6. IELTS Speaking Part 2 Practice: Describe an Important Decision You Made (Cue Card + Sample Answer + Vocabulary + Quiz)

Example: If the card asks you to “Describe a memorable journey,” underline where you went, when you travelled, what happened, and why it was memorable.

Example notes: train to Paris → school trip → Eiffel Tower → lost on metro → unforgettable experience with friends.

Example introduction: “I’d like to talk about a journey that left a deep impression on me, which was my school trip to Paris.”

Example conclusion: “Overall, I consider this trip unforgettable because it gave me independence, friendship, and memories that I still treasure today.”

1. I would like to talk about ___(topic)___.

2. This happened/It took place ___(time/place)___.

3. At first, ___(background information)___.

4. One important detail is that ___(key point)___.

5. Moreover, I remember ___(extra story/example)___.

6. Another significant aspect was ___(second point + support)___.

7. Finally, what struck me most was ___(final idea/reflection)___.

8. Overall, I believe ___(personal conclusion)___.

Cue Card

Describe an important decision you made.

You should say:

• what the decision was,
• when and where you made it,
• what factors you considered,
• and explain why this decision was important for you.

Timers (Customisable)

Default settings: Preparation 60s • Speaking 120s

Preparation — Countdown

Use this time to plan your talk.

Speaking — Timer & Recorder

Submission

Written Sample Answer

I’d like to talk about an important decision I made two years ago, which was choosing to study abroad for my master’s degree. This happened during my final year at university in my hometown, when I was thinking seriously about my future career.

At first, I considered staying in my country because it would be more comfortable and less expensive. However, one important factor was the opportunity to gain international exposure, which I believed could broaden my perspective and improve my job prospects. I remember making a long list of pros and cons to compare the options.

Another significant point is that I discussed the matter with my family and mentors. My parents were a little hesitant at first, but my professors strongly encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone. Their advice helped me see that challenges abroad could help me grow personally as well as academically.

Finally, what impressed me most was how the decision changed my life. Moving abroad was not easy, but I learned to be independent, adapt to a new culture, and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. Overall, I believe this decision was important because it opened many doors for my career and gave me the confidence to handle new situations.

Sample Answer — Audio

Play the sample to hear pacing, intonation, and natural linking.

1) Fluency & Coherence

1. The answer begins directly with “I’d like to talk about…” which avoids hesitation and restates the topic smoothly.

2. The talk is logically structured: introduction → background → factors considered → reflection → conclusion.

3. Linking devices such as “at first,” “however,” “another significant point,” and “finally” provide natural transitions.

4. Short stories (writing a pros-and-cons list, family discussion) give cohesion and avoid a dry list of ideas.

5. The conclusion (“Overall, I believe…”) wraps up the talk naturally if the examiner interrupts.

2) Task Fulfilment & Development

6. All cue card points are addressed: what the decision was, when/where, factors considered, and why it was important.

7. The decision is developed with concrete evidence — financial cost, exposure, independence — not just named briefly.

8. Personal feelings (hesitant parents, gaining confidence) balance factual details, showing depth of reflection.

3) Lexical Resource

9. Vocabulary is topic-appropriate: “pros and cons,” “international exposure,” “step out of my comfort zone,” “broaden my perspective.”

10. Collocations like “open many doors,” “handle new situations,” and “job prospects” show natural usage.

11. Paraphrasing avoids repetition: instead of repeating “decision,” the speaker uses “choice,” “matter,” and “step.”

4) Grammatical Range & Accuracy

12. Past simple is used for narrating the decision, while present perfect and present simple add variety (“has changed my life,” “helps me grow”).

13. Complex sentences include clauses with “because,” “although,” and “which,” showing flexibility without errors.

14. Conditional language (“if I had stayed… I would not have gained exposure”) could also be added for more sophistication.

5) Pronunciation & Delivery (for your recording)

15. Key words such as “decision,” “exposure,” and “confidence” should carry sentence stress for emphasis.

16. Falling intonation is used to close each major point, while slight rises signal continuation.

17. Pausing after phrases like “at first,” “another significant point,” and “finally” improves clarity and rhythm.

18. Natural linking between words (“kindof,” “stepout”) makes the speech more fluent and less robotic.

decision /dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ (BrE) · /dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun (countable/uncountable)

Word Pattern: make a decision | decision about/on + noun

Definition: a choice that you make after considering different possibilities.

Example: “Making the decision to study abroad changed my life.” → (means choosing to go abroad was a turning point).

Synonyms: choice, resolution

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “take a decision” (more common in BrE formal) but “make a decision” is safest globally.

pros and cons /prəʊz ənd kɒnz/ (BrE) · /proʊz ənd kɑːnz/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: plural noun phrase

Word Pattern: weigh/consider the pros and cons

Definition: the advantages and disadvantages of something.

Example: “Before choosing, I carefully weighed the pros and cons of studying abroad.” → (means I thought about both benefits and drawbacks).

Synonyms: advantages and disadvantages

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “the pro and con” ✘. Correct usage is plural: “the pros and cons.”

exposure /ɪkˈspəʊ.ʒər/ (BrE) · /ɪkˈspoʊ.ʒɚ/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun (uncountable)

Word Pattern: exposure to + noun (exposure to new cultures)

Definition: the experience of coming into contact with new things, often leading to learning.

Example: “Studying abroad gave me exposure to different teaching styles.” → (means I had the chance to experience them directly).

Synonyms: contact, experience

Common Mistakes: Confusing “exposure” with “explosion” ✘. Also avoid saying “an exposure” unless it’s a photo context.

perspective /pəˈspek.tɪv/ (BrE) · /pɚˈspek.tɪv/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun (countable)

Word Pattern: gain a perspective | perspective on + noun

Definition: a particular way of thinking about or viewing something.

Example: “Living abroad gave me a new perspective on cultural diversity.” → (means it changed how I see and understand it).

Synonyms: viewpoint, outlook

Common Mistakes: Learners confuse it with “prospective” (future). They are unrelated words.

confidence /ˈkɒn.fɪ.dəns/ (BrE) · /ˈkɑːn.fɪ.dəns/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun (uncountable)

Word Pattern: confidence in + noun | boost/gain confidence

Definition: a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and decisions.

Example: “The experience abroad helped me gain confidence in my own decisions.” → (means I felt more self-assured).

Synonyms: self-assurance, certainty

Common Mistakes: Saying “a confidence” ✘ is wrong. It’s uncountable unless referring to “a secret told in confidence.”

weigh up the options /weɪ ʌp ði ˈɒp.ʃənz/ (BrE) · /weɪ ʌp ði ˈɑːp.ʃənz/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: phrasal verb

Word Pattern: weigh up + options/choices/possibilities

Definition: to consider the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision.

Example: “Before deciding, I weighed up the options of staying at home or studying abroad.” → (means I compared the choices carefully).

Synonyms: evaluate, consider, assess

Common Mistakes: Learners often drop “up” ✘. Correct form: “weigh up,” not just “weigh the options.”

step out of your comfort zone /stɛp aʊt əv jɔː ˈkʌmfət zəʊn/ (BrE) · /stɛp aʊt əv jʊr ˈkʌmfɚt zoʊn/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: idiom (verb phrase)

Word Pattern: step out of + (one’s) comfort zone

Definition: to try something new or challenging that feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

Example: “Studying abroad forced me to step out of my comfort zone and grow more independent.” → (means I tried something new and difficult).

Synonyms: push boundaries, try new things

Common Mistakes: Learners say “go out from comfort zone” ✘. Correct: “step out of your comfort zone.”

make or break decision /ˌmeɪk ɔː ˈbreɪk dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ (BrE) · /ˌmeɪk ɔːr ˈbreɪk dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: collocation (noun phrase)

Word Pattern: a make-or-break + decision/moment

Definition: a decision that will lead either to great success or complete failure.

Example: “Choosing the right university felt like a make-or-break decision for my career.” → (means the outcome was very critical).

Synonyms: critical decision, turning point

Common Mistakes: Learners say “make and break” ✘. Correct expression is “make or break.”

open doors for someone /ˈəʊ.pən dɔːz fə ˈsʌm.wʌn/ (BrE) · /ˈoʊ.pən dɔːrz fɚ ˈsʌm.wʌn/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: idiom (verb phrase)

Word Pattern: open doors + for + person

Definition: to create new opportunities or possibilities for someone.

Example: “That decision opened many doors for me in terms of career opportunities.” → (means it gave me new chances).

Synonyms: create opportunities, provide chances

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes omit “for” ✘. Correct usage: “open doors for me,” not just “open doors me.”

turning point /ˈtɜː.nɪŋ pɔɪnt/ (BrE) · /ˈtɝː.nɪŋ pɔɪnt/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun phrase (countable)

Word Pattern: turning point in + noun

Definition: a time or event when an important change takes place.

Example: “Making that choice was a real turning point in my life.” → (means it caused a big change).

Synonyms: milestone, watershed moment

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “turn point” ✘. Correct form is “turning point.”