A person who encouraged you to achieve a goal

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 500 with Model Answer:

Describe a person who encouraged you to achieve a goal.

You should say:

• who this person is
• what goal it was
• how he or she has encouraged you to achieve the goal

and explain how useful this person's encouragement was for you to achieve the goal.

[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.]

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Model Answer 1:

Sometimes, all we need is just a little encouragement from someone to do better and become successful in life. And that’s exactly how I succeeded in achieving a goal recently, which I otherwise thought was not possible.

Now, calling “riding a car always” - no matter wherever I go and how short the distance is - is a “bad habit” that might actually offend some people, but it certainly felt like one to me. I found out that I was gaining extra pounds in my body, and my fitness was deteriorating over time. Initially, I didn’t really care much about that minor health issue since I was otherwise feeling healthy and strong. After all, I was still very much a young university-going student back then. But, when one of my good neighbours, also a practising doctor, noticed this problem, he asked me to stop using the car to go everywhere (even to go to the nearby grocery) before my health situation get worse.

He also advised me to buy a bicycle and ride it as often as I could. He even lent me his bicycle for a week to actually encourage me to start using one and get the thrill of riding this eco-friendly mode of transportation. And it was at that time that I decided to set a target for myself – a target to give up using my car every time I get out of the house in the next few months – except, of course, I just didn’t know how to do that in such a short period of time. After all, most of my friends at that time were heavily dependent on cars. But still, I kept trying, and I was encouraged by this "doctor neighbour" of mine on several occasions.

That doctor neighbour of mine was smart enough to understand my situation. So, he called me one day and told me that I was probably stronger mentally than I would like to think. He also explained some health benefits that I would likely enjoy if I pay attention to his advice.

Needless to say, his words worked like a “tonic” on me as I was able to reduce my dependency on my car in the next couple of months. After all, his kind and encouraging words had made me even stronger, mentally. Besides, his remarks and motivational words carried more weight to me since I was convinced that he, as a doctor, knew exactly what he was talking about.

Sample Answer 2:

Introduction:
I have been fortunate enough to have many people in my life who have encouraged me to pursue my dreams and achieve my goals. However, there is one person in particular who has been the biggest source of encouragement for me, and that is my elder sister. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for this excellent topic.

Who this person is:
My elder sister is someone who has always been there for me, no matter what. She is five years older than me and has always been like a second mother to me. She is a very hardworking and ambitious person who has always pushed me to do my best.

What goal it was:
One of the biggest goals that my elder sister encouraged me to pursue was higher education. When I was in high school, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, but my sister always believed in me and encouraged me to pursue a degree in a field that I was passionate about.

How she has encouraged you to achieve the goal:
My sister's encouragement was instrumental in my decision to pursue a degree in computer science. She helped me research different universities and programmes and even helped me with my college applications. Throughout my time in college, she was always there to provide me with emotional support and guidance. Whenever I felt overwhelmed or discouraged, she was there to remind me of why I had started and to encourage me to keep going.

How useful this person's encouragement was for you to achieve the goal:
I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without my sister's encouragement. Her unwavering support and belief in me gave me the confidence and motivation I needed to pursue my dreams. Her guidance and advice helped me to make the right decisions and stay on track. Thanks to her, I was able to achieve my goal of graduating from college with a degree in computer science and becoming a self-reliant individual.