Cue Card

Describe a difficult decision that you’ve made

You should say:

• What the decision was
• When you made this decision
• How long it took you to make the decision
• And explain why it was difficult to make.

Sample Part 3 Questions

1. What decisions do people usually make on a day-to-day basis?
2. Is it easier to make a decision on your own or in a group?
3. Why are many people unwilling to follow their parents’ advice?
4. Why a middle-aged person second guess their decisions?

Sample Cue Card Answer

I was 25, fresh out of college, and had just landed my dream job at a top marketing firm. I was making good money, working with great people, and was on track for a promotion within a year. But I was miserable. I felt like I was just going through the motions, staring at spreadsheets all day, and not really making a difference in the world. I had always been passionate about photography, and I found myself spending every spare moment taking pictures and editing them on my laptop. I started to realize that I was living someone else's dream, not mine.

I knew I had to make a change, but it was scary. I had student loans to pay off, a lease to break, and a reputation to uphold. I felt like I was throwing away everything I had worked for. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to do something more creative, something that brought me joy. So, I made the difficult decision to quit my job and pursue photography full-time.

It wasn't easy. I had to move back in with my parents, take on freelance work to make ends meet, and deal with the constant fear of uncertainty. But it was worth it. I started taking on clients, building a portfolio, and eventually landed a few big gigs. I was finally doing what I loved, and it showed in my work. I was happier, more fulfilled, and more confident than I had ever been.

Looking back, it was the best decision I ever made. It taught me that it's okay to take risks, to follow your passion, and to trust that everything will work out. It's not always easy, but it's worth it. And if I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

Cue Card Answer Key Phrases and Idioms

follow your passion

to pursue a career or activity that you are enthusiastic about and enjoy

She followed her passion for music and became a successful singer.

He followed his passion for cooking and opened his own restaurant.

take a leap of faith

to take a risk and do something even though you are not sure if it will work out

She took a leap of faith and quit her job to start her own business.

He took a leap of faith and moved to a new city to pursue a new career.

Sample Part 3 Answers

What decisions do people usually make on a day-to-day basis? You know, people make a wide range of decisions every day, but if I had to narrow it down, I'd say most of them are pretty mundane. Like, what to eat for breakfast, what to wear, whether to take the bus or drive to work. But, you know, sometimes those little decisions can add up and impact our daily routines in a big way. For example, deciding to take a different route to work can lead to discovering a new coffee shop or meeting a new friend. So, even though these daily decisions might seem insignificant, they can actually have a ripple effect on our lives.

Is it easier to make a decision on your own or in a group? Honestly, I think it's a mix. On one hand, making a decision on your own can be really liberating. You don't have to consider anyone else's opinions or compromise on what you want. But, on the other hand, making a decision in a group can be really valuable because you get to hear different perspectives and ideas that you might not have thought of on your own. For me, it really depends on the situation. If it's a personal decision, like what to do on the weekend, I prefer to make it on my own. But if it's a decision that affects a lot of people, like a group project at work, I think it's better to collaborate and get everyone's input.

Why are many people unwilling to follow their parents’ advice? I think a lot of people struggle with following their parents' advice because, as we get older, we start to develop our own identities and want to make our own decisions. We might feel like our parents don't understand us or our situations, or that their advice is outdated. Plus, as we become more independent, we want to prove to ourselves and others that we can make our own choices and learn from our own mistakes. Of course, this doesn't mean we should completely disregard our parents' advice, but rather, we should take it into consideration and use it as a starting point for making our own decisions.

Why a middle-aged person second guess their decisions? I think middle-aged people often second-guess their decisions because, at that stage in life, they've had time to reflect on their choices and see how they've played out. They might be thinking, 'What if I had taken that job offer in another city?' or 'What if I had invested in that business opportunity?' It's natural to wonder about the what-ifs, especially when you've got more life experience under your belt. Plus, as people get older, they might feel like they're running out of time to make big changes or pursue new opportunities, so they start to question whether they made the right choices earlier in life.

Part 3 Key Phrases and Idioms

make a wide range of decisions

to make many different kinds of decisions

People make a wide range of decisions every day, from what to eat for breakfast to what to wear.

add up

to increase or accumulate

Those little decisions can add up and impact our daily routines in a big way.

ripple effect

a series of events that are triggered by a single event or action

Even though these daily decisions might seem insignificant, they can actually have a ripple effect on our lives.

on one hand

used to introduce a point or argument

On one hand, making a decision on your own can be really liberating.

on the other hand

used to introduce a contrasting point or argument

On the other hand, making a decision in a group can be really valuable because you get to hear different perspectives and ideas.

prove to ourselves

to demonstrate or show something to oneself

As we become more independent, we want to prove to ourselves and others that we can make our own choices and learn from our own mistakes.

starting point

a point from which something begins or is initiated

We should take our parents' advice into consideration and use it as a starting point for making our own decisions.

what-ifs

questions or thoughts about what might have been if something had been done differently

Middle-aged people often second-guess their decisions because they think about the what-ifs.