The IELTS Cue Card Section, the second task (Part 2) of the IELTS Speaking Test, is generally thought of as one of the hardest parts of the IELTS Test. Why?
It is for this reason that you are given a topic that you may not have enough knowledge about, on the spot and you have no option to change it.
To make it worse, you have very little time to prepare and you must speak for a lengthier period, on your own, without interference and questions from the examiner. Worry no more!
This article provides you with sample responses for the cue card topic ‘Describe one of the busiest days of your life.’ Keep reading to learn more.
What is the IELTS Cue Card Question?
In the IELTS Speaking Task 2, the examiner will hand you a cue card or a task card containing 3-4 questions and instructions on how to answer the topics. The material will be based on personal experiences.
Once you have been given the topic, you have one minute to prepare, after which you have to speak for about 1-2 minutes until the examiner asks you to stop.
A piece of paper and a pencil will be provided so that you can jot down your thoughts on paper if you desire.
The examiner will not interrupt you while you are speaking. Instead, he or she will just nod to encourage you.
Soon after the two minutes are over, the examiner will stop you and ask you a few questions on what you said, to which you will have to give brief answers.
How to Answer this Specific Cue Card Question: “Describe One of the Busiest Days of Your Life”?
Topic/Question
Describe One of the Busiest Days of Your Life
Guidelines to answer this question
You should say:
- When it was
- Where it was
- Who were there with you
And explain how and what you felt after that day was finally over.
- Recall one of the busiest days of your life. It could be recent or something that occurred a long time ago. Make sure that you have a good recollection of that day so you will have a lot to share and discuss later on.
- Once you have decided on a specific day, stick with it. You do not have the luxury of time to change what you have chosen because you only have 60 seconds to prepare your speech.
- Begin taking notes. Write down when and where this activity happened. Discuss what made you so busy, who was involved in it and what all things you did that day. Do not forget to explain how you felt when that day ended.
- Do not write sentences because you have a limited amount of time to prepare. Simply write keywords and phrases to maximize your time.
- Make liberal use of advanced language and difficult grammar patterns. This will astound the examiner and ultimately help you score high in this section of the test.
- Take quick notes, but make sure your handwriting is understandable, by you. No matter what and how you have written on your notes, the examiner will not mind. You are marked based on the content and delivery of your speech.
- Do take a look at the notes you have written once in a while. It is okay. The examiner will not forbid you of doing so.
Sample Responses for “Describe One of the Busiest Days of Your Life”
Sample Response 1:
“From time to time, we all get busy when there is an exam, a family member’s illness, completing assignments, meeting deadlines, and so on. One such hectic period in my life that I recall vividly was the moment when I had to submit my thesis paper for the final time in my university’s final year. I had around two months to finish the thesis, however, I lost almost two weeks owing to work pressure. I had classes to attend, exams to study for, and an office job to do. I just had a few hours left for personal matters, and I was afraid of falling behind on my thesis paper submission deadline.
The thesis was complicated, and I had to visit libraries, search the internet, participate in group discussions and meetings, and think a lot in order to organize the writing for the thesis. In addition, I had to visit a few local offices to gather statistics for my thesis. Those days went so hard, and I was so busy that at times, I only slept for 4 hours at night. Work burden, pressure, heavy schedules, targets, going from place to place, lessons were all a part of my daily life.
I consider myself quite fortunate to have finally completed and submitted my thesis on time. Surprisingly, I landed an ‘A+’ on my thesis, kept my job, and did well on my finals. But I had to make a lot of sacrifices and stick to a rigid schedule to do so. Furthermore, in order to accomplish everything on time, I had to put a halt to a lot of my customary hobbies. As a result, I was able to deal with the stress and deadlines. I owe a debt of gratitude to several of my instructors, students, and friends, without whom I would’ve not been able to do everything correctly and on time.”
Follow-up Question 1:
How has life’s pace changed over the decades?
Response 1:
“Well, I think that life’s pace has changed a great deal. We are living in a fast-paced world now and everyone is busy either because of work, studies, and lifestyle. Three or four decades ago, everything was so simple and everyone worked just to get by. But now, it’s completely different. I think everyone is not just surviving to stay alive, but to meet a specific lifestyle they want to achieve. I’m not saying it’s not good, I’m just saying it’s different.”
Follow-up Question 2:
How do you treat and pamper yourself after a tiring and busy day?
Response:
“That’s actually an interesting question, and the answer is I go to a spa and have a relaxing massage. After that, I eat at my favorite restaurant. That’s how I pamper and reward myself after a long and busy day. If I don’t have time that particular day, I do it on the weekend.”
Sample Response 2:
“I work part-time as a sales executive in a multinational computer hardware showroom. I had to stay active last month, on the 24th to be exact, because there was a lot of pressure on sales. In reality, it was the biggest sale of the year, as the company announced a 50 percent reduction on all of its products to commemorate its 50th anniversary.
The sale started the morning after the shop opened. People flocked to the showroom. A large number of customers came to the store and bought what they needed. They were pleased with the reduced prices of merchandise. It was a very joyous event for them because they were able to get the expensive things for half the price. It was difficult for me to keep track of everything. In reality, I grew tired of executing the tasks one after the other. First, I examined the CCTV monitors to make sure everything was in order. When I discovered no unusual activity, I exited the monitoring room. The second step in my responsibilities was to meet and greet the clients. My job was done when they chose their required product or appliance, and I turned them over to another sales representative.
Initially, I felt a need for relief. However, there are some intriguing advantages to being a busy person. When someone is preoccupied with any task, time seems to fly by. Furthermore, meeting new people and explaining the benefits and characteristics of the items was really intriguing and fun. I truly enjoyed the hectic working hours and wish to be as busy as that day all the time.”
Follow-up Question 1:
How important do you think is it for someone to like and enjoy their job?
Response:
“In my perspective, enjoying the job that you do is highly important. We all want a profession that will give us satisfaction and fulfillment, regardless of how much money we make. If we are not happy with what we do, I think it is time that we find another job that will make us happy.”
Follow-up Question 2:
How important is salary to you when it comes to job satisfaction?
Response:
“It’s actually tricky and it all differs from one person to another. But since you’re asking me, I don’t think it’s that important, as long as I think I’m being paid enough. What is more important to me is the people I’m working with and the growth and development I will have while working. As long as I have these two, then I’d be happy.”
Vocabulary List for Answering the Question: “Describe One of the Busiest Days of Your Life”
Below are some terms from the sample responses for the cue card topic ‘Describe one of the busiest days of your life.’ with their definitions and example sentences for your reference.
| Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Usage of the Word in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| customary | adjective | According to the conventions or typical practices of a specific community, location, or set of circumstances | “Is it customary in your nation to tip waiters?” |
| execute | verb | To carry out or put into action an order, a plan, or course of action | “She instructed her niece to execute her wishes.” |
| flock | verb | To swarm or huge bunch gather or mass | “While eagles fly alone, sheep flock together.” |
| fortunate | adjective | Benefited by or involving great luck | “The child was fortunate to have understanding parents.” |
| halt | noun | A momentary cessation of movement or activity | “Just in time, the taxi jerked to a halt.” |
| hectic | adjective | Teeming with unending or frenzied activity | “They are frantically preparing for a hectic day of activities on Saturday.” |
| inventory | noun | A comprehensive list of items such as real estate, inventory, or the contents of a building | “According to the inventory, the store was oversupplied.” |
| merchandise | noun | Items to be purchased and sold | “Customers complained about low-quality merchandise and exorbitant costs.” |
| pace | noun | The rate at which something occurs, alters, or develops | “We followed the kids at a more leisurely pace.” |
| pamper | verb | Spoil with all of your care, comfort, and compassion | “They pamper themselves after a long day at work.” |
| preoccupied | adjective | Absorbed in thought; diverted | “Her mind is constantly preoccupied with fitness, strength, and remaining in top shape.” |
| promptness | noun | The characteristic or practice of arriving or being ready on time | “The employee responded with promptness and courteously.” |
| rigid | adjective | Unable to flex or be pulled out of shape; rigid | “Her backbone was rigid as she stood.” |
| roughly | adverb | Approximately | “There were roughly 200 people in attendance. |
| seldom | adverb | Not often; very rarely | “Things are seldom as they appear.” |