IELTS speaking · Part 2 · Cue card

Prep · 1 minTarget · ~2 min

Describe an important decision you made.

Speaking warm-up

Speak, then sort the highlighted phrases.

Compare: Models open with the decision, unpack one dilemma, then close with present-day reflection.

0 of 3 complete

Identify Examiner Criteria

Fluency & CoherenceLexical ResourceGrammatical Range and AccuracyPronunciation is reviewed on your recording.
Band 7Step 1 of 3·Foundation sample· Speak now →

I'll describe choosing to change my university major in second year — about four years ago now. I started in economics because it sounded practical, but I realised I was dragging myself to lectures and doing better in optional design modules. I spoke to a careers adviser and my parents, who worried about job prospects, and I also looked at graduate employment stats online. In the end I switched to product design, which felt risky but honest. Nowadays I'm glad I did it: my internship matches what I enjoy, and although the first semester was stressful, I feel I'm building skills I'll actually use.

Your talking speed
Band 7.5Step 2 of 3·Stronger sample

I'd like to talk about switching my university major in second year — roughly four years ago — from economics to product design. I had enrolled in economics because it sounded secure on paper, yet I dragged myself to finance lectures while optional studio modules kept earning stronger grades, which told me something about real motivation. I compared syllabuses, met a careers adviser, read graduate employment reports, and had long conversations with my parents, who worried about corporate hiring pipelines. The first semester after switching meant catching up on prerequisites and feeling behind, but my current internship finally matches skills I enjoy practising, and I respect the decision for choosing honest interest over a safe label.

Your talking speed
Band 8Step 3 of 3·Top-band sample

The decision I'd focus on is changing my major during second year — about four years ago — when I moved from economics to product design. I'd enrolled in economics for perceived security, but optional design modules kept outperforming my core grades, which told me something honest about motivation. I weighed parental concerns, adviser input, and published graduate outcomes before switching, knowing the first term might mean catching up on studio prerequisites and feeling behind classmates. With hindsight, it was the right call: my current internship uses skills I practise willingly, and while the transition was stressful, I trade that stress for work that feels aligned rather than performed.

Your talking speed

Your answer

Build Your Answer

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Points to cover

  • what the decision was and when you made it
  • why the choice mattered at that time
  • what options you considered before deciding
  • how you feel about the decision now and what happened as a result

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Grammar (your draft)

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IELTS Speaking · Part 2 · Describe an important decision