IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
Describe a personal goal you set for yourself and have achieved.
You should say:
- what type of goal it was
- why it was important to you to achieve this goal
- what you had to do to achieve it
and explain how you felt once you have achieved this goal.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
Oh, thank you so much for this excellent topic that enabled me to talk about a personal goal that meant a lot to me, and that was improving my English speaking skills to a confident level.
To tell you the truth, this was more of a self-development goal rather than an academic requirement. I set this goal about two years ago when I realised that although I could understand English quite well, I often hesitated while speaking. I would pause too much, search for words, and sometimes lose confidence in conversations. That really bothered me, especially because I knew how important communication skills are in both academic and professional life.
This goal mattered to me because I wanted to express my ideas clearly and confidently. I also planned to take the IELTS exam, so I knew I couldn’t avoid speaking practice. More importantly, I wanted to overcome that internal fear of making mistakes.
To achieve this goal, I followed a very consistent routine. I practised speaking every day, even if it was just for a few minutes. Sometimes I spoke in front of a mirror, sometimes I recorded myself, and other times I had conversations with friends. I also watched English videos and tried to imitate the way native speakers talk, including their pronunciation and tone. At first, it felt uncomfortable, but I kept going.
After a few months, I started noticing real improvement. I could speak more smoothly, and I didn’t panic as much while forming sentences. The biggest change was in my confidence.
When I finally reached a level where I could speak comfortably, I felt incredibly proud. It felt like I had overcome a personal barrier. Even today, that achievement reminds me that consistency and patience can lead to real progress.
Model Answer 2:
For this nice topic, I’d like to talk about a personal goal I set for myself and actually managed to achieve, which was reading two books every month consistently.
I set this goal about a year ago when I realised that I spent a lot of my free time scrolling on my phone instead of doing something meaningful. I’ve always liked the idea of being a regular reader, but in reality, I used to start books and then leave them halfway. That inconsistency really bothered me, so I decided to fix it with a clear and measurable goal.
This goal was important to me because I wanted to build discipline and improve my focus. I also believed that reading regularly would expand my vocabulary, improve my thinking, and give me new perspectives on different topics. In a way, it was about becoming a more focused and thoughtful person.
To achieve this, I created a simple system. I divided each book into small daily reading targets, so it didn’t feel overwhelming. I also set a fixed time every day, usually before going to bed, and treated it like a non-negotiable habit. At first, I struggled a bit, especially on busy days, but I forced myself to stay consistent. Over time, it became easier, and I actually started enjoying the process.
When I finally completed this goal for several months in a row, I felt genuinely proud. It gave me a sense of control over my habits, which is something I didn’t have before. More importantly, I noticed real improvements in my concentration and patience. I am really happy about this achievement, and I want to continue it in the coming months and years.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe a personal goal that you set for yourself and successfully achieved. You should clearly mention what kind of goal it was, why it mattered to you, what specific steps you took to accomplish it, and how you felt after achieving it. To make your answer stand out, try to include challenges you faced, the effort and discipline required, and how this achievement affected your confidence or future plans. You can also reflect on whether this goal changed your mindset or motivated you to set bigger goals. Here are a few ideas to help you develop your response effectively.
1. Achieving a high score in an exam:
One personal goal I achieved was getting a high score in an important exam. I set this goal because I wanted to prove my academic ability and improve my future opportunities. To achieve it, I created a strict study schedule, practised regularly and avoided distractions. After achieving it, I felt extremely proud and confident because all my hard work paid off.
2. Learning programming skills:
A goal I set for myself was to learn programming and build simple applications. It was important to me because it is related to my career and personal interest. I followed online courses, practised coding daily and worked on small projects. After achieving it, I felt accomplished and motivated to learn even more advanced skills.
3. Improving English communication skills:
One meaningful goal I achieved was improving my English speaking and writing skills. It was important because it helps in both academic and professional life. I practised regularly, read books and communicated in English as much as possible. After achieving it, I felt more confident and comfortable expressing myself.
4. Losing weight and staying fit:
A personal goal I achieved was improving my fitness by losing weight. It was important because I wanted to stay healthy and active. I followed a proper diet, exercised regularly and maintained discipline. After achieving it, I felt energetic and proud of my consistency.
5. Saving money for something valuable:
I once set a goal to save money to buy something important for myself. It was important because I wanted to become financially responsible. I reduced unnecessary expenses and saved regularly. After achieving it, I felt independent and satisfied because I managed my finances well.
6. Completing a difficult project:
One goal I achieved was completing a challenging academic or work-related project. It was important because it tested my abilities and skills. I spent time researching, planning and working consistently. After completing it, I felt relieved and proud of my effort.
7. Developing a daily routine:
A goal I set for myself was to follow a disciplined daily routine. It was important because I wanted to become more productive. I planned my schedule carefully and stayed consistent. After achieving it, I felt more organised and in control of my time.
8. Learning a new skill (e.g., cooking or design):
I set a goal to learn a new skill, such as cooking or designing. It was important because I wanted to improve myself and become more independent. I practised regularly and learned from different sources. After achieving it, I felt happy and confident in my abilities.
9. Overcoming fear of public speaking:
One important goal I achieved was overcoming my fear of public speaking. It was important because it affected my confidence. I practised speaking in front of others and gradually improved. After achieving it, I felt much more confident and capable.
10. Reading a certain number of books:
I set a goal to read a specific number of books within a certain time. It was important because I wanted to improve my knowledge and habits. I created a reading plan and followed it consistently. After achieving it, I felt satisfied and intellectually enriched.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card:
Objective: A thing aimed at or sought; a goal.
Example: My primary objective was to reach a level of fluency that would allow me to work in an international environment.
Milestone: A significant stage or event in the development of something.
Example: Completing the first three modules of the course was a major milestone that kept me motivated.
Persevere: To continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
Example: There were times when the logic puzzles were incredibly frustrating, but I decided to persevere until I found the solution.
Discipline: The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, often used for self-control.
Example: Achieving a fitness goal requires a great deal of mental discipline and a consistent daily routine.
Attainable: Able to be attained; achievable.
Example: I made sure to break my long-term project into smaller, more attainable targets to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Benchmark: A standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed.
Example: Passing the practice exam served as a benchmark for my progress in the language certification program.
Resilience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Example: Developing a new software application involves many bugs and errors, so you need resilience to keep going.
Fulfilment: The achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted.
Example: Reaching my target weight brought me a deep sense of personal fulfilment and boosted my confidence.
Systematic: Done or acting according to a fixed plan or system; methodical.
Example: I took a systematic approach to my studies, dedicating exactly two hours every evening to vocabulary practice.
Tangible: Perceptible by touch; clear and definite; real.
Example: Seeing the tangible results of my hard work, like a finished portfolio, was incredibly rewarding.
Setback: A reversal or check in progress.
Example: Despite a few technical setbacks during the migration process, I managed to finish the project on time.
Momentum: The impetus gained by a moving object or process.
Example: Once I started seeing improvements in my speaking skills, I gained the momentum to study even harder.
Dedication: The quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose.
Example: Her dedication to mastering the piano meant she practised for several hours every single day.
Procrastination: The action of delaying or postponing something.
Example: Overcoming procrastination was the biggest challenge I faced while trying to complete my thesis.
Aspiration: A hope or ambition of achieving something.
Example: It has always been my aspiration to become a lead developer in a major tech firm.
Realise: To cause something desired or anticipated to happen.
Example: It took three years of hard work, but I finally managed to realise my dream of starting my own business.
If you prepare for the topic “Describe a personal goal you set for yourself and have achieved”, you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe something you have achieved, and you are proud of.
2) Describe an ambition you have but which you have not yet achieved.
3) Describe a person who encouraged you to achieve a goal in your life.
4) Describe a positive change in your life.
5) Describe a person who has influenced you to do better in your life.
6) Describe something you have planned to do but have not done yet.
7) Describe a personal goal which you have not been able to achieve.
This is so useful. Thank you, IELTS Mentor.