Describe a mistake you have made

“Describe a mistake you have made” cue card consists of 3 sections namely introduction, cue card round and follow-up discussion round. In this blog, you can find 4 sample answers for this Cue card IELTS (Speaking). You have to express your view and showcase your speaking skills to an examiner for 11-15 minutes. To increase knowledge of the IELTS speaking follow-up questions we have provided 6 model questions.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 - Cue Card

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In IELTS speaking Part 2, you would be given a cue card with supporting questions which you have to speak about for 2-3 minutes after preparing for it in 1 minute. You can find your topic “Describe a mistake you have made” and speak continuously with great use of lexical resources and linkers. 

Describe a mistake you have made

You should say

What it is?
When you made it?
How you made it?     
How you felt about it? 

Describe a mistake you have made  - Model answer and Follow up questions

On the “Describe a mistake you have made” topic we have provided 4 model answers and 6 corresponding IELTS speaking cue card part 3 follow-up questions.

Describe a mistake you have made Model answer 1

Introduction

Making mistakes is a part of our life. It helps us to learn significant lessons from those mistakes. Here I would like to talk about a mistake which gave me a life-learning lesson.

What it is? 

I mistakenly chose a course in which I was least interested. I am inclined to work with computers, however, due to peer pressure and time shortage I mistakenly chose a mechanical course. It was a three-year course. 

When you made it? 

It was three years ago after I completed my SSC examination. The merit list was too high, and I was supposed to enrol myself in the computer science branch. So I enlisted myself in the mock test and round 1 after I got my result.

How you made it?

In that application form, by mistake, I enrolled myself in the mechanical department where I was least interested. Moreover, I even got admission to that department, and now I had only one chance to apply one more time for the computer field. 

How you felt about it?

It was a silly mistake which led to lessening my chances for admission in my interested field. I even got scolded at my house for making such a farcical mistake. It gave me a lesson to check every form twice or thrice.

Conclusion

Thus, due to that mistake, I did not get admission in that field which is affecting my study even now. 

Describe a mistake you have made Model answer 2 

Introduction

Everyone makes mistakes in their life. It helps us to learn new things and moral values. It depends on people like how they handle that mistake and indulge those learnings in their lives. I made numerous mistakes, but here I would like to talk about a mistake that made me embarrassed.

What it is? 

I took the responsibility of cooking a food item for my college farewell. Everyone was instructed to prepare one item and present it to the faculty. I thought of making a dessert which I had learned from my mother. So, on that day, I started preparing the desert and gathering all the ingredients.

When you made it? 

It was 2 years ago my mother taught me to prepare a dessert and decorate it. I was so excited that I woke up early and started making that item. Due to some confusion, I opened youtube and watched a tutorial video. By mistake, I watched a cream cake tutorial video while I was going to make chocolate cake.

How you made it?

So I was watching that video while making the food item, and I got a call from one of my college friends and started discussing the recipe for that item. On the other hand, the cake was still in the oven. Hence, due to that mistake, my whole cake got burned, and I was not able to celebrate my farewell.

How you felt about it?

I was so upset and embarrassed that I did not tell my mother that the cake got burned and I was not able to celebrate the farewell. However, I learnt a lesson from that mistake: you would be distracted from the task, but you have to focus on a single task.

Conclusion

Therefore, due to that mistake, I learned to focus on a single task and to share everything with my parents.

Describe a mistake you have made Model answer 3

Introduction

Well, it is uncommon to see people committing mistakes. In fact, it helps us to learn some important life lessons. Here, I would like to talk about the time when I committed a blunder.

What it is? 

Actually, a few years ago I lost my mobile phone, and I had to buy a new phone. I had saved some money and I also requested my parents to lend me some money for the mobile phone. My parents lent me the money and recommended that I prefer the brand while buying rather than the features.

When you made it? 

So I visited the shop and the salesman showed me some phones of famous brands with basic features but I got attracted to some cheap brands phones with astonishing features and bought one to flaunt it in front of my friends. My parents were not happy with my decision. 

How you made it?

After a week the phone’s camera stopped working and the phone frequently got hanged. I visited the shop and requested assistance, but as it does not have any warranty the salesman simply refused to help me. I was even scolded by my parents and friends for buying that cheap phone with poor quality features.

How you felt about it?

After that, I felt so guilty that I did not obey my parent's instructions. However, this taught me a significant lesson not to run after features with low-price phones and other electronic items. We have to buy branded things with a warranty even if they have basic features in comparison to cheap phones.

Conclusion

Hence, I bought another branded phone with a warranty and learned not to buy anything useless with no assurance for future use.

Describe a mistake you have made Model answer 4

Introduction
Here I would like to describe the biggest mistake of my life. The time when I lost my original documents when I needed them the most in my life.

What it is? 
A few months back when I started the process for my admissions to Canadian universities, I was precisely asked for specific original documents by the university representative. The university I applied for required an interview, and they also wanted to see my original documents to verify them as well.

When you made it? 
Exactly two weeks ago, I had my interview. To reach that place we had to leave a day ago as the distance to that location was about 700 kilometres. The university to which I applied was my top priority. I vividly remember that I was as happy as Larry, and in that excitement, I forgot to put the most essential file in the car. There were many chances when I could check the bag to realize my mistake, but I was busy daydreaming, anticipating approval from the university and how my life would be living in Canada. 

How you made it?
As the interview was about to be conducted in the suburbs of Mumbai, my relative came to help with the photocopy of my documents as unfortunately, I was not able to access the printer at that place. The admission department was very stringent; they did not allow photocopies of my documents, but after convincing them with my heartfelt words I was able to convince them to consider me for the entire process.

How you felt about it?
Even though I was well prepared, all my efforts were in vain, I could not express myself as I was worried that they would just reject me anyway as my documents were not up to the mark. This was the day when I realized that a subtle mistake could ruin my entire life.

Conclusion
Albeit, with a good lesson I forgot about this and promised myself not to make such a mistake again.

IELTS speaking part 3 - Describe a mistake you have made follow up questions

Based on “Describe a mistake you have made” cue card follow-up questions are given below. In the actual exam, this session is conducted for about 4-5 minutes where you have to discuss questions about a general topic or question on your cue card.

1.What can we learn from our mistakes? 
We can learn numerous things from our mistakes. Firstly, after making mistakes we realize that we must not repeat that mistake. Moreover, after that blender one can analyze and enhance their skills and try to complete their work with greater productivity and with zero error.

2.Do children make mistakes easily?
In my opinion, both children and adults make mistakes. It is natural for human beings to commit errors. However, children make mistakes quite easily as they are not aware of the rights and wrongs in working for a task and also they do not have any sense to manage their work.

3.What should parents do if their children make mistakes?
Parents are the fundamental source in improving children's task productivity and management. I believe parents should guide their children rather than punish them for the mistakes they committed. They can teach their children to find a better solution to it and not repeat that mistake ever again.

4.What do children learn from teachers and parents?
There are multiple things that children can learn from parents and teachers. Firstly, from teachers children can inculcate skills such as discipline, teamwork, consistency and many more. Also, they can easily rectify their errors and may learn significant lessons.

On the other hand, parents help children learn from their mistakes calmly and composedly. They provide personal assistance with affection and care.

5.How should a person be remorseful for their mistakes?
There are myriad ways to remorse mistakes such as providing social service to elderly people and orphans. Moreover, this enhances a person’s self-giving nature and also improves the condition of society. 

6.How do children benefit from using dictionaries?
Dictionaries contain myriad words with meanings which can help not only children but adults to increase their vocabulary and knowledge. Specifically for children, dictionaries benefit a lot in their academic studies.

Related IELTS cue card topics

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Conclusion 

To enhance your speaking skills and to generate ideas swiftly please review sample answers and follow-up questions that we have provided on the topic “Describe a mistake you have made”.