Describe a time when you tried to do something but weren’t very successful - IELTS cue card

The IELTS speaking test was separated into three sections.  The given time for the entire test was about 11-14 minutes. The first part is the introduction. The second part is called an individual long turn test, where you will be given a cue card and you need to speak on it. In the final part, the examiner will make a conversation to check your fluency. Here, the given topic describe a time when you tried to do something IELTS cue card (Speaking). In this article, we will help you understand about the test and how to answer the questions.

Describe a time when you tried to do something IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue card

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IELTS Speaking Part 2 is also called an individual long turn test. You will be allocated 1 minute for preparation and the candidate will receive a cue card based on a certain topic. Here, the sample topic is given to describe a time when you tried to do something, which has some model answers and follow up questions as your guide for the test. 

Describe a time when you tried to do something but weren’t very successful Cue Card

You should say:

• When was it?
• What you tried?
• Why was it not very successful?
• How did you feel about it?

Describe a time when you tried to do something - Model answers and Follow up questions

In part 2, there will be a list of questions you need to speak on about the topic describe a time when you tried to do something. The examiner will check your grammatical precision and fluency. Along with the topic, we have 4 model answers and 8 follow up questions.

Describe a time when you tried to do something  - Model answer 1

Introduction:
  It is not possible to do everything successfully, sometimes it may fail. Similarly I have also faced many failures, which I tried but it wasn’t successful. Here I am going to share one of my experiences, which I tried and it wasn’t successful.

When Was It?
    It was a long day ago, I am not sure with my age. But it happens when I am doing my school, also I tried it during my vacation holiday. Most of the time I spent my holidays with my grandparents who were living alone in a village, so all my cousins and myself spent our vacation with my grandparents.They both taught us a lot of things.

What you tried?
   In my grandparents' village, there is a girl who plays with me most of the time, we both are at the same age. She knows to do all household activities and extra activities like tailoring, handcraft. One day she teased me by saying that you don’t know anything. And she started laughing at me. It hurts me a lot, so I decided to learn stitching. My grandmother help me to learn it, 

Why was it not very successful?
  With my grandmother's help I started learning stitching, but at a particular point of time, while I was stitching in the sewing machine my finger was caught in between the needle. I got injured in my fingers because of my overconfidence and grandma told me not to touch the sewing machine.

How Do You Felt About It?
  I felt ashamed in front of my friend, she started to tease me again. The biggest mistake I have made was my overconfidence about myself. My gandrama’s constant advice to me is don’t be overconfident, be patient and learn it. It will help you to attain success but I refused her words, and at last I failed.

Conclusion:

From what I have learned, success will not be attained by everyone at first attempt, try your best with patience.

Describe a time when you tried to do something - Model answer 2

Introduction:
    
  Here I am going to talk about one of my worst experiences where I tried something but it wasn’t successful. Yes, but after that incident I have learned many things to not repeat it again.

When was it?
 I did my master degree in XXX college which was a coeducational college. Once we entered into the 3rd semester, my HOD sir instructed us about our coursework and works that we should do in these 2 semesters. Our professor instructed us that we have to do a project.

What you tried?
   As our professor instructed, we were separated into 6 groups, as 2 members in each group. I got the topic and my guide asked me to submit it within 3 days, then started my work for taking the census in different areas. I tried my best, but it was at the last minute, so I didn't give an enough number of census. 

Why was it not very successful?

The topic I got is a difficult one. Moreover, the person whom I asked a question refused to answer. They thought it might create problems for them. Even, I got scolded by some of the people because of the questions I asked. 

How Do You Felt About It?
    The work which I did was not my mistake, but the outcome affected me a lot badly. Also, I have got less marks in my Viva examination. As my marks are too low, it reflected in the overall performance. 

Conclusion:
   Both success and failure will not occur only by your work, others could also be the reason.

Describe a time when you tried to do something - Model answer 3

Introduction:
Cooking is also an art; not everyone can do it successfully. Here, I am going to talk about my experience in cooking, which I thought would be a success but ended up being a failure.

When was it?
A couple of weeks ago, my parents left me alone at home for a week. They went to our native place and asked me to buy food from outside for the days I was alone. So, I bought food from outside along with my neighbor. One day, it was raining heavily, and all the hotels were closed. That's when I decided to cook at home.

What did you try?
On that day, I decided to make sambar rice with the help of YouTube because it was the simplest recipe among the ones I had referred to. I gathered all the ingredients and started making sambar rice with hope. However, it turned out to be a failure.

Why was it not very successful?
The main ingredient for sambar rice is rice, but unfortunately, I didn't have the specific rice required. So, I used an alternative type of rice to make it. This was the mistake I made, and it completely spoiled the outcome of the recipe. The food got burned in the cooker even though I followed all the instructions correctly. The change in rice caused it to burn.

How did you feel about it?
Because of my mistake, I went without food for the whole day. That's when I realized how well my mother cooks every day. I faced a lot of difficulties that day, and it made me realize the importance of learning how to cook properly when my mom returned.

Conclusion:
When trying something new, it's important not to make decisions on your own. Follow the instructions given by your elders or seek guidance from other reliable sources. From this experience, I learned the lesson of not making assumptions and the importance of seeking guidance in new endeavors.

Describe a time when you tried to do something - Model answer 4

Introduction:
  Some works are not possible for us even if we put our effort into it, likewise I have tried a new thing that failed. So, here I am going to share my experience.

When was it?
  It was long long ago, when I was studying 8th standard. My mother was a flower vendor, so I thought of helping her. But at last I have spoiled most of the flowers. Also it was festival time. Because of my work our total income was affected.

What you tried?
  As I said above, my mother was a flower vendor, one day she was doing flower arrangement and the next day was a festival day, so she did it for sale. On that day I was free so I asked my mom if I could help her, even though I don’t know how to arrange the flowers. She said that she didn't need my help, but I refused her words and started to arrange the flowers.

Why was it not very successful?
  At first, my mom said please do not do anything or spoil the flower, but I started doing it. After 2 or 3 arrangements, the flowers started to cut down, because I tied it very tightly. Most of the flowers got spoiled and those flowers were put into the dustbin.

How do you felt about it?
  Because of my mistake, my family's one day income was affected, and my parents were worried a lot. It hurts me. I thought that learning something will result in success, but my assumption was wrong. 

Conclusion:
   It is good to learn something new, but we should learn it at leisure time, do not try anything new at an important occasion, if it gets successful it is good, but everytime we would not face success, sometimes it may fail. 

Describe a time when you tried to do something - IELTS speaking part 3 follow up questions

This last section in  the IELTS speaking test, was conducted for about 4-5 minutes. Here the  examiner will ask a random question about the topic which is given to the candidate. Here, we have given a few  follow up questions for the topic Describe a time when you tried to do something. We ensure that it will help you to get an idea about the IELTS speaking part 3 test.

 1.What’s your definition of success?
     According to me the definition for success is when the result comes out according to our wish, and it brings extreme happiness to us and also to our family members. We should not hesitate about ourselves while in competition, then it brings an excellent outcome to your success.

2. What things do children try to succeed in?
       The major thing is that children would try to succeed in the sports competition.even if it is a small competition they would love to get first place. In their world they taught sports first, studies are secondary. But as a parent we infuse them with an education and not encourage them for sports.
    
3. Which do you think is more important for people to become successful, handwork or opportunities?
    With my assumption, when it comes to hard work and opportunities,if both are in 100%, then hard words should be important as 75% and opportunities are in 25%. It is because opportunities can open doors for people but the success is based on the hard work of how people did it.

4. Do you think people would be happier if they didn’t have any goals to achieve?
       Life without goals is impossible, though they don’t have any long term goals to achieve, at least they should have short term goals, it brings them a small happiness with their work also it brings some confidence to them to have a long term goals.

5. What are the  steps to hold the success?
        To attain success, first decide what you want, and also set a deadline or set your goals with timetable either short term or long term goals. Take action, do something everyday according to your plan , and concentrate on your work. It would definitely help you to attain success.  

6. What kind of hurdles are there to attain success?
    It  is not an essay to achieve success, there are so many hurdles in the path of success like comparison, self doubt, fear, distractions etc. 

7. Why is it difficult to achieve success?
    The major reason is the comparison, people compare themself with other, for illustration if 2 person as same goal but one attain his success but another was failed it is not because of their distractions, comparison etc, first they should have hope on themself, should not compare their work to other. Do your best and concentrate on your work.

8. Did success and failure occur by the situation holder?
       No, 100% of the success and failure did not occur by the situation holder, sometimes it will happen by the neighbors and the responders. Not only the failure, even success will also happen with the help of others.But at the time we should not blame others first we should analyze the mistake where it happens and we should confirm how the failure or success happened.

 Check out other IELTS speaking cue card topics

• Describe  an ambition that you have for long time
• Describe a school you went to in your childhood
• Describe a product you get for free
• Describe a foreign culture that you like
• Talk about an important river in your country

Conclusion:

 In this IELTS speaking cue card article we have given some model answers and follow up questions for the topic“describe a time when you tried to do something”.  Make use of it for your IELTS speaking test, but be sure that you should use your own style of word for the conversation.