Describe an important decision you made

The cue card

Describe an important decision you made. You should say:

• what the decision was
• when you made it
• how you made it
• and explain why it was important

You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1 to 2 minutes.

🎙 Practise this card with the examiner

Notes you could make in 1 minute

Write key words only, one line per bullet point:

• moving to Australia
• three years ago
• research, family talks
• changed my career

Band 7+ sample answer

One of the most important decisions I've made was to move to Australia to study nursing. I made it about three years ago, when I was working in an office job back home that paid well but didn't really interest me.

I didn't decide quickly. I spent almost six months researching courses, costs and visa requirements, and I talked to friends who had already studied overseas. The hardest part was talking to my parents, because they were worried about me living so far away. In the end, I wrote a list of advantages and disadvantages and showed it to them, which helped them understand my reasons.

It was important because it changed almost everything about my life: my career, where I live, and even who my friends are. It also meant leaving a stable job and spending a lot of my savings, so it was a real risk. But I think it taught me to trust my own judgement, and now that I'm close to finishing my degree, I'm very glad I took that step.

🔊 Listen to the sample answer

About 175 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.

Useful vocabulary for this topic

• a turning point
• to weigh up the pros and cons
• to take the plunge
• a leap of faith
• in hindsight
• to step out of my comfort zone

Why this answer works: it covers every bullet point, tells a short story with specific details (names, places, numbers), uses a range of tenses, and finishes with the "explain" point, which is where you show your best vocabulary.

Follow-up and Part 3 questions

Examiner's follow-up (Part 2): Do you think it was the right decision?

Part 3 discussion questions:

• Who should young people ask for advice about important decisions?
• Do people make better decisions as they get older?
• Should parents make decisions for their teenage children?
• Why do some people find it hard to make decisions?

Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.

More cue cards

• Describe a gift you gave to someone
• Describe a piece of technology you find useful
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