Describe a Mistake You Once Made in Your Life- IELTS Cue Card

Describe a mistake you once made in your life.

Sample Answer

Nobody is perfect in life and with that, I intend to say that everybody goofs up and creates blunders now and then. I am no different and have made a lot of mistakes in my life too. Talking about one that I palpably remember dates back to the time when I was around 16 years old. I have always been quite experimental and loved taking risks. So I once found bare wires and thought they weren’t functional. Owing to my curiosity, I picked them up and intertwined them together, and connected them through the wrong sockets.

Later that day, our domestic help was engrossed in his daily chores and picked up the hand-blender, wires of which were interconnected. Unbeknownst to him, he switched on the button of the socket where I connected the wires of it and he caught a shock. Thankfully, it didn’t cause much harm to him and he suffered some wounds and burns. We provided him with first aid and everything was under control. However, the guilt crept into me and I was rueful. I thought it would be ethical to tell everyone what I did and asked for an apology.

I was bestowed with Clemence from everyone as I accepted what I did. This was all the more important for another reason as well. Someone else might have suffered the same due to my contempt. I learned a lesson from this incident that one should always analyze the flip side of everything one does.

Vocabulary

• Goof up

Meaning: To make a mistake

Eg.: The first time I learned to drive, I goofed up.

• Blunder

Meaning: A big mistake

Eg.: The students created blunders once the teacher went out of the classroom.

• Engrossed

Meaning: Too engaged in doing something

Eg.: I was engrossed in the process of learning when the teacher came.

• Ethical

Meaning: Moral

Eg.: It is ethical to always tell the truth.

• Clemence

Meaning: Mercy

Eg.: The monster showed no Clemence and guzzled down the animals.

Part 3 Questions

• What can we learn from our mistakes?

Well, if the analysis of a mistake is done in an optimum way, the mistakes are the best mentors one can ever have. We can learn what not to do in case a situation stirs up in our life in the future.

• Do children make mistakes easily?

Yes, children are the most prone to make mistakes owing to their naivety. Hence, there are more chances of children making mistakes.

• What should parents do if their children make mistakes?

Parents should first let them know the reason why a particular thing they did is a mistake. They should be patient and should take this fact into consideration that children are inexperienced and hence, commit mistakes.

Vocabulary

• Analysis

Meaning: Evaluation
Eg.: I did an analysis of the report which shows that we have been outperforming others.

• Optimum

Meaning: Apt
Eg.: Do you think it is the optimum use of your powers?

• Mentor

Meaning: Trainer
Eg.: The best mentor is the one who explains well.

• Prone

Meaning: Vulnerable
Eg.: You are prone to be deceived

• Naivety

Meaning: Lack of experience
Eg.: His naivety made him an easy target for criminals.