IELTS Speaking Part 3: Success

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By ieltsnotes

In your country, how is success defined or measured?

Success means different things to different people. In my country, success is often associated with material possessions. If someone lives in a huge mansion, drives a luxurious car, or wears designer clothes, they are considered successful. When it comes to careers, people believe that the higher the position, the more successful someone is. If you climb the corporate ladder and become a CEO of a well-known company, for example, it means you’re a successful person. For some people, however, success means that they are happy with what they are doing and that the people they care about are happy. That’s all that matters.

What are the elements of success?

Various factors can lead to success. First, you need to believe in yourself. Whatever you do, whoever you wanna become, you have to have faith in yourself; you need to believe that you can do it. The power of belief will give you the strength you need to overcome any obstacles that get in your way. Second, you need to work hard, because laziness is the greatest enemy of success. If you want to succeed in your chosen field, you have to put your heart and soul into what you’re doing. Another important element of success is persistence. If you fail, try again. Don’t give up. As long as you believe in yourself, work hard enough, and persevere long enough, you will achieve any goals that you set for yourself.

Why do some people work hard but not succeed?

Working hard doesn’t necessarily mean being productive. It’s important to work hard, but it’s more important to work smart. In other words, you need to learn how to prioritize things, and how to cut down on the things that use 80% of your time but only bring you 20% of your result. Another reason is that apart from hard work, success requires many other things, such as lifelong learning. The world is constantly changing, so in order to be successful we need to hone our skills and challenge ourselves to experience new things. Simply working hard is not enough.

Do you think successful people are happy or lonely?

Many people still feel lonely even when they are at the top of the world. They live in large mansions and drive luxurious cars but they aren’t happy because their success is at the expense of their personal relationships. They spend too much time working and too little time with their family. And when they do succeed, their family is typically not there to share the joy with them. But with that in mind, I also believe that many successful and happy people know how to balance their work and personal lives. They succeed in their chosen field and they also work to maintain a happy family who is always there for them, supporting them along the way.

Who should teach children to set goals?

When it comes to academic goals, I think teachers are the best ones able to teach children about goal-setting, because teachers know their students’ strengths and weaknesses. They know who has a talent for sports or who excels at language skills. Teachers can give useful advice to help their students choose the best university to enroll in. When it comes to financial goals, I think parents are the best advisors. Parents can teach their children about spending, paying bills, and managing monthly budgets.

How important is education in achieving success?

I believe education is the key to success. Education allows us to develop essential skills like reading, writing, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. These skills are essential for any career. Moreover, education helps us distinguish right from wrong, and learn how to make an ethical living. It also helps us expand our network of friends who might support us in the future.

USEFUL VOCABULARY

material possession /məˌtɪriəl pəˌzɛʃən/ (n): property or belongings that are tangible
Ex. He’s said, often enough, that artists can’t live like other people, tied down to demanding families and expensive material possessions.
mansion /ˈmænʃn/ (n): a large, impressive house
corporate ladder (n): a series of increasingly important jobs that someone can do within a company
Ex. If women want to climb the corporate ladder, they may have to sacrifice some of their family life.
faith /feɪθ/ (n): trust in somebody’s ability or knowledge; trust that somebody/something will do what has been promised
Ex. I have faith in you—I know you’ll do well.
overcome /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ (v): to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem that has been preventing you from achieving something
Ex. The two parties managed to overcome their differences on the issue.
obstacle /ˈɒbstəkl/ (n): a situation, an event, etc. that makes it difficult for you to do or achieve something
Ex. So far, we have managed to overcome all the obstacles that have been placed in our path.
persistence /pəˈsɪstəns/ (n): the fact of continuing to try to do something despite difficulties, especially when other people are against you and think that you are being annoying or unreasonable
Ex. His persistence was finally rewarded when the insurance company agreed to pay for the damage.
give up: to stop trying to do something
She doesn’t give up easily.
persevere /ˌpɜːsəˈvɪə(r)/ (v): to continue trying to do or achieve something despite difficulties
Ex. Despite a number of setbacks, they persevered in their attempts to fly around the world in a balloon.
work smart: using your time, resources, and energy efficiently to achieve your goals
Ex. We have to work hard and work smart.
prioritize /praɪˈɒrətaɪz/ (v): to put tasks, problems, etc. in order of importance, so that you can deal with the most important first
Ex. You should make a list of all the jobs you have to do and prioritize them.
hone /həʊn/ (v): to develop and improve something, especially a skill, over a period of time
Ex. She honed her debating skills at college.
challenge /ˈtʃælɪndʒ/ (n): a new or difficult task that tests somebody’s ability and skill
Ex. Destruction of the environment is one of the most serious challenges we face.
at the expense of somebody/something: with loss or damage to somebody/something
Ex. He built up the business at the expense of his health.
balance /ˈbæləns/ (n): a situation in which different things exist in equal, correct or good amounts
Ex. It is important to keep the different aspects of your life in balance.
excel /ɪkˈsel/ (v): to be very good at doing something
Ex. She has always excelled in foreign languages.
distinguish /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/ (v): to recognize the difference between two people or things
Ex. At what age are children able to distinguish between right and wrong?
ethical living: the philosophy of making decisions for daily life which take into account ethics and moral values, particularly with regard to consumerism, sustainability, environmentalism, wildlife, and animal welfare.
Ex. It explores ways of making an ethical living in the city, as well as giving an overview of equitable currency systems and economics
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