There I failed miserably.
Why it was not very successful?
Although I have been singing since my childhood, I always shy away from public performance. Due to this reason, I developed a fear in myself.
On many occasions, I had got chance to exhibit my singing talent, but every time I said no.
However, on the occasion of my friend’s birthday, I said yes because my friend insisted on me.
I didn’t want him to feel sad on this birthday. Hence, I said yes, but deep inside, I was not feeling confident.
My start was good, but in the middle of the song, I went blank and forgot the lyrics. Although I had the write-up of the lyrics with me, I didn’t have the confidence to carry on.
The crowd gave me a big round of applause to cheer me, but continuing with the performance was impossible for me.
Seeing my plight, one of my friends had come to my rescue and started singing from the point I left.
Later on, I joined him, and somehow we finished the performance.
When the music stopped, I had a sigh of relief.
And how you felt about it?
Initially, I felt embarrassed, but later on, I felt light.No doubt I gave a terrible performance but at least I had tried.
Sample Answer 2
Introduction
Being a busy person, I usually do not try my hand at new activities.
When it was? and What you tried?
Last year there was a lockdown in my city due to the corona pandemic. During that period, I tried my hand at cooking.
Since sitting at home was too boring I tried to kill the monotony of my life by inviting my neighbours for dinner.
I had ordered the food from the restaurant but due to some unforeseen contingency, the restaurant didn’t deliver the food.
Hence I did not have any option but to cook the food myself.
I took the help from Youtube videos and tried to cook three mouth-watering delicacies.
The food items I cooked were looking good, but when I asked about the taste, my guests said “TERRIBLE” in unison.
Why it was not very successful?
The preponderant reason for my failure was my lack of experience.
Cooking is a skill that requires tremendous experience. While watching videos and reading recipes, it seems easy. However, when you try your hand at it, the task becomes daunting.
I tried hard by following every step prescribed in the video however I failed miserably.
Another cause of my failure was my poor knowledge of spices and herbs
And how you felt about it?
I felt embarrassed in front of my guests. I realized that day that overconfidence is not good in life and experience is the best teacher.
Moreover, I realized that cooking is a must-have skill, and everyone should learn it and master it. It saves not only your time but also money.
Sample Answer 3
Introduction
It is a gospel truth that we often strive hard to be successful in life. However, success is a combination of hard work and luck. Sometimes luck favours, and sometimes things go sideways.
Recently I tried my hand at a new task, but I was not successful.
When it was? , and What you tried?
Being a student, I always have a cash shortage.,
To come out of the financial crunch, I started a small business last year.
Why it was not very successful?
There were too many reasons for my failure. The first one was a lack of domain expertise. Whenever you try your hand at a new business, you should have basic knowledge of it. However, I jumped on the bandwagon without hands-on experience.
The second one was that I hired a team consisting of my friends and relatives. That was a collosol mistake from my side. Because there is no denying this conviction that as a businessman you should never mix your emotions with your profession. My team never used to take me seriously. And, due to this, I was unable to service my clients.
The result was complaints started piling up, and finally, I had to close the operations.
And how you felt about it?
Initially, I had a nervous breakdown. I went into a state of depression. But as time passed, I had accepted my defeat and realized that this defeat brought me closer to the realities of life.
Although I had failed miserably, I learned some valuable life lessons. And these learnings would help to handle the conflicts adroitly not only in my personal life but also in my professional life.
Follow up Questions
Here are some examples of follow up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to cue card “Describe a time when you tried to do something but weren’t very successful”.
1. What’s your definition of success?
As per my opinion, success is the attainment of goals. These goals could be related to your career, family, lifestyle etcetera. When you achieve these goals according to the terms and conditions set by you, you achieve success.
And success has different meaning for different persons.For someone having a fit body is success.Whereas fr others having a palatial house with a plum job is real success.
2. What things do children try to succeed in?
The children need to work with determination, dedication and discipline to move their lives towards an impressive growth trajectory. Moreover, they need to go beyond the conventional domain to achieve success. Because in this contemporary epoch there is fierce competition in every field. Due to this reason, only those who are committed to strive hard can gain success.
Hence children must follow a routine with determination,dedication and discipline.The regular action they take leads to compounding of efforts and it is a well known fact that compoundin leads to stupendous results.
3. Which do you think is more important for people to become successful, hard work or opportunities?
Both hard work and opportunities play an imperative role in the success of a person. On the one hand, hard work prepares us to handle the conflicts adroitly in our lives. On the other hand, opportunities lead to a significant jump in our fortunes. Hence, a judicious combination of both is required to achieve success.
However one should wait for the opportunities to come.Rather every person should work towards creating opportunities.Becasue you do not the future, a small opportunity can bring colllosol benefits in your life.
4. Do you think people would be happier if they didn’t have any goals to achieve?
A life without goals is like a ship without radar, which moves adrift at the mercy of the wind. Hence goals play an important role to achieve the path towards success. Because goals show as a trajectory to follow and when everyday we make efforts to achieve goals, we get the benefits of compounding in our lives. And compounding is an essential step to churn failures into success.