IELTS Speaking Part 2: An Important Decision — Band 6/7/8/9 Sample Answers (2026)
Related guides:
The Prompt
Describe an important decision that you once made. You should say:
- What the decision was about
- Why it was important
- What the result was
- And explain how you felt about it.
Band 6.0 Answer
Candidate A (Band 6.0)
Okay, so I think the most important decision I made was when I decided to move to a different city for university. It was important because it was my first time living away from my family, and I had to learn how to take care of myself. The result was that I became more independent and made new friends. I felt a bit nervous at first, but after some time, I got used to it and really enjoyed my new life.
Scoring Breakdown
- Task Response (TR): 5.0 - Addresses all parts of the task but with some irrelevant details.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 6.0 - Presents information with some logical organization but limited use of cohesive devices.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 6.0 - Uses a mix of appropriate and less precise vocabulary.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 6.0 - Makes frequent grammatical errors but can communicate basic ideas.
Band 7.0 Answer
Candidate B (Band 7.0)
One significant decision I made was choosing to pursue a career in marketing instead of continuing my studies in engineering. This was important because it meant changing my academic path and entering a completely new field. The outcome was positive as I found a job I enjoy, and it allowed me to develop skills I didn't know I had. Initially, I felt uncertain, but over time, I grew confident in my choice.
Scoring Breakdown
- Task Response (TR): 7.0 - Addresses all parts of the task with relevant details and some depth.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 7.0 - Presents information logically with clear progression and some use of cohesive devices.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 7.0 - Uses a range of vocabulary with some less common lexical items but occasional errors.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 7.0 - Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with some errors but generally communicates effectively.
Band 8.0 Answer
Candidate C (Band 8.0)
One of the most pivotal decisions I've made was to start my own business. This was a crucial choice because it involved significant financial risk and required me to leave a stable job. The result was incredibly rewarding as my business grew, and I gained a sense of accomplishment. Initially, I was anxious, but the support from my family and friends helped me overcome my fears, and I'm now proud of what I've achieved.
Scoring Breakdown
- Task Response (TR): 8.0 - Addresses all parts of the task with relevant, specific, and detailed ideas.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 8.0 - Presents information logically with clear progression and effective use of cohesive devices.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 8.0 - Uses a wide range of vocabulary with some less common lexical items and some sophisticated vocabulary.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 8.0 - Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with some errors but generally communicates effectively and accurately.
Band 9.0 Answer
Candidate D (Band 9.0)
One of the most transformative decisions I've made was to volunteer for a humanitarian organization in a developing country. This decision was profound as it required me to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a completely different culture. The outcome was life-changing; I gained a deeper understanding of global issues and developed a sense of empathy and resilience. Initially, I felt apprehensive, but the experience taught me invaluable lessons about adaptability and the importance of giving back to society.
Scoring Breakdown
- Task Response (TR): 9.0 - Addresses all parts of the task with relevant, specific, and detailed ideas, showing a clear position throughout.
- Coherence and Cohesion (CC): 9.0 - Presents information logically with clear progression and effective use of cohesive devices, making it easy to follow.
- Lexical Resource (LR): 9.0 - Uses a wide range of vocabulary with sophisticated and precise lexical items, demonstrating a high level of lexical resource.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 9.0 - Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with a high degree of accuracy and fluency, making the speech easy to understand.
Vocabulary Highlights
- Pivotal (adjective) - extremely important or crucial. Example: This decision was pivotal in shaping my career path.
- Transformative (adjective) - causing a significant change. Example: The experience was transformative for my personal growth.
- Immerse (verb) - to involve oneself deeply in a particular activity or interest. Example: I immersed myself in the local culture during my stay.
- Apprehensive (adjective) - feeling anxious or fearful about something that may happen. Example: I felt apprehensive before starting my new job.
- Resilience (noun) - the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. Example: The experience taught me the importance of resilience.
- Empathy (noun) - the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Example: Volunteering helped me develop a deeper sense of empathy.
- Adaptability (noun) - the ability to adjust to new conditions. Example: Living abroad improved my adaptability.
- Profound (adjective) - having deep meaning or significance. Example: The decision had a profound impact on my life.
- Cohesive (adjective) - forming a united whole. Example: The speech was cohesive and easy to follow.
- Lexical (adjective) - relating to words or vocabulary. Example: The essay demonstrated a rich lexical resource.
- Fluency (noun) - the ability to speak or write smoothly and easily. Example: Her fluency in English impressed the examiners.
- Precision (noun) - the quality of being exact and accurate. Example: The report was praised for its precision.
- Sophisticated (adjective) - showing a high level of development or complexity. Example: The software has sophisticated features.
- Relevant (adjective) - closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand. Example: The examples were relevant to the topic.
- Depth (noun) - the extent to which a subject is examined or explored. Example: The analysis showed a deep understanding of the subject.
- Progression (noun) - the process of developing gradually. Example: The argument showed clear progression.
- Stable (adjective) - not likely to change or move. Example: The economy is stable despite recent events.
- Invaluable (adjective) - extremely useful. Example: The advice was invaluable for my career.
- Significant (adjective) - sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention. Example: The discovery was significant for the field.
- Crucial (adjective) - decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something. Example: The decision was crucial for the project's success.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Lack of Specificity: Many candidates fail to provide specific details about the decision, making their response vague and less engaging.
- Poor Time Management: Some candidates spend too much time on one part of the task, leaving insufficient time for the rest.
- Overuse of Fillers: Using too many fillers like 'um', 'uh', and 'you know' can make the speech sound less fluent.
- Inadequate Vocabulary: Using limited vocabulary can make the response sound monotonous and less impressive.
- Grammatical Errors: Frequent grammatical mistakes can detract from the overall quality of the response.
Get Your Own Response Scored by AI on English AIdol
Practice makes perfect. Get your own IELTS Speaking Part 2 responses scored by AI on English AIdol and receive detailed feedback to improve your score.
