Describe a decision which you have made that you feel was wrong – IELTS Cue Card

The IELTS Speaking Part 2, the cue card round, tests your ability to speak fluently for 1–2 minutes on a given topic. Many candidates find this section tricky due to the limited prep time and the need to organize thoughts quickly. To improve this skill, it’s essential to practice with real cue card questions, expand your vocabulary, and learn how to structure your responses effectively.

In this blog, we cover the topic “Describe a Decision Which You Have Made that You Feel was Wrong” – a commonly asked cue card question in IELTS Speaking Part 2. The blog includes a band 8+ sample answer, a list of useful IELTS Vocabulary (vocab), and tips to help you answer confidently and naturally in the actual test, to help you boost your overall IELTS band score.

Before you start, take a look at the useful idioms to answer IELTS Cue Cards!

Describe a Decision Which You Have Made that You Feel was Wrong - Sample Answer 1

Life is full of choices and decisions. While some of these decisions prove to be excellent, many others prove incorrect. Of course, others may counter that it depends on a person’s circumstances and viewpoints. Having full regard for this issue of viewpoint, I nevertheless believe that individuals have the right to decide whether a decision is correct or incorrect.

I went to a private university and took undergraduate degrees entirely through loans. My parents didn’t understand how college funding worked because I was the first person in my family to attend college. They just realized they couldn’t assist me in any way.

When the course was all said and done, I owed over $1,20,000 for a meaningless B.A. in Communications with a minor in English. Later, it made me realize that it was not a sound decision and that I could have gotten the same degree for around $7,000 from a public university if I had done it correctly. I feel I have made haste in taking this decision as it created a financial burden on me even though I worked the entire time I was in college and did not slacker over those years.

Even after completing college, I had to work double shifts and make extra efforts to make money every day. I paid for the lessons I attended from when I was 19 till I turned 30. However, thankfully the loan is fulfilled, but I have no one but myself to blame. I believe that taking out a loan was a mistake. But, in the end, when I took this decision, I felt it was right to do so. So, even though I had to suffer for it, I think it was a lesson learnt.

Describe a Decision Which You Have Made that You Feel was Wrong - Sample Answer 2

Some of the decisions that we take turn out to be good, while others end up being not so great, and these worst decisions disappoint people in many ways. Here, I’d like to talk about a time when I made a decision, which I later regretted. I love online shopping as I can purchase anything and everything from the comfort of my home without travelling anywhere. Moreover, online shopping is cheaper than offline shopping. A couple of months ago, it was my mother’s birthday, so I decided to give her a gold ring. Since I was too sluggish to visit the nearby jewelry store, I decided to buy it online. Even though my sister warned me not to purchase gold online, I was quite immature to listen to her. I went through the reviews of the seller in the application and ordered a gold ring. Usually, orders like these take time to get delivered, but the ring was delivered within a couple of days; that is when I sensed something fishy. I immediately opened the box and found the exact ring which I ordered. But my sister suggested that we check the quality of gold by visiting the nearest jewelry store. When we gave the ring to the jeweler, he immediately identified the ring to be counterfeit and told us about it. I was in complete shock as I couldn’t believe that I was duped. I felt extremely ashamed of not listening to my sister and regretted my decision. Later, I decided to file a complaint against the seller, so I wrote a complaint letter to the online application where the seller has registered. But the application authority replied by saying that the seller and the application were not responsible for such things as orders/products may have been misplaced during the transit. From that incident onwards, I stopped online shopping.

Describe a Decision Which You Have Made that You Feel was Wrong - Sample Answer 3

One decision that I made and later regretted was choosing to study engineering at university. I opted for this course primarily because of family expectations and the societal notion that engineering guarantees a stable career. At the time, I was just 17, and I didn’t fully understand what I truly wanted. I ignored my genuine interest in literature and creative writing and followed the path that seemed more “secure” and “respectable.”

It took me about a year and a half to realise that I had made the wrong decision. Although I was doing reasonably well academically, I lacked passion and found myself forcing motivation every day. I began to dread lectures and found no joy in completing assignments. That was a stark contrast to how I used to feel while writing short stories or reading novels back in high school.

I believe it was the wrong decision because it didn't align with my natural strengths or interests. I was chasing a career path based on external validation rather than internal satisfaction. I now understand how important it is to pursue something that excites you and gives you a sense of purpose.

If I could go back, I would choose to follow my passion for writing and perhaps major in English Literature or Journalism. I believe that would have been more fulfilling and allowed me to thrive both personally and professionally. While I’ve learned valuable lessons from my experience in engineering, I now make decisions that reflect who I am rather than who others expect me to be.

Describe a Decision Which You Have Made that You Feel was Wrong - IELTS Vocabulary

Following are some of the IELTS Vocabulary found in the above sample answers of the topic: "Describe a Decision Which You Have Made that You Feel was Wrong - IELTS Cue Card"

1. Disappoint

• Meaning: fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of. 
  Eg: Keith was disappointed when he found out about his failure in the exam. 

2. Cheaper

• Meaning: costing very little 
  Eg: The store sells many things at a cheaper rate to attract more customers. 

3. Fishy 

• Meaning: arousing feelings of doubt or suspicion. 
  Eg: When the family entered the house at night, they sensed something fishy.

4. Dupe 

• Meaning: deceive; trick.
  Eg: The real estate broker duped the wealthy owner and gained more commission. 

5. Sluggish

• Meaning: lacking energy or alertness.
  Eg: After an 8-hour long journey, Jack felt sluggish and sleepy.  

To achieve your desired IELTS Band Score, for the speaking exam, go through these Band 9 sample answers along with the vocabulary used, doing so will help you understand how to structure your responses naturally and confidently.

Useful Links:

• How to Prepare a Cue Card for IELTS Speaking
• What to Do if You Forget What to Say During IELTS Speaking Test?
• Latest IELTS Speaking Vocabulary to Boost Your Score
• How to Express Your Mixed Feelings in IELTS Writing & Speaking?
• 10 Useful Structures to Express Contrasting Ideas in IELTS Speaking & Writing Task 2
• 75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test
• 5 Silly Things You Say To Decrease Your IELTS Speaking Band Score
• Reasons for the IELTS examiner to interrupt you in IELTS Speaking