Something you did that was a waste of time

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 539 with Model Answer:

Describe something you did that you think was a waste of your time.

You should say:

• when it was
• what you did
• how long it took

and explain why you think that was a waste of your time.

[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:

Introduction:
Time is a valuable asset, and we should spend it wisely. However, sometimes we may end up doing things that we regret later on. For this topic, I will talk about an activity that I did that I feel was a waste of my time.

When it was:
Last summer, during my summer vacation, I decided to learn a new language. Well, little did I know back then that it was not a prudent decision.

What you did:
I was quite excited about it, and I spent a lot of time researching the best courses and resources available. I finally found an online course and started taking the classes. And with this course, I was expecting to learn and master the German language.

How long it took:
I spent several weeks studying the German language, spending hours each day memorizing vocabulary, practising grammar rules, and trying to master the pronunciation.

And explain why you think that was a waste of your time:
However, after a few weeks, I realized that I was not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I was not making the progress I wanted, and I did not have any immediate use of the language. I also found that I was neglecting other things that were more important to me, such as spending time with my family and pursuing my hobbies. With this experience, I learned that it is important to prioritize our time and invest it in things that matter to us the most.