Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve: IELTS cue card

Bhargavee Sisodia

10 Jul 2024

The most well-known language competency exam that permits immigration to nations where English is the primary language is the IELTS test. This test guarantees that you can integrate into and make a positive contribution to economies and societies abroad. The IELTS exam comes in two flavours: Academic for students and General Training for professionals in the workforce. Despite this, both variants share a similar format. 

Your overall language proficiency will be evaluated in four categories: speaking test, writing test, listening test, and reading test. Lastly, the overall score of the IELTS exam is displayed on a band scale from 0 to 9, with 9 representing the greatest possible score. 

Your speaking ability, including vocabulary, grammar usage, pronunciation, fluency, and clarity of speech, will be evaluated throughout the IELTS speaking test. This is a free-form speaking exam that lasts between eleven and fifteen minutes and is recorded. 

Your potential to deliver a speech and one-on-one conversation capabilities will be evaluated during the IELTS speaking topics section, after which you will answer the examiner's questions. This portion of the IELTS speaking exam must be taken in person, in real-time, even though the IELTS exam can be taken on paper or electronically. You will be fully evaluated on each of the three sections of the IELTS speaking test:  

1. Basic introductory skills
2. Lecturing skills / Ability to deliver a speech
3. Conversation and Communication skills

The cue card or IELTS speaking topics portion of the IELTS speaking test is tough yet adaptable enough to enable you to shine with confidence after breaking the ice in the introductory round. For this portion of the speaking test, you will be provided with a paper and pencil. The card question will provide a suggestion for you to brainstorm and jot down ideas to add to your paper while you speak. You will have approximately one minute to prepare before giving a two-minute presentation of your ideas. This will assess your ability to formulate concepts and viewpoints. The IELTS speaking test concludes with rounding questions and follow-up questions from the examiner. To do well on the test, you must respond quickly to these questions. 

It is recommended to practice before the IELTS test by participating in mock sessions through the IELTS practice test, as this section involves flexibility in presenting a monologue with grammatical correctness. 

The best way for you to do well on this speaking test is to practice taking the IELTS sample test and studying as many IELTS speaking topics as you can. Here are some examples of cue card topics and follow-up questions to help you grasp the format and coherence of that section of the IELTS speaking test and to help you plan how to approach it wisely. 

IELTS exam sample 1: Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve

The IELTS-speaking topics that follow similar trajectories need to be approached similarly. Thus, topics such as the above would require you to dig into your emotions and personal experiences. Your answers should be unique enough to attract the attention of the examiner but simply put to avoid grammatical and pronunciation mistakes.

Let's now look directly at the first IELTS exam sample where we have followed the same sequence in forming the response.

Introduction

Ever since I started earning, I have fostered a dream that has become a long-term goal of mine now. The goal I am talking about is to save enough money to be able to purchase a house for my parents in the countryside where they can spend the latter half of their life in peace, without a single ounce if worry in their minds. 

The reason behind such a goal 

Ever since I was a child, I have witnessed my parents working tremendously hard to make ends meet without a single complaint on their lips. We have been staying at a rented apartment for a very long time and I am aware of all the hurdles they had to cross to make my life as sufficient as possible. Thus, from the moment I started earning a little, my goal was set.  Wanted to give my parents the peace they always deserved.

How do you plan to achieve your goal? 

To be able to achieve my goal, I need to have sufficient finances and enough willpower to power through all the hurdles that I would be facing on my way towards the goal. I need to have a stable career and gaining the best educational qualifications is the stepping stone for that. 

Conclusion

I am confident that with proper education and proper strategy, I will be able to achieve my goal. I am looking forward to the day when I will be able to witness the smiles on my parent’s faces when I hand over the key to their apartment.

IELTS exam sample 2:  Describe a long-term goal you would like to achieve

Introduction

I have one long-term goal which I would like to achieve in the near future. The goal I am speaking about is to be free of all the responsibilities I have and be able to roam the entire world and see every single place with my own eyes. 

The reason behind such a goal 

I have been the most responsible child for my parents and have given my everything to satisfy their needs and support them in the best way possible. I have lived a very hectic life since my college days and have never delegated my responsibilities to anyone else. So there are some moments in my life, where I feel overburdened by those responsibilities. Of course, I understand my duties toward my loved ones, and I would give my cent percent to fulfill them.

How do you plan to achieve your goal? 

I am going to work hard for the next 30 years of my life to achieve every single goal of mine and fulfill all my responsibilities. Once I am free from them, I will embark on a new journey of independence, where I roam around the world and witness the magnitude of each corner of it. I want to experience different cultures and imbibe their values within me while strolling on a new adventure every day. That is the life I want to lead when I am completely freed from all the prior commitments of my life. 

Conclusion

I am entirely certain that with enough hard work and perseverance, I will be able to achieve this long-term goal of mine. Sure I would have to work harder than others, but with my level of determination and self-control, I can achieve it within the stipulated timeframe. 

Follow-up IELTS speaking questions for the IELTS exam

The IELTS follow-up questions section is the third and last section of the IELTS speaking test. This section entitles a candidate to answer a set of IELTS speaking questions tossed at them by the examiner depending on the response from the IELTS cue card section. The follow-up section is designed to judge the communication and conversation skills of the applicant thus you need to practice answering the IELTS speaking questions during your IELTS preparation.  Let us have a look at some follow-up questions on the above IELTS exam sample topic. 

What do you think is the difference between short-term and long-term goals? 

Answer: Short-term goals are some goals that can be achieved within a short amount of time. It would require less effort and nominal perseverance to achieve. A long-term goal on the other hand would require a great deal of hard work and ample time to be achieved. For example, a short-term goal would be to secure a certain band in my IELTS exam while my long-term goal is to purchase an apartment with my own money and gift it to my parents.

What are the factors on which your goals in life depend? 

Answer: Personally speaking, my goals in life are usually dependent on the achievements I am aiming for in the next phase of my life. I make sure my goals are achievable enough for me to pursue them in a Non stressful manner. It is important to set goals in an objective way so that it is not overwhelming to achieve, otherwise, the main aim of setting up a goal would become moot.

Do you think goals are important in life? 

Answer: Absolutely. I think goals are important for an individual to have a certain sense of achievement in life.  Without that sense, there would be no urge to succeed in life or reach a level of satisfaction. Setting up goals for oneself is important so that you push yourself and take steps forward to grasp a better lifestyle. People should set goals for themselves in order to be productive in life, otherwise life would be meaningless after a certain point.

Do you think goals evolve with age? 

Answer: Yes I believe that is the case to some extent. With the passing days and increasing age, people tend to achieve higher thus they set up higher goals. I wouldn’t say it is entirely dependent on age, it also depends on the level of maturity of a person, their sense of fulfillment, and their personalities. For example, when I was young, my goal was to score better in my final exams to get a chocolate from my father, but today, my goal is to achieve a level of financial sufficiency that would enable me to help my parents during their times of need. 

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• Describe something you would like to learn in future: IELTS Cue Card
• Describe a subject that you would like to learn in future: IELTS Cue Card
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Conclusion

Importantly, passing the IELTS test is a prerequisite for admission to the majority of universities and opens up employment prospects overseas. One method to determine your strengths and shortcomings and focus more on the areas that require improvement is to take an IELTS sample test. By familiarizing you with IELTS exam sample questions, IELTS speaking topics, and IELTS speaking questions, we at DVIVID are here to provide you with rigorous and individualized guidance during the IELTS test. Our staff of certified trainers at DVIVID Consultant is dedicated to providing effective IELTS exam preparation, including the IELTS practice test and sessions for clearing doubts, to help you attain high band scores.