Describe a time you were very busy

May 30, 2022

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Describe a time you were very busy – IELTS speaking part 2 and part 3

Describe a time when you were very busy.

You should say:

When it was.

Why you were so busy.

How you managed it.

And explain how you felt about being so busy.

“ One of the busiest times I experienced was about 3 months ago, when I had to finish a very important and difficult assignment in order to graduate in my major, business management.

I had only 2 weeks to complete this paper, and if I didn’t meet the deadline, I would automatically fail my finals, as well as being unable to graduate, so it was of great importance to me. I also had a part-time job at this time, which took up a lot of my time and didn’t actually leave much time to complete my paper.

The assignment was also very challenging, certainly no walk in the park and I needed to do a lot of research as well as collect a lot of data before I could even start to brainstorm ideas on how I would complete it. This meant I had to burn the midnight oil, and pull a few all nighters to be certain of having it finished to meet the deadline.

Although I didn’t exactly enjoy being so busy and under so much pressure, I felt very proud and satisfied to have completed the assignment after working all the hours god sent me. I was on cloud nine when I received my grade and discovered I got a straight A for the paper, and could now look forward to graduating.

Thank you…”

Idioms

A walk in the park

We can use this idiom to describe something that was very easy to do.

“The exam was extremely difficult, and certainly not a walk in the park.”

To brainstorm

To try and come up with and develop a list of ideas.

“The teacher put us in groups to brainstorm some ideas for the end of term school party.”

To burn the midnight oil

To burn the midnight oil means to stay up studying or working very late.

“When I was in college I used to stay up burning the midnight oil most nights.”

To pull an all nighter

This means to stay up all night studying or working.

“He ended up being too tired from pulling an all nighter before his final exam.”

Work all the hours god sends

To work as hard and as much as possible

“She is saving up to buy a house and works all the hours that god sends.”

38 great idioms for study and work

Describe a time you were very busy – IELTS speaking – Part 3

1.What are the advantages and disadvantages of being busy?

“Personally, I think one of the main advantages of keeping busy is that there is no time for boredom, as well as keeping your brain stimulated, which I think is a very healthy thing as constant boredom can often lead to depression. Furthermore, being busy can lead to a sense of achievement and success, which can really help you to love what you are doing.

However, there are perhaps some cons in being too busy, for example it can often be very stressful to be very busy at all times, which can lead to exhaustion, as well as having little time or energy for family. On top of that it could lead to some missed opportunities, such as travel or attending fun events such as weddings or parties, so I think it’s very important to try and find a balance, and remember there should be more to life than work, at least some of the time.”

2.What are different kinds of pressure people experience in work?

“I think there are a number of different types of pressure and stress people go through in work. Many people have a heavy workload and have to work all the hours God sends, with little or no free time to relax or spend time with their family. Furthermore, a lot of people suffer from stress due to job security, and are worried about maybe losing their job, due to the economic climate. Another kind of pressure could arise from conflicts with co-workers or bosses, which is something that can cause a lot of unnecessary stress. So, I think there are quite a few reasons someone might suffer from pressure in the workplace.”

3.Do you think it’s good for children to experience pressure in study or school?

“Oh, that’s a good question, and it’s a pretty hot topic currently. Personally I believe a lot of children experience way too much in school, and that pressure actually starts in primary school, which I feel is very wrong. I think for a child to learn, they must be interested, motivated in and understanding why they need to learn something. Children’s study seems to be totally exam focused today, which I think just leads to further pressure and unnecessary stress on a young child. This I’m sure cannot be healthy, and I feel that something really needs to change in our education system.”

4.What are some advantages of keeping busy?

“In my opinion, being busy can have numerous advantages. Firstly, being busy can keep your mind occupied and prevent boredom or negative thoughts from creeping in.

On top of that, being busy often means being more productive and achieving goals, which can provide a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

As well as that, being busy can also improve time management skills and increase efficiency.

Furthermore, being busy can lead to increased socialization and opportunities for personal growth. Overall, being busy can bring a sense of purpose and satisfaction to daily life.”