Describe an important decision you made
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card with a full sample answer, a Band 9 model of the two-minute long turn.
The cue card
Describe an important decision you made
You should say:
- what the decision was
- how you made your decision
- what the results of the decision were
- why it was important
Sample answer
I'd like to talk about an important decision I made a couple of years ago, which was choosing to study a particular field at university rather than following the path my family had initially expected.
The decision was whether to pursue my genuine passion for computer science or to opt for a more traditional and, in my family's eyes, safer profession such as medicine or law. It was a significant crossroads, as this choice would essentially shape my entire future career.
I didn't make the decision lightly or in haste. I spent a great deal of time carefully weighing up the pros and cons of each option. I researched the job prospects, spoke to people already working in these fields, and reflected honestly on where my own interests and strengths lay. I also had several long, and at times difficult, conversations with my parents to explain my reasoning. Ultimately, I trusted my instincts and chose to follow the path that genuinely excited me.
The results of this decision have been overwhelmingly positive. I threw myself into my studies with real enthusiasm, precisely because I was doing something I loved, and as a result I've performed well and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It has also opened up exciting opportunities that I might never have discovered otherwise, and my family, seeing how happy and motivated I've become, now fully supports my choice.
This decision was important to me for several reasons. Firstly, it was one of the first major choices I made entirely for myself, which was a real turning point in becoming an independent adult. Secondly, it taught me the invaluable lesson of following my own passion rather than simply meeting others' expectations. Looking back, I'm incredibly grateful that I had the courage to make that decision, as it has set me on a path that feels truly right for me, and I have no regrets whatsoever.
316 words — roughly 2–3 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 2 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How long should I speak for in Part 2?
Between one and two minutes. The examiner stops you at two, so aim to still be talking at the ninety-second mark rather than finishing early — running out at forty seconds is the most common problem in this part.
What do I do with the one minute of preparation time?
You get one minute and a pencil and paper. Most candidates waste it writing full sentences they then read aloud, which sounds flat. Note a few keywords against each bullet instead, so you have four things to say and can speak naturally from them.
Do I have to cover all four bullet points?
They are prompts, not a checklist, and you are not penalised for skipping one. In practice they are the easiest way to fill two minutes, so covering them is usually the simplest way to keep going.
Does it matter if the story is not true?
No. You are assessed on your English, not on whether the events happened. Inventing detail is fine and often easier than recalling a real memory under pressure.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.