Describe an important decision you made IELTS Cue Card

IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC

Describe an important decision you made

You should say:

And explain why it was important

What the decision was

How you made your decision

What the results of the decision were

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 subject for one-to-two minutes.

Sample 1

Introduction

Although I have made numerous vital decisions in my life, one is worth mentioning.

What was the decision

The decision was to eat all the meals between 9 am to 6 pm.

When you made it

I made it six months back.

How you made the decision

Due to the coronavirus pandemic last year, I had to work from home for six months. As there were strict COVID protocols in place, it was not viable for me to go out for exercise. So, I gained immense weight during that period.

When the administration lifted the lockdown, I decided to lose weight by joining a gym, but that did not yield good results. Seeing my plight, one of my friends introduced me to Dr. Rimple Sharma, a renowned dietician. She advised me to practice intermittent fasting by eating meals between 9 am and 6 pm.

As I wanted to lose weight, I followed her diet plan with determination, dedication, and discipline.

Why was it important

It was important because my work performance declined considerably due to being overweight, and my cholesterol was also high. So, to maintain an ideal body weight, I had to take some stringent action.

The advice of Dr. Rimple Sharma worked like a charm, and in the first month, I lost five kgs of weight. As a result, I have dropped my weight from 85 kg to 72 kg in the last six months. I am a fit person, and my metabolism has improved considerably.

.As there is no denying this conviction that health is wealth, the decision to practice intermittent fasting has helped me to become a fit and healthy person.

Sample 2

There is no denying this conviction that informed decisions can lead our lives towards an impressive growth trajectory. On the contrary, wrong choices could derail us from the path towards success. So, making informed decisions is integral to our growth and survival. I have made numerous vital decisions in my life. One is close to my heart and worth mentioning, so it happened 10 years back when I passed my 10th standard.’

After that, I was in a dilemma, whether I should opt for commerce or science for future studies. So, all my near and dear ones told me to opt for commerce. So, I was in a catch-22 situation. My brain said I should follow what others told me because they had heaps of knowledge and experience. Where is my heart was saying to go towards science because that’s the field I was most interested in.

To come out of that situation. I went on a two-day holiday when no one was with me. I was on a solo trip, and at that time, I did some research and concluded that it is essential to follow your passion rather than what other people think of you, so I decided to follow my love and listen to my heart. After returning from the trip, I told my decision to my family and friends.

And after 10 years. Now, I am doing a plum job with a handsome salary, and that decision changed the trajectory of my life. I love my work and life, so that was an important decision.

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 an important decision you made”.

1. Do you always ask for help when making decisions?

In most cases, I make my decisions myself; however, when it is about choosing something which can bring a paradigm shift in my life, like choosing a career stream or opting for the right course for further study, I prefer to consult others to make an informed choice.

2. Do you think teenagers can make decisions on their own?

In the contemporary epoch, teenagers have a plethora of information at their disposal and have significant exposure because of the availability of technology. So, most teenagers have the potential to make informed decisions when it comes to trivial matters. However, when deciding on the trajectory of their lives, such as career options and job prospects, it is worthwhile for them to consider elders’ opinions.

3. Why some can make quick decisions and some cannot?

Making quick decisions thrives primarily on your ability to take risks. Some people have this uncanny knack for making quick choices because they hate spending time deciding on something. Such people choose immediately and do not think much about the repercussions.

On the contrary, a large section of society doesn’t have a risk-taking appetite, so they consider all the pros and cons before making informed choices. And to do research, they have to spend a lot of time, so they do not make quick decisions.

4. What should national leaders consider when they make decisions?

National leaders must pay excessive attention to public interests when making critical decisions. They ought to consider the future of the nation when making specific determinations.