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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

Describe an activity that you do to concentrate on your study/work.

You should say:

• what the activity is
• where you do this activity
• why you do this

and explain how this activity helps you concentrate on your study/work.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
 

Sample Answer 1:

I never consider myself to be a “meritorious” or "gifted" student like many others, so I have to study really hard and for a long time if I want to achieve good grades on my tests. But the problem is, no matter how hard I try, I really struggle to concentrate on my studies even on my best days sometimes.

Luckily, however, I have figured out a way to bring back my concentration by going to a local café and spending some time there while enjoying some fresh coffee and reading some travel magazines. By the way, since the café is not really that far away from my home, I don’t use any transportation and instead, just take a walk while enjoying nature and fresh air. The good thing about visiting a café is that it allows me to listen to some really interesting conversations of coffee lovers. Sometimes, I also take part in those conversations when they talk about such subjects with which I am familiar as well. Besides, when reading a travel magazine, I almost always come to know about some interesting places which I try to share with other people at the coffee shop if they show any interest. By the way, I do this particular activity because it makes me feel like I am visiting a new place, full of many new and interesting people, who share the same kind of interests as me.

This activity helps me concentrate on my studies mainly because it allows me to refresh and unclog my mind from the difficult (and sometimes, boring) subjects of my study. Besides, the activity hits me with a sense of “guilty feeling” as I had “wasted” a lot of time at the café, instead of spending it on my studies, which, in turn, forces me to concentrate hard. Finally, since I enjoy this particular activity a lot, I carry that “great feeling” with me when I study which, then, makes my study rather easy for me.

Model Answer 2:

Well, one activity that I find immensely helpful for concentrating on my studies or work is listening to instrumental music. I am not sure how it may sound, but it has proven to be more helpful than many other methods that I have tried so far.

I usually do this activity in my study room or at my desk in a quiet corner of a library( obviously I use an earphone when I am in a library). I engage in this activity to create a conducive environment for focusing on my tasks without distractions. 

Instrumental music, especially genres like classical, ambient, or lo-fi, helps me drown out external noises and create a calming atmosphere. The absence of lyrics allows me to concentrate better on my reading, writing, or problem-solving tasks without getting distracted by the words of the song or outside talks. Moreover, the rhythmic patterns and soothing melodies of instrumental music have a positive impact on my mood and mental state, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. This, in turn, enhances my ability to maintain focus and productivity for extended periods.

So, I would say that listening to instrumental music while studying or working serves as a valuable tool for enhancing my concentration, productivity, and overall well-being.

Model Answer 3:

Thank you for the time you have allowed me to talk about something that I apply to study more effectively and attentively. As a student, I find this method quite helpful.

To be more precise, I often take a break and listen to one or two songs only to get back to my desk to continue my studies a few minutes later. This method has proven to be effective and helps me study for long hours without getting bored or distracted. I believe sometimes listening to our favourite songs refreshes our minds and inspires us.

We live in an apartment which is on the 8th floor of the building and my room has a great view. So whenever I take a break to tune in to my favourite songs, I try to leave my desk and sit on a chair placed on the balcony. If I am too busy to go to the balcony, perhaps because of the "last hour preparation" for an important exam, I try to leave the desk and sit on the sofa. I use my iPod to listen to music.

I have been doing it for more than three years, and perhaps, I have invented this method to find a way to study for long hours. Nowadays, it has become a part of my study techniques, and sometimes my motivation to keep studying to achieve an excellent academic result.

This process or method, whatever I call it, helps me better concentrate on my studies because we need breaks to revive our minds, and without breaks, even interesting tasks become tiresome. Whenever I leave my desk and focus on something else for a while, I get recharged and find new energy to study for another half an hour or so. Thus even if I study for more than 12 hours a day, I do not feel fatigued or tired.

Sample Answer 4:

Thank you for this marvellous topic and I would like to express my appreciation for the time you have allowed me to think about it and finally talk about it.

Meditation is the activity I rely on to concentrate on my work. Some might disagree or even discard the idea, but meditation has remarkably enhanced my work performance. Despite my attempt to find a way to better concentrate on my work at the office, I was lagging behind until I started meditating a year ago. Since then, I have been able to work more earnestly and attentively than ever before. 

This activity does not require a significant amount of time, just 15-20 minutes is more than enough provided that I maintain the consistency of practising it daily. It is very simple to do and I just need to sit relaxed and focus on my breath and concentrate on my inner self. I do it mostly in my room in the morning and sometimes in the office. The beauty of meditation is that I can do it anywhere, anytime.

Honestly speaking, I have tried several ways of focusing on important tasks, including listening to music, reading a newspaper, watching news channels for a while, doing exercise and so on. However, meditation has been proven to be an effective way to pay more attention to my work and has also helped me control my anger and silly emotions. Since I try to relax my body and mind during the meditation session, it helps me gain more positive energy to work better.

In an ever-growing world of Facebook, YouTube or Twitter updates, and shiny new blog posts, it is no surprise that our ability to focus and concentrate has taken a nosedive. When we take time to relax by doing a meditation session and focus on the present, it helps to create a stronger control of the mind’s function and productivity. Thus I can focus more concentration on my work and remove distractions.

When you are ready to talk about an activity that you do to concentrate on your study/work, you are also ready to discuss the following topics:

1.  Describe something you do every day.
2.  Describe something that has positively affected your work performance.
3.  Describe an activity that you find really useful.
4.  Describe something you enjoy doing often.
5.  Describe something you have taken up lately.
 

• IELTS Cue Card
• IELTS Speaking
• Candidate Task Card
• Speaking Part 2

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