Something you did which was a waste of time – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answers

This article contains the Something you did which was a waste of time Cue Card Sample Answers.

During Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, you will have exactly one minute to prepare and speak on a specific topic. This is the IELTS cue card task. You can learn how to communicate clearly and successfully by reviewing sample answers.

This IELTS cue card gives you an opportunity to share one of your memories of something you did which was a waste of time.

Practise IELTS Speaking Part 2 by referencing the Cue Card Sample Answers below.

Before you start, improve your IELTS Speaking test skills and fluency with the guide below!

For more Cue Cards, take a look at IELTS Speaking Part 2 | Topics, Questions and Samples Answers.

Sample Answer 1

• what the thing was
• when you did it

Well, almost two years back, I purchased a new phone, and I spent the entire day setting it up and getting a hold of it.

Right after unboxing the phone, I began downloading apps that I often use, such as Facebook, Instagram, and more. Besides, I spent almost a couple of hours only trying out new features. I also clicked a bunch of pictures and posted them on my social media accounts. And then, I wasted another hour just scrolling through my feed, replying to messages and comments. Post that, a few hours were wasted playing newly-downloaded games.

• how you did it

I was extremely addicted to the phone that I used it even while having lunch and dinner. I had to complete my assignment and submit the same the next day. However, it completely skipped my mind. It was not until 12 at midnight that I began feeling dead on my feet. My eyes were dropping after a prolonged day of doing nothing but staring at the screen consistently. All of a sudden, I remembered the assignment. I instantly went into a panic state and didn’t know what to do. I regained my composure and drank black coffee to rejuvenate my sense.

• and explain why it was a waste of time.

I regretted wasting a lot of time on a meaningless thing like this. Thereafter, I burnt the midnight oil and completed my assignment at 6 am.

It was an unforgettable experience for me. After this incident, I promised myself that I would never again waste a lot of time on anything that didn’t add value to my life.

Sample Answer 2

As the Internet is becoming more and more popular these days, it has taken up a significant amount of everyone’s daytime. To be honest, sometimes, it can easily make us distracted, especially from work and study. There come so many occasions that I waste hours digging in social networks in working time. Maybe today I can share with you one among those moments.

• what the thing was
• when you did it
• how you did it

Last Tuesday, I went to the office earlier than usual. That meant I had 30 minutes for my personal things before starting a new working day. After turning on the computer, I thought it was okay if I checked my friend’s updates on Facebook for a while, then I would do some healthy exercise. However, as I went through my newsfeed, I saw a post from a Wagashi page shared by my friend. For your information, Wagashi is among the most impressive traditional art from Japan. Admittedly, I had been in love with this kind of art for so long that when I saw that post, I was so attracted. Then, I watched that video of Wagashi making, and clicked into the page to watch more and more videos, not only about the making process but about the art itself, such as the origin, the symbolic meaning behind this art and so on. It’s not until my colleague called me to ask for the documents that I realized that I had wasted too much time on Facebook.

• and explain why it was a waste of time.

To be honest, though surfing the Internet or joining in social networks can bring me a lot of benefits or knowledge, in such a mentioned situation, it was really a waste of time as I had other tasks to finish. If I had continued to watch, I couldn’t have met the deadlines for my task, and that can lead to a serious consequence, not only for me but also for the company on the whole.

Vocabulary

• Take up: account for a certain amount of time/ space
  Eg: Doing households takes up a large part of my daytime.
• Significant: great or important to be worthy of attention, noteworthy
  Eg: In the last 2 months, there is a significant increase in sales.
• Distract someone from doing something: prevent (someone) from giving full attention to something.
  Eg: I tried to distract myself from concentrating on a new movie on TV.
• For a while: for a short time
  Eg: We were quiet for a while when hearing the teacher say that we had an important test next week.
• For your information: a phrase that introduces or follows a piece of information
  Eg: For your information, I don’t even have a car.
• Symbolic: involving the use of symbols or symbolism
  Eg: the symbolic meaning of motifs and designs.
• Meet the deadline: be able to fulfil the task before deadlines.
  Eg: I managed to meet the deadline for the plan.

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