Describe Someone You Know Who Made a Good Decision Recently - IELTS Cue Cards

An IELTS Cue Card is a prompt during the IELTS Speaking Test Part 2. It requires candidates to speak for 1-2 minutes on a specific topic. The Cue Card has a main topic and several bullet points to guide the response. The examiner expects you to respond fluently and coherently, with a rich vocabulary and grammar. 

The breakdown of the duration of the cue card section is added below:

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To ensure you cover this IELTS Cue Card Topic in-depth, you can create some bullet points for the answer. A few questions are listed below, and you should answer them in detail. You can add any anecdotes or examples if you’d like.  

Here are some some questions you can use to answer this Cue Card topic:

• Introduction
• Who made the decision?
• What was the decision?
• When was it made?
• How did it affect you?

Introduction

I would love to share one recent decision by a friend, Riya. Riya is a friend I've known since our school years, and her recent decision has impacted her life the most.

Who made the decision?

Riya, a management student, made a difficult choice. She always takes her time when making significant decisions to think profoundly and assess all aspects of the choice.

What was the decision?

Riya left her part-time job to study thoroughly & do a little bit of an online eco-friendly product-based small business. Although she was studying and working, after a while, she understood that pursuing her real interests - in entrepreneurship and anything related to sustainable living - was becoming more assertive. After numerous considerations and discussions with mentors, family, etc, she decided to plunge towards this new venture by quitting her job.

When was it made?

The choice came early in September, just a few months into her first semester. She also felt it was the right opportunity to transition as she now had all her time allocated towards her studies and the company.

How did it affect you?

It deeply impacted me, too, how Riya chose to do an online business. Watching her take that risk inspired me to think about my dreams. Her fearless way of going after what makes her light up fueled me to re-evaluate my priorities and make strides toward living my dreams. Also, Riya was starting her business and needed me for marketing & setting up an online store. It was a great learning experience in digital marketing and entrepreneurship, which will help me somewhere down the line.

Introduction

I want to discuss one of the decisions taken by my cousin Raj from Kanpur here. Raj is a software engineer. He has always been very prudent and logical about making significant decisions.

Who made the decision?

Raj, who works for a major tech firm. He is well respected for his analytical reasoning and thought-out decision-making. He consulted his girlfriend before making the most significant decision of his life. 

What was the decision?

His stable job enticed Raj to jump from his office space into an AI startup. It was a significant change in his career at that point - moving out of what has traditionally been viewed as the 'good job with security' and into something more risky but potentially lucrative if successful. This decision came after doing a fair share of research, consulting with other industry experts, and fully considering his long-term career plans.

When was it made?

It was about four months ago that Raj made that decision. He did it at the right time to start the new project. 

How did it affect you?

Raj's decision had a significant influence on me. It taught me the value of risking it all when you know what your passionate and professional pursuits are. His decision encouraged me to become more ambitious about where I see myself going professionally and whether or not the potential riskier moves might be better suited and ultimately less harmful to my self-esteem. Lastly, Raj talked about his job and what he has witnessed in tech, which I found illuminating to dabble with my ambitions of computer science.

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Introduction

So, I derived this story from my friend Neha, who was also very dear to me. She has made a courageous decision. Neha is a teacher at the nearby high school and has always carried that passion for education. She had been helping students to reach their full potential.

Who made the decision?

She has been a teacher for over ten years, and other teachers and students highly appreciate her dedication to teaching and innovative methods. She decided to quit her teaching job and earn a Master’s. She wanted to follow her dreams of changing the education system somehow.

What was the decision?

This led Neha to take a step and leave her full-time teaching career to follow the same path and earn herself a Master's in Educational Leadership. To uproot and leave her safe, cherished job was a monumental choice for the young Neha. She wanted to know more and be able to do more to impact the whole system of education and empower far more students.

When was it made?

This thought was picked by Neha six months back. She was admitted last month after applying to schools everywhere and attending top programs.

How did it affect you?

After Neha, I am incredibly motivated to do the same. The fact she has the guts to leave her comfort zone when searching for something more inspired me to push my boundaries of career development. Hearing her story and being inspired by a woman who made this decision despite the risks involved has influenced me to pursue further education more seriously and not be afraid of what I have seen. Her path has taught me that the quest for understanding and excellence should always continue- no matter how entrenched in your career you may believe yourself to be.

Introduction

So today, I want to discuss my cousin Arjun and his recent decision about work-life imbalance. Arjun, a software engineer in an established tech company, works overtime.

Who made the decision?

He has been solid in logic and problem-solving forever; these traits have helped him immensely with his work throughout his years as a developer. But he said that he wanted life to surprise him. He made a hard decision.

What was the decision?

Arjun moved his career from software engineer to data scientist, Which led to a decision that required him to quickly develop new skills, study online courses, and become certified in data science. He left the job everybody craved, with long-term employment and advancement prospects, for a less appealing but financially stable career.

When was it made?

Arjun took this decision eight months ago. After months of teaching himself and attending data science workshops, he went on to complete the certification program and then joined a leading tech firm as an employed Data Scientist.

How did it affect you?

I was deeply affected by Arjun's fateful decision in heaven. Watching him dedicate his time to learning new things and being open about moving into a different field inspired me to take my career growth more seriously as well. His journey impressed me more as it shows vulnerability in our fast-moving job market and a need to adapt and improve skills. It inspired me to look for other options and think of returning to school to be on top because of my ID line.

Q. Why do you think it's essential to make good decisions in life? 

This is important as good decisions determine our future, ensuring growth, stability, and satisfaction in both personal and professional life. They keep us from unnecessary risks and failures - improving our well-being, life satisfaction, and overall impact on the world. This thinking, this rational self-control, is a powerful imbalance that allows us to stand and quickly arrive at the aims we seek without being contented in relations or freely provided cards but also positively contributing towards society, which can ultimately lead us to our wellness and happiness.

Q. Do you think it's better to make decisions alone or with the help of others? 

Collaborative decision-making gives a variety of viewpoints, reducing influences and making better choices. Gather feedback from people you trust, such as family members or friends. It is essential to remember some personal decision-making responsibilities, and the idea that one must be aware of what suits them best should play a part in considering contextual long-term goals.

Q. How can we learn from our mistakes when it comes to decision-making? 

We address our mistakes by examining the results, uncovering what was responsible for those wrongs, and learning from them. This will include anyone who recognizes errors without self-incrimination, seeks input, and uses the information as a tuning action. By reflecting on past mistakes, we can develop better judgment and problem-solving skills, which will help us make more informed decisions necessary for our personal development.

Q. Do you think external factors, such as peer pressure, influence decision-making?

True, peer pressure is a solid external factor affecting choice-making. They can result in people giving into social norms, even if it goes against their best interests and beliefs, because they need to belong or avoid isolation—negative societal influence, resulting in bad decisions and prohibiting personal development. Peer pressure and identifying how it is triggered in us and its effects on us are essential so that our choices about our values -or what Ana described as sin- come from a place of autonomy.

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Here are some helpful tips that you should keep in mind when answering the IELTS Cue Cards: 

When addressing an IELTS Cue Card topic, it’s crucial to approach it with a clear structure and comprehensive coverage. Start with a concise introduction and thoroughly explore each prompt provided. You can incorporate personal anecdotes or examples to enhance clarity and showcase a rich lexicon. This approach ensures that the response is engaging and coherent, fulfilling the requirements expected in the IELTS speaking test. 

The IELTS score varies for each university, so be mindful when you take the test and apply to universities.  If you feel overwhelmed by studying abroad, schedule a FREE video consultation with Yocket experts. Yocket has helped over 10,000 students get into top-ranked universities across 22 countries. We can help you there too. Hurry up!