Describe an important decision you made: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe an important decision you made.

You should say:

what the decision was
when you made it
who helped you decide

and explain how you felt about the decision afterwards.

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.

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Sample answer

About 255 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

An important decision I made was to change my university course in my second year, from law to computer science.

I made the decision about four years ago. I'd chosen law mainly because my family expected me to; my father is a lawyer, and it seemed like the safe, respectable option. But by the end of my first year, I realised I was struggling to stay interested. At the same time, I'd started teaching myself programming in my spare time, and I found I was spending far more hours on that than on my actual studies.

The person who helped me decide was my university tutor. When I told her how I felt, she didn't try to persuade me either way. Instead, she asked me to imagine what I'd be doing in ten years in each career and how I'd feel about it. That made the answer quite obvious. I also talked to some computer science students to find out what the course was really like. The hardest part was telling my father, but to my surprise, he was very supportive once he saw how serious I was.

Afterwards, I felt a mixture of relief and nervousness. I had to catch up on a lot of maths, and I lost a year, which was frustrating at the time. But looking back, I'm certain it was the right choice. I'm now working as a software developer, and I genuinely enjoy what I do, which I don't think would have been true if I'd stayed in law.

Why this works: it covers every point on the card in order, gives specific details and a short story rather than general statements, and ends by explaining the feeling or reason, which the last line of the card asks for.

Useful vocabulary

the safe option: the choice with the least risk
struggle to stay interested: find it difficult to keep caring about something
persuade someone either way: try to influence someone towards one choice
to my surprise: in a way I did not expect
a mixture of relief and nervousness: feeling both calm and worried
catch up on: to do work you have missed

Rounding-off question

After you finish, the examiner may ask one short question, such as:

Do you usually find it easy to make decisions?

Part 3 questions: Making choices

In Part 3, the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the cue card topic. Give an opinion, explain why, and add an example.

At what age should young people make their own decisions about their future?

I think from around sixteen or seventeen, they should have the final say on things like their subjects and career path, with guidance from adults. They're the ones who have to live with the consequences, and making decisions is how people learn to take responsibility.

Should parents decide what their children study at university?

No, I don't think so, although their advice can be valuable. Parents often know their children well, but they may be influenced by what was considered a good career in their own generation. Students who study something they chose themselves are generally more motivated and more likely to succeed.

Now say it out loud

Reading a good answer helps, but speaking is what improves your band. This set includes this cue card, Part 1 questions on your city and films, and a Part 3 discussion.

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This sample answer was written by TestWise Prep to show language that scores well. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas, not to memorise, because examiners mark rehearsed answers down.