Scorify.uzThe cue card
Describe a piece of advice that someone gave you which was useful.
You should say:
- what the advice was
- who gave it to you
- when you received it
- and explain why it was useful
Band 7 sample answer
The best advice I have ever received came from my father when I was about sixteen. He told me, “Do not wait until you feel ready; start, and the readiness will come.” I did not understand it properly at the time, but it has stayed with me since.
He said it one evening after I complained that I could not begin my school project because I felt it was too complicated. I wanted to wait for a better mood and more free time. He sat with me, opened a blank document, and asked me to write just the title and three bullet points. Within half an hour I had an outline, and the rest became much easier.
This advice has been useful in many situations. For example, when I was afraid to apply for an internship because my English was not perfect, I remembered his words and sent the application anyway. I did not get that job, but I received an interview offer from another company, and the process taught me a lot.
I think it was useful because many of us delay things out of fear of failure. Now, whenever I feel stuck, I try to take the smallest possible first step. It sounds simple, but it has made me more productive and less anxious. My father later told me that his own teacher gave him the same advice when he was young. So in a way, it is a small family tradition, and I hope to pass it on to my own children one day with a similar blank page.
About 262 words, roughly 2 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- procrastinate — delay doing something
- take the first step — begin an action
- stay with me — remain in my memory
- words of wisdom — wise advice
- a fear of failure — worry about not succeeding
- productive — achieving a lot
- take on board — accept and use advice
Tips for this cue card
- Quote the advice in one short sentence.
- Describe the situation where you first heard it.
- Give a later example of using it.
Part 3 follow-up questions
Who do people usually ask for advice?
Idea: Family and close friends first, then teachers or experts when the problem is specialised.
Is advice from older people always helpful?
Idea: They have experience, but times change, so advice should be adapted to current conditions.
Do people today get advice online more than from friends?
Idea: Many search forums and videos first, which is fast but less personal and sometimes unreliable.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.