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Describe a goal that you would like to achieve in the future

Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.

Practice it like the exam

Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a goal that you would like to achieve in the future.

You should say:

  • what the goal is
  • when you hope to achieve it
  • what you need to do to achieve it

and explain why this goal is important to you.

Ready

1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.

Recordings stay in this tab and are never uploaded.

Band 8 sample answer

248 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.

A goal I'd really like to achieve is to complete a master's degree in artificial intelligence at a good university in Europe, preferably within the next four years. I'm currently in my third year of a bachelor's course in computer science, so I'm about halfway to the point where I could apply.

To reach this goal, I'll need to do several things. First of all, I need to maintain high grades, because most competitive programmes ask for strong academic results. Secondly, I have to reach a band 7.5 in IELTS, which is why I'm studying English every day at the moment. Thirdly, I must gain some practical experience. I plan to apply for an internship in a technology company next summer, and I'm also working on a small machine-learning project in my free time. Finally, I'll need to prepare for scholarship applications, since the tuition costs could be high for my family.

This goal is important to me for personal as well as professional reasons. I've always been fascinated by how computers can learn, and I think this field will shape the future in an enormous way. By studying it at an advanced level, I could contribute something valuable, perhaps building tools that help people in education or healthcare.

Also, achieving it would prove to myself that sustained effort pays off. It won't be easy, and there will be difficult moments, but I try to break the goal into small milestones, and so far I'm making steady progress.

What to notice

  • It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
  • Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
  • The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.

We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.

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Useful vocabulary

PhraseMeaning
set a goaldecide on something to achieve
a long-term ambitiona big aim for the distant future
work towardsmake efforts to reach
milestonean important step in progress
stay committedkeep your promise to continue
the sky's the limitthere is no limit to what you can achieve

Plan it in one minute

Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.

Who or what you could talk about

  • Reaching a certain IELTS band score or language level
  • Starting your own business
  • Running a marathon or reaching a fitness target

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the goal is
  2. 25 swhen you hope to achieve it
  3. 25 swhat you need to do to achieve it
  4. 45 sand explain why this goal is important to you.

Part 3 questions

In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Goals and ambition. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.

  1. Why is it important for people to have goals?
  2. Do you think young people today are more ambitious than older generations?
  3. What can stop people from achieving their goals?
  4. Is it better to set big goals or small goals?
  5. Do you think success should be measured by money?

Frequently asked questions

How do I answer an abstract IELTS cue card, like a rule or a decision?

Make it concrete straight away: name the rule, the advice or the decision, then tell the situation where it mattered to you. An abstract card answered with a real example is easier to talk about and easier to follow.

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