Describe a time you had to finish something quickly IELTS Cue Card

IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC

Describe a time you had to finish something quickly

You should say:

What it was
When it happened
How you finished it
Why you had to finish it quickly
And explain how you felt about it

Sample 1

Being a patient person, I love to take time while finishing something.
However, in some situations, you must complete your work as soon as possible, and one such condition that is worth mentioning happened to me. It was completing the office task in one day, which would have taken one week otherwise.

It happened three years back when there was a coronavirus pandemic, so the administration imposed a lockdown. When I got the news, I was in a state of absolute disarray, and I was about to leave my office. Then suddenly, I got a call from my senior, and he told me that I had to complete two pending tasks that were highly important. I told him it would take a lot of time, and then he said he would offer me whatever support I required.

So I told him I needed 4 team members to do it quickly. he accepted my request, and I got a team of four to work with me. We worked constantly for seven to eight hours. We didn’t eat anything, and with determination, dedication, and discipline, we kept working. We started at noon, and by 7.30 pm, we had finished all the work.

I felt good about that experience because I had an image of myself that I could do this much work. However, that day, I pushed my limits and learned that we can do more than we think and that our potential is very high. The only thing we need to do is to convince ourselves that we can do it.

Follow-ups

Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to the cue card “Describe a time you had to finish something quickly ”.

1. When do people have to do things in a hurry?

People generally have to do things in a hurry when there is a deadline,meaning they have limited time. And the work which they have to do is enormous. So, in that case, they have to do it in a hurry. And apart from this, when they have to catch something at a specified time, like catching a train or catching a bus. So, at that time, they need to be in a hurry.

2. Why do some people spend a long time having a meal?

Some people believe in the theory of chewing their food correctly.So, they refrain from binge eating and chew each bite properly, which takes too much time. Apart from this, certain people love to waste time eating while watching TV or chatting with their friends. So, due to that, they waste a lot of time.

3. Would people feel more satisfied if they finished doing something quickly?

Doing things quickly makes people unhappy. Instead, doing the work properly or getting the necessary output makes them feel jovial.

4. What kinds of jobs need to be done quickly?

Those jobs where you must give the output in a specified period must be done quickly, especially in fast food restaurants where customers look for quick meals. So, in that case, the people concerned need to be very quick in their work. And apart from this, facilities like laundry and housekeeping are also over there, so the people need to be quick.

5. What examples of work needed to be done quickly?

Any work that goes according to a deadline is to be done quickly.These are works related to the service industry. So these are to be done quickly.

6. What might make some people more productive than others in completing tasks?

People who show patience towards their work do not rush things and pay massive importance to quality. Thus, they become more productive in their tasks. On the other hand, those who work with impatience generally do not get the requisite output.