Describe a period when you were busy : IELTS exam Cue Card

Bhargavee Sisodia

24 Jun 2024

Describe a period when you were busy : IELTS exam Cue Card

The four main tests that make up the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS test, are the Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking tests. Every test has a unique formatting, therefore it's important to comprehend how each one is supposed to be taken. To do this, you'll need an appropriate IELTS exam preparation guide. You must prepare for the most coveted IELTS exam sample questions during your IELTS preparation and it is not sufficient to simply scan the often-asked IELTS speaking questions, but you have to practice answering them on your own.

In this blog, we'll discuss numerous ways to deal with the IELTS speaking topics. This will help you interpret each of the IELTS speaking topics of the speaking test and their underlying meanings, put the cue card's rules into practice, and effectively communicate your ideas. Starting with the following, you should get ready for the speaking section of the IELTS speaking test.

First, you can concentrate on your vocabulary for the speaking test. This will not only help you in the IELTS speaking test but also in the overall IELTS exam preparation. You can read English books, films, and shows, and write down any new words that you will come across.

Second, you need to focus on your communication skills. This will help you effectively give an answer with a good flow and express your thoughts. The more you attempt IELTS practice test questions, the more you will get better at this.

Third, you have to work on your fluency. Practicing the IELTS sample test answers is one way to do it. Another way is to keep speaking in English whenever you can.

In order to grasp the strategies for addressing the topic on a personal level, let's talk about one such IELTS speaking exam sample question. For one minute, you will brainstorm the answer and for the next two minutes, you will speak about the given subject. The examiner will give you a few follow-up questions based on your response after your two-minute speech, which will end your IELTS speaking test. 

IELTS speaking question : Describe a period when you were busy

While dealing with the topic "Describe a period when you were busy" our strategy will be to divide the answer into smaller sections and determine the one or two points that you want to cover in these sections.

1)Introduction: specify the time and give a brief idea of it.

2)Why were you busy at that time: Mention if you had to juggle between two or three jobs or talk about the burden if you faced it.

3)How did you manage to cope up with the challenges: First brief about the challenges you were facing at that time and then talk through how you overcame it.

4)What did you learn from that time: if there was anything that you learned, you can mention that.

5)Conclusion: summarize the answer and end it in a memorable note.

IELTS exam sample answer 1: Describe a period when you were busy

Introduction:

The couple of months before my twelfth board examinations was extremely busy for me and I remember feeling anxious and scared every day that I would not be able to complete all that I had planned to do in a day.

Why were you busy at that time:

I had to prepare for my board examination as well as my engineering entrance exam which was a difficult task for me. It was not only difficult but I struggled to manage my time effectively. I was busy throughout the day, attending school, tuition, completing assignments and practical works, preparing for tests, revising chapters, and attempting mock tests.

How did you manage to cope with the challenges:

After a month of struggle, I finally confided in one of my seniors who helped me manage my time. She made a weekly timetable for me specifying when I would complete what task and that was a life-saver. I put up the timetable right in front of my desk and followed it religiously. Within a week I was much sorted and organized with my activities and even managed to make time for myself for leisure.

What did you learn from that time:

I learned that no matter how busy we are, there are 24 hours in a day and that is enough time to complete everything properly. We just have to plan and manage our time well. I also learned that in every phase of life, it is natural to get busy but it is equally important to take time off and relax. Even if it is for an hour in the day, it is important to relax and pursue a hobby or just listen to music if not anything. This will help us become rejuvenated and give our brain the breath it needs.

Conclusion:

It will be one of the memorable phases of my life. However, it was all worth the hard work because I was able to achieve a good score in my board examinations and a good rank in the entrance exam.

IELTS exam sample answer 2: Describe a period when you were busy

Introduction:

Recently, at the office, our team was made the pilot team for a new project that was trialed to be implemented site-wise, which made it extremely busy for us.

Why were you busy at that time:

Our team was handling the routine project as usual and to top it, we were also given the responsibility to handle the pilot. So in short, we were technically in charge of two simultaneous projects and that was an extremely busy period. Throughout the day, we had to attend several calls with the clients for the old project, understand the requirements of the pilot project, and make reports of the changes that needed to be incorporated into the pilot. Almost every day our shifts used to get extended by almost a couple of hours and by the end of the day, we used to be exhausted like never before.

How did you manage to cope with the challenges:

Our manager was extremely helpful during this time. He understood the challenges that our team was facing and thus, ensured to talk to the client to extend deadlines whenever he felt that a task was not possible to be completed in the time specified by the client. He divided the tasks effectively and made smaller groups in the team who were responsible for sub-tasks. This made the job more manageable.

What did you learn from that time:

Multitasking is a key skill that I learned from that time. Previously, I have always been the person who used to focus on a task, complete it wholeheartedly, and then move on to the next task. However, this particular phase taught me how to effectively balance several tasks efficiently and not to stress about it. It also taught me teamwork and made me closer to my colleagues.

Conclusion:

We had managed to complete both the projects while meeting all the client expectations and thus, that busy period was totally worthwhile.

IELTS speaking test next step: Follow up questions

The purpose of the follow-up questions of the IELTS speaking test is to evaluate your ability to communicate effectively, have meaningful conversations, and express your thoughts in an elegant manner. Given that it calls for quick thinking and active participation, this component of the IELTS speaking exam is perceived as the most difficult of all. In order to feel confident in this segment, you should review each of the IELTS speaking questions and practice speaking on the test as much as you can. 

IELTS speaking test - Follow up question

Question 1 : How do you think you can best manage your time?

Answer : According to me, planning is the key to time management. When we are given a task or when we know we need to complete a few works in a given period of time, what I like to do is make a small schedule for myself with the time I would like to allocate for each task. This way I have a basic blueprint in my head on how to go about the day and how to proceed with each task.

Question 2: How important is it for you to take time off during your busy days?

Answer : I always make sure to keep an hour for myself in the day even if I am too busy. This is a much-needed time to keep myself unoccupied and relax. If we do not rest our minds and always keep on working, our productivity and efficiency will be bound to get lessened. Also, over exhaustion and overwork will also affect our health which will ultimately hamper our work. 

Question 3 : How do you balance your work or studies and at the same time make time for your family?

Answer : As much as studies and work are important, for me, my priority will always be my family. I make sure to spend time with them even when I am busy with work. It might be in the smallest of ways like having morning tea together or having dinner together, I sit with them, laugh, ask them about theirs, and share my day with them. This is the normalcy that I seek in my life and it helps me stay energetic and motivated to work.

Question 4 : Do you think the younger generation compromises on their sleep when there is work or study pressure?

Answer : Yes. However, in the long run, this is not advisable. To me keeping our brain and body healthy is very important and adequate and sound sleep is a key factor in being healthy. While it is understandable to have less sleep for a few days during an examination or an important project deadline, it is very important to sleep well and not work with insufficient sleep for an extended period

Conclusion

In order to raise your IELTS exam score, you need to work with a dependable collaborator to prepare for the IELTS test. With our tailored programs for every student and our extensive library of IELTS sample test questions and answers across a range of IELTS speaking topics, D-VIVID will be your buddy for IELTS preparation. Our website has IELTS exam sample questions that you can use to increase your vocabulary, learn the answers, and practice. Throughout the entire IELTS preparation process, you can get advice from our team of experienced tutors. Our specially designed IELTS sample test will help you with time management, speaking practice, and comprehending the importance of each section of the test. You will understand your key areas of improvement, and our instructors will be there to help you at every junction. So don't delay, get in touch with us right now to begin your IELTS exam preparation process.