Describe a Time When You Gave Advice to Someone - IELTS Cue Card

IELTS cue card is a task that is used in the talking part of the IELTS exam. This involves a conversation with an examiner who offers you a specific issue or your role-playing topic, which you must speak about within 1-2 minutes. The card is also a question or an announcement that you want to answer and several other instances to be said.

Duration of IELTS Speaking Cue Card

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IELTS cue cards are essential in the speaking assessment section of the test, and they allow candidates to demonstrate their competence in communicating effectively in English. It is one of the sections that weighed relatively high in total score, amounting to 25% and above. The Cue Card task also significantly impacts your performance in the Speaking section. You must use every opportunity in the test to demonstrate your competence in the English language to the examiners. For example, you must speak fluently, coherently and with a good range of vocabulary and grammar. 

This is so because fluency, vocabulary and grammar are the three areas the examiner bases on to determine and grade your speech performance. A good cue card performance helps you contribute the highest mark you require. Furthermore, this task tests your ability to speak impromptu regarding something that happens. This is relevant in real-life activities, such as controlling a discussion or meeting conducted in English on any topic as far as it is academic, professional or personal.

Who did you give the advice to?

One of the recipients of my advice was my cousin, Isha. She is an excellent and ambitious 18-year-old who has just completed her high school education and is in the process of applying to get into a university outside the country.

What advice did you give?

Isha confessed her long-held dream of getting accepted to one of the top-ranked universities in the United States. Still, she was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that the application process required. In this case, I offered to sit down with her and draft a plan to guide her through the international university applications in a step-by-step manner:

1. I recommended her to research universities that offered her a Major and met her career goals. I asked her to consider in-depth reviews on campus life, peer support services and scholarship opportunities apart from global rankings.
2. I offered my help in crafting a personal statement that would stand out among hundreds of other admission essays. I stressed that it was essential to highlight her unique experiences and skills that would add value to the university’s student body. I helped Isha come up with a list of stories to share and guide her through the process of creating a compelling narrative.
3. I offered my advice on how to deal with the letters of recommendation. I recommended that she approach teachers and other mentors who could reflect on her strengths and qualities as a student and person. I provided her with templates on how to avoid sounding aggressive and offered to pre-read her letters.
4. I also offered assistance with preparing for the English tests: IELTS and TOEFL.

I demonstrated study resources and gave her hints on how to practice interviews.

Why did this person need your advice?

Isha felt nervous and unsure whether she could handle the university application processes, especially as she was considering studying abroad. As a person who has been through this route and successfully managed to apply to international universities, I can give her this guidance and support. Additionally, Isha’s parents were concerned about the costs of studying abroad, and she felt an additional burden of securing good scholarships and financial assistance. I aimed to divide the information into manageable parts and provide my own example. This way, Isha could see that she had nothing to worry about.

Who did you give the advice to?

I advised my neighbour, Mr. Sharma, who had two minor children. After losing his job because of the crisis, which hit the market hard, he lacked the means of living comfortably.

What advice did you give?

When talking to Mr. Sharma, I could see the anxiety and desperation written on his face. He needed a listening ear and objective advice to overcome this struggle:

1. I advised Mr. Sharma to step aside and identify his strengths, skills and usable experiences. I assisted him in developing an updated resume that detailed his accomplishments and what he could offer a prospective employer. We cross-checked the resume to ensure it was appropriate for the current job market and attuned to the needs of potential employers.
2. I asked Mr. Sharma to look for other avenues of a career that he had yet to consider. For example, I asked him to research companies outside his scope of expertise to see what other skills are marketable. In developing relevant CVs, I could help him curate each to fit the intended organisation’s skills. 
3. Mr. Sharma created multiple networks to revive existing relationships and make newer ones useful in his career portfolio. I asked him to join professional bodies and clubs outside his subsector to gain more exposure. He had to use LinkedIn to reach out to potential employers and attend industry fairs and meetings to interact face-to-face with others. 
4. Mr. Sharma needed to get the right mindset to maintain good mental health. I suggested that he be active through guided exercise, meditation and other activities that brought him happiness. I also asked him to share his burdens with friends and family for support and encouragement.

Why did this person need your advice?

The prospect of starting from scratch and proving himself in an oversaturated job market was simply terrifying to him. Mr. Sharma had never conducted a job search before – after being hired at his previous company right out of college, he worked there for over ten years. Based on my account, I provided him with a clear plan of action and emotional support to make him believe in his ability to overcome the challenge. My advice encouraged Mr. Sharma to take the first active steps to a new job that would be financially reliable and meet professional and personal goals.

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Who did you give the advice to?

I advised my friend, Ananya. She was swamped with school, extracurricular activities and personal college life. Recently, she was admitted into a prestigious engineering program and felt even more overwhelmed.

What advice did you give?

One of my friends, Ananya, was a student in a highly demanding engineering program and could not manage her academic tasks, extracurricular activities and personal life. She often felt overwhelmed and stressed out, her academic performance began to suffer, and her general well-being was going down. When Ananya told me about her struggles, I realised it was high time for me to share some helpful time-management tips to help her take control of her schedule:

1. I recommended that she develop a time-specific weekly planner. It would allow Ananya to break her tasks into more manageable steps, schedule distinct time blocks for study, lectures, club meetings and leisure, and visualise her commitments.
2. I encouraged her to learn how to prioritise activities based on their relevance and due dates. I told her the 2-minute rule and recommended a non-negotiable time to complete the essential project.
3. I suggested that Ananya take regular breaks and practice self-care. Learning the importance of recharging beforehand is crucial for maintaining wellness, so I advised her to find time for physical activity or meditation and develop a regular sleep routine.
4. I recommended that she turn to professors, advisors or peers for help with academic tasks.

Why did this person need your advice?

No matter how hard Ananya tried, she needed more time to balance her academic, extracurricular and personal life. She was constantly stressed and required to perform better to maintain good grades and meet the demands of her college. Since I was a successful student who managed to stay active and involved in numerous activities during my university years, I was in an excellent position to offer Ananya some hands-on advice. The strategies I formulated for her could enable her to manage her time better and organise her day more effectively and efficiently, allowing her to find time for self-care and relaxation. In this way, Ananya would demonstrably improve her well-being and academic performance.

Who did you give the advice to?

I advised my older sister, Priya, who had been working in the corporate sector for years and was considering a career change.

What advice did you give?

My sister Priya had long been considering quitting her high-paying, high-stress job to start a career in environmental conservation, her lifelong passion. Although the thought of finally being able to make a positive contribution to the world excited her, it was clouded by various doubts and uncertainties. Naturally, when she shared her thoughts with me, I understood that I had to provide my sister with all the necessary support and guidance to help her make the choice. However, I made sure to include several crucial steps in my advice: 

1. I recommended that Priya assess herself. She should ask herself about her values, strengths and any long-term goals and aspirations. Then, Priya can conduct an online search and write a list of pros and cons, outlining the potential advantages and challenges of such a severe change.
2. I advised Priya to research the field. She should calculate the chances of employment and the desirable length of training and consider different paths within the industry. I recommend that Priya consult with someone who is already a professional in the field and review the primary literature on starting a career in ecology.
3. I recommended that Priya develop an action plan to fill any remaining gaps in the environmental industry. I mentioned the possibility of volunteering at the local reserve, taking a specialised course and even accepting lower pay to begin the immersion into the industry.
4. I recommend thinking about financial possibilities and prospects since Priya cannot ignore the economic challenges in her situation. She must consider her existing savings and investments, determine the breakeven point after which she will have the income she needs, and develop a spending plan.

Why did this person need your advice?

Priya faced a dilemma and stood at a crossroads at the same point. On the one hand, she had financial stability and support from her job. Still, on the other hand, she felt a connection to a larger-than-life goal of changing the lives of needy people and saving the environment. I was aware of my sister’s aspirations, values and ideas, which made my support and advice critical. To this end, I helped Priya perform a self-assessment and explore the field of environmental conservation thoroughly, which allowed her to make an informed decision and choose a career that helped her grow personally and offered endless opportunities. These investments also helped Priya create a feasible plan that allowed her to enter the desired career field confidently.

1. Elaborate on the steps you undertook to assist your cousin, Isha, through the university application process. 

Some of the specific undertakings I made for Isha’s university application included guiding her in researching suitable programs, drafting a compelling personal statement, facilitating solid letters of recommendation and preparing for English proficiency tests such as IELTS. I also provided one-on-one assistance every step of the way to ensure she was confident and well-prepared. 

1. What were some of the main challenges your neighbour, Mr. Sharma, experienced during his job search, and how did your suggested guidance help him address them? 

The main difficulties Mr. Sharma faced during his job search were the overwhelming nature of the process and the need for more confidence in transitioning to a new line of work. My advice helped Mr. Sharma focuses on using transferable career skills, expanding his professional contacts and maintaining a positive attitude during the search. 

1. Suggest an example of how the time management strategies you suggested helped your friend, Ananya, achieve better academic results and feel better overall. 

One example of how the time management strategies helped Ananya was using a detailed weekly planner to identify one or two primary assignments each week and spend distraction-free time accomplishing those tasks. The increased productivity and focus yielded a demonstrable improvement in her academic results. 

1. What are some financial considerations your sister, Priya, had to make before committing to a career change, and how did your guidance address her concerns? 

One piece of advice I gave Priya about financial considerations was calculating a balance to support her opportunities. I also advised that Priya to create a budget, find other sources of income and ensure she had a safety net stashed away to make the change she wanted to follow her passion for environmental conservation.

1. Looking back on these experiences, was your advice practical in helping each person meet their objectives? What conclusions or lessons did you learn that could help people overcome similar difficulties? 

The advice provided through each scenario supported the individuals in meeting their objectives. Moreover, I knew that giving step-by-step assistance, focusing on practical and emotional support and empowering people to have some power of choice is critical.

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• Understand the Prompt: First, ensure you completely understand the Cue Card prompt. Pay attention to what you need to cover during your response. It will help you keep track and formulate an appropriate answer. 
• Plan Your Response: Take a few seconds to organise your answer. It will help you put your thoughts in a structured way and arrange the points in order. Plan your answer instead of talking aimlessly, and don’t miss any essential points. 
• Provide Relevant Details: Use supplementary information or examples to describe an idea or support your point. It will make your response more exciting and prove you can provide smooth details. 
• Speak Fluently: Ensure that you speak fluently and clearly. Be sure to use a variety of vocabulary and different grammar structures. It is easy to achieve if you practice speaking and reading the articles aloud. 
• Manage Time Effectively: You must speak for 1 to 2 minutes during the exam. While practising, keep track of the time and imagine how much time you will need for each section. The perfect time is between 40 to 50 seconds while narrating. 
• Structure Your Response: Start with the introduction, including what you will discuss. Then, clarify your main point in the body and summarise briefly after completion. 
• Use Appropriate Language: Use the language correctly while speaking on a topic, and do not apply familiar or informal speech techniques. 
• Demonstrate Range: While talking, prove that you can use different vocabulary and structure to express your thoughts. This will help you score highly on your Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.  
• Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you discuss different topics during your preparation, the more confident and natural you will be.

Understanding the IELTS Cue Card is crucial to realising your IELTS score dream. This guide thoroughly explains various aspects of the task and offers tips that, when heeded, increase your chances of success. Note that the ability to use English to create cohesive arguments is among those assessed by the cue card. In the long run, it hints at remarkable results, not merely on the IELTS exam but also in your school and job life. Regular practice will improve fluency, increase the number of words in your arsenal, and, most notably, improve your comprehension. In addition, since the Yocket platform remains an excellent and trustworthy source of information, you can use this information, apply good learning practices, get professional assistance, and even obtain an IELTS loan. Use it to boost your IELTS exam-taking confidence, and you will quickly achieve the school or job situation of your dreams.