IELTS Speaking Practice 15 Test 04
Practise Part 1 questions, a Part 2 cue card and Part 3 discussion questions with sample answers.
Use the microphone beside any question to practise speaking aloud. Your microphone audio is visualised in your browser only and is not recorded or uploaded.
For the full experience, create an account or sign in, then open Speaking Simulator from your Dashboard.
Introduction and Interview
Answer familiar questions naturally and directly.
What are you studying?
I’m studying business management at college. My course covers subjects like marketing, accounting and operations, so it’s quite broad rather than focused on only one area.
Why did you choose this subject?
I chose it because I was interested in how companies grow and make decisions. I also liked that the degree could lead to several different career paths instead of one very specific job.
What do you find most challenging about your studies?
The hardest part is managing several assignments at the same time. Each subject has different deadlines, so I need to plan carefully or I can end up doing too much work at the last minute.
Do you take taxis often?
Not very often. I usually take public transport because it’s cheaper, but I use taxis when I’m in a hurry or carrying something heavy.
When do you usually take a taxi?
Mostly late at night, especially if the metro has stopped running. I also take one occasionally when I need to get to the airport early in the morning.
Do you prefer taxis or public transport?
I prefer public transport for normal daily trips because it costs less and is usually reliable. Taxis are more comfortable, but I mainly see them as an occasional convenience.
Do you remember to drink water?
Most of the time, yes. I keep a water bottle on my desk, so seeing it reminds me to drink throughout the day instead of waiting until I feel thirsty.
What helps you stay hydrated?
Carrying a reusable bottle helps the most. I also drink a glass of water with each meal, which is an easy habit because I don’t have to think about it much.
Do you think many people forget to drink water?
Yes, especially when people are busy. They may drink coffee or other drinks during the day and not realize they’ve had very little water until they start feeling tired or thirsty.
Long Turn
Speak continuously and develop the cue card as one natural response.
Describe a time you missed a deadline
- What the deadline was for
- Why you missed it
- What consequences happened
- What you did differently later
A deadline I missed was for a group presentation in my first year of college. My job was to finish the market research section and send my slides to the group leader by Friday evening so everything could be combined over the weekend. I knew about the deadline, but that week I had two other assignments and a part-time shift. I kept telling myself I would finish the slides later, and I seriously underestimated how long the research would take. By Friday night, I had only completed about half of it. I finally sent my part early on Saturday morning, several hours late. The main consequence was that my group leader had to stay up later to reorganize the full presentation, and one teammate was understandably annoyed with me. We still submitted the project on time, but I felt guilty because my poor planning had created extra work for other people. After that, I started breaking large tasks into smaller steps and putting personal deadlines in my calendar one or two days before the real deadline. I also became more willing to tell teammates early if I was struggling. I still sometimes procrastinate, but I haven’t repeated that particular mistake in a group project.
Do you often think about this experience?
Yes, occasionally, especially when I’m planning group work. It reminds me that missing a deadline can affect other people, not just me.
Want the full speaking experience?
Create an account or sign in, then open Speaking Simulator from your Dashboard. No Next button. It moves on automatically.
Discussion
Develop your ideas with reasons, examples, comparisons or qualifications where they fit.
What can happen if deadlines are not taken seriously?
If deadlines aren’t taken seriously, work can pile up and create problems for other people who depend on it. In a company, one late task might delay a report, a delivery or even a client project. Repeated lateness can also damage trust because colleagues stop believing promises about timing. Of course, some deadlines are flexible and unexpected problems happen. The real issue is whether someone communicates early and takes responsibility instead of simply disappearing until the work is finished.
How can people improve their time management skills?
People can improve time management by making tasks visible and realistic. A calendar or task list helps, but it only works if people estimate how long things actually take. Breaking large projects into smaller stages is useful because it creates earlier warning signs when something is slipping. It also helps to leave some spare time for unexpected problems rather than planning every hour perfectly. Finally, people should review why they missed previous deadlines, because the cause might be procrastination, overcommitment or poor prioritization.
Why is responsibility important when dealing with deadlines?
Responsibility matters because deadlines usually involve other people’s plans. When someone agrees to complete a task by a certain time, colleagues or clients may organize their own work around that promise. If the task is late without warning, the effects can spread. Being responsible doesn’t mean never making mistakes. It means being realistic, communicating problems early and trying to reduce the impact on others. That behavior builds trust even when an occasional delay is unavoidable.
Can missing a deadline sometimes teach an important lesson?
Yes, it can, if the person reflects on what went wrong. A missed deadline may reveal that they underestimate tasks, accept too much work or wait until the last moment to begin. Experiencing the consequences can make the lesson more memorable than simply being told to plan better. However, the lesson only helps if behavior changes afterwards. If someone repeatedly misses deadlines and always blames circumstances, the experience isn’t really teaching them anything.
Move from questions to a full speaking simulation.
Create an account or sign in, open Speaking Simulator from your Dashboard, choose your setup, and start an automatically paced Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 session.