In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get this card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Below: the notes a strong candidate might make in that minute, a natural Band 7–8 answer, the words that make it work, and the Part 3 discussion the examiner usually moves on to.
The cue card
Describe a time when you were very busy
You should say:
- when it was
- what you had to do
- how you managed
- and explain why it was a busy period
One-minute notes
Notes in the preparation minute should be keywords, not sentences — one line per bullet, plus the one detail that makes your story yours. Something like:
- final month of my degree
- thesis + part-time job + moving flat
- lists every morning, cut social media, asked for help
- slept badly, but finished on time
- busy: three deadlines landed at once
Band 7–8 sample answer
The busiest period I can remember was the last month of my degree, a couple of years ago. Looking back, I'm still not entirely sure how I got through it.
Three big things all landed at the same time. First, I had to finish my final thesis, which was about forty pages and had a fixed deadline. Second, I was working part-time in a café three evenings a week, and I couldn't afford to quit. And third, my landlord decided to sell the flat I was renting, so I had to find somewhere new and move out within about three weeks.
The way I managed, if 'managed' is the right word, was by being very strict with myself. Every morning I wrote a short list of what absolutely had to happen that day — usually no more than three things — and I ignored everything else. I deleted social media apps from my phone for the month, which saved a surprising amount of time. And I did something I'm normally bad at, which is asking for help: two friends spent a whole weekend helping me pack and carry boxes.
It was a busy period simply because I had no control over the timing; the deadlines happened to fall in the same few weeks. I slept badly and lived on pasta, but I submitted the thesis two days early and moved in time. The lesson I took from it is that I'm capable of a lot more than I think, but also that I never want to do it again.
About 259 words — roughly two minutes at a relaxed pace. Notice what it does: one specific story instead of general statements, every bullet covered, natural spoken linking rather than "firstly… secondly…", and the "why" part of the card answered properly at the end — that is where many candidates run out of things to say. Use it to see the structure; don't memorise it. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and your own story will always sound more fluent.
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Useful vocabulary
- get through (something) — to survive a difficult period
- land at the same time — to happen together, often unexpectedly
- be snowed under — to have far too much work (informal)
- prioritise — to decide what is most important and do it first
- a tight deadline — very little time to finish something
- live on (something) — to eat mostly one thing because you are busy or poor
Part 3: questions and model answers
After your two minutes, the examiner moves to a discussion linked to the card's topic. These questions are more abstract: give an opinion, a reason and an example, and it's fine to say "it depends" — as long as you explain on what.
Why do people feel busier than in the past?
Partly because work and personal life are no longer separated. Phones mean we can answer emails at any hour, so the working day never quite ends. There's also more choice — more activities, more information — and people feel they should be doing all of it, which creates a constant feeling of being behind.
How can people manage their time better?
The simplest method is deciding on just a few priorities each day instead of a long list. Turning off notifications helps a lot too. I also think people should be more realistic about how long tasks take, because most of us plan our days as if nothing will ever go wrong.
Should companies allow flexible working hours?
Where possible, yes. Flexible hours let people work when they're most productive and fit in things like childcare. It does need clear rules, though — for example, a few core hours when everyone is available — otherwise teams can find it hard to work together.
Is being busy a sign of success?
Not necessarily. Some people are busy because they're successful, but others are busy because they're badly organised or can't say no. In some cultures being busy has become almost a status symbol, which I think is unhealthy. Being able to take time off can be just as much a sign of success.
More cue cards about experiences and events
- Describe a journey you remember well
- Describe an important decision you made
- Describe a time someone helped you
- Describe a goal you achieved
- Describe an interesting conversation you had
- Describe a change that improved your life
- Describe a time you were late for something important
- Describe a celebration you enjoyed
- Describe a time you changed your mind about something
- Describe a piece of good advice you received
- Describe a time you taught someone something
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