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Part 2 cue card · Events · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe an important decision you made.

Describe an important decision you made.

You should say:

  • ·what the decision was
  • ·when you made it
  • ·what options you had
  • ·who helped you make it

and explain why it was important to you.

One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk. Then Part 3 asks the questions below.

Sample answers

Two answers to the same card

Same story, two levels. Both were written by Ashore, then checked against the public band descriptors in a separate pass. The bands are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.

A simpler answer

Checked at band 6.5 · 186 words

An important decision I made was to leave my first job and look for a position closer to my interests. I made it about two years ago, when I was 27. I had been working in a shop in the city for nearly three years. The pay was okay, but the hours were long, and I didn't feel I was learning much.

I had two main options. I could stay there and hope things improved, or resign and search for an office job. I was worried because I didn't have another job ready, so it was not an easy choice. My older sister helped me. She listened to me and said I should think about what I wanted in the long term, not just the next month's salary. She also helped me update my CV.

In the end, I left and found a customer-service job in an office after a few weeks. The decision was important because it made my daily life less stressful and gave me more confidence. It also showed me that I could make a big change even when I wasn't completely sure.

  • Simple contrast · “The pay was okay, but the hours were long”
  • Specific detail · “She also helped me update my CV”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7.5 · 262 words

Honestly, one of the most important decisions I've made was to leave my first job in a shop and look for work that suited me better. I made it about two years ago, when I was 27, after nearly three years in that role. The hours often ran late, and although the pay was acceptable, I could see that I wasn't picking up useful new skills. By the end of a shift, I was tired, but I still felt stuck.

I had two realistic options: stay and hope I might get promoted, or resign and try to find an office-based job. Staying would have meant a steady income, which mattered because I was paying my own expenses. On the other hand, I didn't want to look back a few years later and regret not trying something different. I didn't have another job lined up, so the risk was real.

My older sister helped me weigh it up. She didn't tell me what to do; she asked what I wanted my working life to look like in the long run. That question made me realise that a slightly uncertain start was worth it. She also went through my CV with me and pointed out skills from the shop that I could use in customer service.

I handed in my notice and, after a few weeks, got an office customer-service job. It was important because my routine became less stressful and I gained confidence. More than that, it taught me that I can make a considered change without needing every detail guaranteed in advance.

  • Concession · “although the pay was acceptable”
  • Explaining an option · “Staying would have meant a steady income”
  • Characterising support · “She didn't tell me what to do”
  • Relative clause · “skills from the shop that I could use”
  • Reflecting on growth · “without needing every detail guaranteed in advance”
Angles

3 ways to answer it

  1. 1Choosing a university 2,000 km from home: saying goodbye to your mum at the station
  2. 2Turning down a big tech company for a small firm: one line the boss said at interview
  3. 3Deciding to work out every day: the number on your health check that shocked you
Expressions

5 expressions that fit this card

a turning point
a moment of big change
sleep on it
wait a night before deciding
step out of my comfort zone
try something difficult
there was no going back
I couldn't change my mind
the right call
the correct choice
Part 3

The questions that follow

After the long turn, Part 3 asks bigger questions on the same theme. Each one comes with two points you can build an answer from.

  1. 1

    What important decisions do young people in China have to make?

    • ·Picking a major and a city after the gaokao
    • ·Further study or work after graduating
  2. 2

    Do you think people make better decisions as they get older?

    • ·More experience helps them see further ahead
    • ·Age can make people avoid risks
  3. 3

    Why do some people ask friends for advice before making decisions?

    • ·Outsiders can see things more clearly
    • ·They want someone to share the pressure
  4. 4

    Should important decisions be made by individuals or by families?

    • ·Family discussions cover more angles
    • ·Your life should be your own choice
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits this story. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • Deciding to study abroad

    Why you are taking IELTS: the choice, who you talked to, what you gave up, how you are preparing.

Say it out loud and get a band score