IELTS | A Decision Which Impacted Your Life Positively

IELTS CUE CARD Q&A October IELTS speaking test
Describe a decision you had to make in the past, which impacted positively on your life. You should say:
– what the decision was
– why you made it
– how you benefitted from it
and describe how you arrived at your decision.

Good luck with your IELTS Speaking Test!

IELTS CUE CARD ANSWER:
I can think of one particular decision that I made, and it has changed my life. It was the decision to plan to go and study abroad in the USA. It was a difficult decision, but it has changed my life.
I was so motivated to achieve this goal and part of the process was improving my English and preparing everything before leaving.
It was quite a long process, but well worth it – it has resulted in my life going in a completely new direction from what it was just a few years ago. The time I spent in the USA was sufficient to make me realize that I wanted to emigrate permanently and live and work there.
I had been feeling frustrated before, like a feeling of not having any real vision of my future other than simply continuing to work in a job that I really wasn’t enjoying.
I’ve already been offered two positions in the USA based on my qualifications and work experience, so I’m really excited about going and starting a new life there. I’ve always been fascinated by the different culture there and although economically things are more difficult everywhere in the world these days, the USA really does still offer great opportunities if you can find work.
As I said, I had been feeling like I was stuck in a rut and the decision to go to the USA for six months and study English, and get a better feel for day to day life there, was literally the best decision I’ve ever made in my life so far. I loved it from day one and by the time I returned home I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.
Even though I had been feeling fed up before I went, the decision to go wasn’t easy at all. I talked it over with my best friend and my parents also, because it was going to affect them – me not being at home for six months – so I needed to make sure they understood why I wanted to go.
After finding out everything required in terms of the visa and all that stuff, I organized myself and got everything together as quickly as possible. While I was preparing all the documents I was also checking out English course that I could study for a semester.
I eventually enrolled in an English course in the University of Berkeley, California. The whole process took several months but by the time I was ready to leave I was convinced I was doing the best thing for my future – and I was right.
Follow up question: Do you think that some people find making decisions easier than others? Why do think that is?
Yes, I believe that’s probably true, there are people who seem to be very good at making decisions; it’s like they have an aptitude for analyzing a situation and making the best choice. And others seem to take a lot of time and go back and forth before they eventually make up their mind.