# Describe an important decision you made: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Experiences

Describe an important decision you have made.

You should say:
- what the decision was
- when you made it
- how you made the decision
- and explain why it was important

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about the decision to change my subject at university, which I made about four years ago, at the end of my first year.

Originally I was studying civil engineering. To be honest, I chose it mainly because my father is an engineer and my family expected me to follow the same path. I was good in maths at school, so everyone thought it was a safe choice. But after a few months I realised I wasn't enjoying it at all. I was quite boring in the lectures, and I was spending more time on an elective course in psychology than on my main subjects.

Making the decision took me quite a long time, maybe three or four months. First, I talked to a career advisor at the university, who helped me think about what I really wanted. Then I spoke to some psychology students to find out what the course was really like. The hardest part was telling my parents. I was very nervous, and at first my father was disappointed, but when I explained my reasons carefully, he finally accepted it.

It was important for a few reasons. Firstly, it changed my whole career direction. Now I'm working as an assistant in a counselling centre and I really enjoy my job. Secondly, it was the first time I made a big decision by myself, without just following what other people expected. I think it made me more confident and more independent. Of course, I lost one year, but I don't regret it at all, because I'm sure I would be unhappy now if I had stayed in engineering.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is coherent and personal, and it explains both the process and the importance of the decision. Vocabulary is good ("follow the same path", "elective course", "career direction"), and the mixed conditional at the end is used correctly. There are some typical errors: the adjective form in "I was quite boring in the lectures" (rather than "bored"), the preposition in "good in maths" (rather than "good at maths"), and the past simple in "it was the first time I made" (rather than "I'd made", the standard form after "it was the first time"). Linking is clear but rather formulaic ("First", "Then", "Firstly", "Secondly"). For Band 8, the speaker would need more idiomatic phrasing and smoother, less mechanical connections between ideas.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-an-important-decision).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.