Talk About A Time When You Gave Advice to Someone: IELTS Cue Card

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is an English language proficiency test taken for study, migration, or work. The topic- Talk about a time when you gave advice to someone is a common IELTS cue card topic. This essay requires careful planning to structure your thoughts and arguments logically. You can follow a narrative style that is more personal and engaging for examiners at times. Here are a couple of samples to help you practice.

Talk about a time when you gave advice to someone: Sample 1

Advising someone is par for the course, but one must ensure that it is not unsolicited advice. This is a lesson that I have learned over time, although the effects of my advice were not negative. I have always liked teaching students since my college days. I used to give tuition for the extra pocket money and learning experience. I had topped in all my classes and excelled at my extra-curricular activities. Many juniors used to come to me for their tuitions. 

Once, there was this student who had just started his first year in Physics at a reputed institution. He was learning Mathematics from me, which was my specialty. I was already teaching at another college by then. After seeing him sit in a depressed manner for quite a few classes, I asked him about the same. He said he wanted to be an actor and give up formal education. He had quarreled over the matter with his parents and was planning to run away to Mumbai soon. I calmed him down and after much persuasion, I convinced him to stay on and complete his course first. I also asked him to volunteer for the local neighborhood plays and see how he enjoyed the experience. 

In another couple of years, he was a different person. His acting had not been well-received by the audience. He found it hard to memorize lines and enact parts on stage. His craze to be an actor faded; over time, he became an established scientist and started working for the government. While I could not be prouder of him, he sometimes laments taking my advice and wonders whether he could have been successful in Mumbai. Yet, I feel I did the right thing! 

Tentative band score: 6 / Word count: 297

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Talk about a time when you gave advice to someone: Sample 2

I have never advised anyone in my life except for one instance. It was a terrible time that we were going through as a family. We had shifted with my father to his new job in a dusty and hot town in Northern India. It was sweltering and uncomfortable. We were scared to go outdoors for fear of sunburn and exhaustion. Our ground-floor living quarters were supremely hot throughout the day as well. 

My sister (ten years older than me) was then preparing for the Civil Service examinations. She would find it hard to concentrate and sweat throughout the day. Things came to such a pass that she started sleeping during the day and studying from late evening onwards. This disrupted our routine and took a toll on my mother as well. She now had to arrange everything before my father left with me early in the morning while giving my sister company while she studied till the wee hours. Even I found it hard to focus on my studies during holidays. 

It was then I found my parents discussing the situation and a possible way out one evening. When they asked me about my opinion (my parents believe in giving equal importance to everyone’s opinions), I gave them my advice. “Get an air conditioner in the main living room,” I said. I reasoned that not only could we snuggle up there if we felt hot at night, but my sister could also study there comfortably during the day and maximize her productivity. This would be a win-win situation for everyone. I was only in the seventh standard then. I am happy to say that my family took my advice and installed an air conditioner. It made life comfortable and happier there for a long time. 

Tentative band score: 6  Total word count: 297

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