You should say: Where you were? When it was? What you did? And explain why you think it was a waste of time?
Note: 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 Answers and follow up questions to describe an occasion when you wasted your time IELTS cue card:
Model Answer 1:
Introduction
No one likes to waste time, but still, most of us waste time from time to time.
Where you were? and When it was?
I think I have also wasted a lot of time, but a recent occasion when it happened was during the Corona lockdown days.
India went into lockdown in the last week of March.
It was a shock for all of me as I had never faced or even imagined such a situation.
What you did?
For the first two-three weeks after the lockdown, the announced I did nothing.
I was at home with my family.
I thought it would be over soon, and I will be back in a daily routine soon.
Before the lockdown, I was planning to take the IELTS exam.
But I hadn’t bought any books to prepare.
During the lockdown, no bookstores were open.
I just kept thinking, I will start preparing once the lockdown is over and things start.
However, the government kept on extending the lockdown, and I just spent my time watching movies, playing mobile games.
I had a big list of things I wanted to learn – like baking a cake, 3 D origami, etc.
If not study, I could have learned them.
And explain why you think it was a waste of time?
And to be honest, I knew that a lot of material for IELTS was available online.
I could have downloaded it and started studying from the very first day.
I was at home the whole day, and I had no worries.
It would have been the best time to study.
Conclusion
I really wish I would have utilized that time more productively.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 : Follow up Questions
Here some examples of follow up questions that you may asked during your speaking part 3 by examiner related to cue card “describe an occasion when you wasted your time”.
1.How can we avoid wasting time? I think the best way to avoid wasting time is to make a schedule. Also, another thing we can do is to engross ourselves at work. Only if we are free, we can waste time. We should always keep doing something in our free time. In other words, we should never be free actually.
2. Is time management important? Yes, time management is really important. I think there is only a resource that we can never get back, and that is time. And there is no bigger regret in life than wasting time.
3. Should parents help children manage their time? Yes, in the beginning, yes. They can make a timetable for them and make sure they follow it. If children develop such a habit at a young age, it stays with them for life.
4. Do you think relaxing is a waste of time? No, I don’t think relaxing is a waste of time. However, relaxing should be doing nothing. I feel relaxed when I do things I love. Just sitting idle is a waste of time. It is better to do something in our free time than to just sit idle.
Some useful vocabulary
utilize Meaning: make practical and effective use of. Example: vitamin C helps your body utilize the iron present in your diet
engross Meaning: absorb all the attention or interest of. Example: they seemed to be engrossed in conversation
idle Meaning: avoiding work; lazy Example: idle students
lockdown Meaning: a state of isolation or restricted access instituted as a security measure. Example: the university is on lockdown and nobody has been able to leave
Describe an occasion when you wasted your time IELTS cue card
Introduction No one likes to waste time, but still, most of us waste time from time to time. Where you were? and When it was? I think I have also wasted a lot of time, but a recent occasion when it happened was during the Corona lockdown days. India went into lockdown in the last week of March. It was a shock for all of me as I had never faced or even imagined such a situation. What you did? For the first two-three weeks after the lockdown, the announced I did nothing. I was at home with my family. I thought it would be over soon, and I will be back in a daily routine soon. Before the lockdown, I was planning to take the IELTS exam. But I hadn’t bought any books to prepare. During the lockdown, no bookstores were open. I just kept thinking, I will start preparing once the lockdown is over and things start. However, the government kept on extending the lockdown, and I just spent my time watching movies, playing mobile games. I had a big list of things I wanted to learn – like baking a cake, 3 D origami, etc. If not study, I could have learned them.
Our Editorial Staff at IELTS Rewind provides exclusive tips, tricks, and IELTS material to help enhance your band score. They are an integral part of our team, dedicated to your IELTS success.
