[Band 8.5] Describe a time you were very busy IELTS Cue-Card

In Describe a time you were very busy Cue Card, you should say:

1. When did it happen?

2. Where were you?

3. What did you do?

4. Explain why you were that busy?

Here’s the first sample answer to Describe a time you were very busy IELTS Speaking Cue Card:

Introduction

Childhood is the best phase of life and once it’s over, there will be no moment in time when you would not be busy. So today I would take this opportunity to speak about one such time.

When did it happen?

Last Saturday morning, I woke up with a big smile on my face. Two hours beyond my usual wake-up time, I stretched my arms and saw that it was 10 O’clock. My younger sister entered the room just as I made the decision to sleep for a few more minutes. She instructed me to get ready as our aunt’s family would be stopping by for brunch and our mother would need our assistance in the kitchen.

Where were you?

I started chopping veggies, peeling potatoes, and whisking eggs within the next fifteen minutes in the kitchen. We had the impression that we were feeding a large army. The scent of recently baked and fried food submerged in the air. My mother kept giving me additional duties to complete, so I had to restrain my drooling taste senses.

I was working under time constraints, which gave me the impression that I was taking part in a cooking competition on television.

What did you do?

I had anticipated being able to relax after cooking, but instead, my mother instructed my sister and me to arrange the table before helping her decorate the meal. I tried to sneak a few bites but one glare from my mother made me put the cutlet down. Meanwhile, the father had been tasked with purchasing fresh flowers for the home.

Explain why you were that busy?

After the Aunt came home, I thought I would finally have some calm once we sat down for brunch, but I was terribly mistaken. I was asked to go get ice for the lemonade halfway through finishing my lunch. With my mother watching over me, I scarcely had a chance to say no.

After brunch, everyone gathered in the living room to talk about current events and politics while my sister and I cleared the table. We feel the need to package and store the leftover food in the fridge.

Concluding the Cue Card

By the time I was through, I just wanted to lay in bed and read a book since my legs hurt. Even though my day had gone completely against what I had anticipated, I gave myself a boost by reminding myself that the next week also has a weekend.

So this is my story of a time when I was very busy.

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MODEL ANSWER 2

Everybody gets busy during times when they have some kind of family event, or when there’s somebody ill, or when they are under intense work pressure, etc. Despite the fact that the majority of us aspire to live carefree and stress-free lives, when a circumstance calls for a quick response, we are all occupied.

Last year, there was one such hectic period that I can vividly recall when I had to finish and submit my class assignment.

I had around two weeks to finish the assignment, but because of the wedding in my family, I made very little progress during the first week. I was so busy with all the arrangements at my home that the thought of completing my crucial assignment didn’t occur.

After the wedding, I picked up my books from where I left off and started jotting down whatever I could. Frankly speaking, I was nervous. I rarely had any time for personal matters, and I was concerned that I was running late in submitting my assignment and that would cost me my whole semester.

So I had to visit libraries, search the internet, participate in group discussions, and do a lot of brainstorming because the topic of the assignment was complicated. Additionally, I had to go to a few nearby offices to gather information for my assignment. Those were such difficult days, and I was so busy that I occasionally only slept for four hours at night.

I count myself quite lucky to have finally finished the assignment and turned it in on time. All my sacrifices paid off. Apart from this, I put a lot of other things on hold that I often performed at the time in order to accomplish things on time. I had thus been able to bear the deadline and pressure.

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FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

Following are the probable set of IELTS Speaking Part-3 follow-up questions for Describe a time you were very busy cue card:

1) Do you like the fast pace of modern life?

Frankly, I do not like the fast pace of modern life. A fast pace leads to progress, but do we actually need it? What is the price we are paying for developing a world in which people constantly lead a chaotic lifestyle? 

So, I would always prefer to go along with the flow not ahead of it.

2) How do you feel when you are really busy?

Well, there are times when I am too busy, and it causes me to suffer in many aspects of my life. Small setbacks or irritations begin to trigger extreme feelings of frustration and distress. And I feel like burning up large amounts of physical and emotional energy.

3) What is the best way to deal with stress?

I think the best way to deal with stress is to take a stroll in the park. Spending more time outside may help reduce stress. If you live in an urban area, you can seek out green spaces such as local parks, arboretums, and botanical gardens.

4) What kind of lifestyle is suitable for people in modern society?

In today’s modern culture, people are chronically busy to survive in a fast-paced environment. However, little changes in lifestyle can help us navigate through it. For instance, Exercise regularly to keep yourself fit and move around more. Don’t sit at your desk all day long. In addition to this, do not intoxicate your body with alcohol every week.

5) What relaxation techniques do you usually use?

To effectively combat stress, I activate my body’s natural relaxation response using techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, meditation, and yoga.

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I hope it gives you some realistic idea on how to carry a conversation around Describe a time you were very busy IELTS Cue card topic. However, it is strongly advised not to reproduce the same answer during the exam. You should rather reformulate and personalize your answer.

If you still need any help, don’t be shy to comment below.

ALL THE BEST!

Rajit