Describe a difficult decision you had to make
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
Describe a difficult decision you had to make.
You should say:
- what the decision was
- why it was difficult
- what you decided in the end
and explain how you felt about your decision.
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
259 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to talk about a difficult decision I had to make about two years ago, when I received two job offers at the same time. One was from a stable, well-known bank in my home city, with a good salary and hours that I could plan around. The other was from a small start-up in another city, which paid slightly less but offered much more responsibility and the chance to learn quickly.
It was hard because both options had clear advantages. The bank was safe, and my parents strongly preferred it, because they wanted me to stay near them. But the start-up excited me more. I felt torn for almost two weeks. I made a long list of pros and cons, talked to friends who worked in each sector, and even asked a former professor for advice. He said something that stayed in my mind: choose the job that will make you uncomfortable in a useful way.
In the end, I decided to take the plunge and join the start-up. I told my parents carefully, explaining my reasons and promising to visit regularly. At first, they were disappointed, but they came to accept it.
For the first few weeks, I wondered whether I'd made a mistake, because everything was new and the workload was heavy. But gradually I gained confidence, and today I'm happy with my choice. It taught me that no decision is completely risk-free, and that you have to choose the path that matches your values and be ready to work hard to make it successful.
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.
Getting ready for IELTS?
Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| weigh the pros and cons | to consider advantages and disadvantages |
| torn between | unable to choose between two options |
| take the plunge | to finally do something risky |
| follow my gut feeling | to trust instinct |
| make up my mind | to decide |
| no turning back | unable to change a decision |
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
- Choosing between two job offers
- Deciding whether to move to another city or country
- Choosing a university course
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat the decision was
- 25 swhy it was difficult
- 25 swhat you decided in the end
- 45 sand explain how you felt about your decision.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Decision-making. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do some people find it difficult to make decisions?
- Should young people make important decisions on their own?
- Who influences your decisions most: family, friends or yourself?
- Is it better to make quick decisions or to think carefully?
- How do leaders make decisions that affect many people?
- Do you think people regret their choices more as they get older?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Experiences
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe an experience in an IELTS cue card?
Tell it as a story in the past: set the scene (when, where, who), what happened, how it ended. Then explain what you felt or learned. Past tenses used accurately are part of what the examiner is listening for.
Getting ready for IELTS?
More free IELTS tools
All free toolsWriting topic generator
Write to Task 1 and Task 2 prompts with a timer and a word counter.
IELTS band score calculator
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
IELTS score converter
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
University IELTS requirements
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.