Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved: IELTS Cue Card | Admissify Blog

Last Updated on June 27, 2025

“Describe an ambition you have not yet achieved” is a frequently asked IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card. This guide presents four structured sample answers, follow-up questions, and vocabulary support to help you speak clearly and stay on track. Learn how to describe a personal goal with depth, including what the ambition is, when it started, and why it matters to you. Practice using real examples to strengthen your fluency, coherence, and confidence.

Get sample answers and follow-up questions for “Describe an ambition you have not yet achieved” IELTS cue card.

What does “Describe an ambition you have not yet achieved” mean?

This IELTS cue card asks you to talk about a goal or dream you’re still working on. It can be a career plan, personal challenge, or lifestyle ambition. You explain what it is, why you want it, and what you’ve done so far.

What should I include in my answer?

You’ll receive this cue card in the IELTS Speaking Part 2 round. You get:

• 1 minute to prepare
• 1–2 minutes to speak

Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved

You should say:

• What the ambition is
• When you decided to pursue it
• What steps you have taken toward achieving it
• Why it is important to you

Why is the IELTS Cue Card Important?

This topic assesses your ability to:

• Narrate events and aspirations clearly
• Use future, past, and present tenses fluently
• Organize thoughts with coherence
• Reflect on personal experiences with appropriate vocabulary

Becoming a Published Author: Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved

So, what is the ambition?

I desire that a novel of mine be published by major publishing house.

At what point did you make such a decision?

 This was the choice I made whilst in school, after writing short stories as assignments in board contests.

What have you done?

 I have attended writing groups, creative writing classes, and I write a blog once a week. I am doing my first draft.

Why is it significant?

 This is a desire of self-expression and freedom of creation. Storytelling to other people makes me have a sense of mission and direction.

Writing is a bridge between imagination and impact – publishing is merely the next step.

Running a Full Marathon: Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved

What is the aspiration?

 My goal is to run a complete marathon (42.195 kilometres).

When did you decide on this goal?

I made this decision a year and a half ago, after attending the Boston Marathon.

How are you going about it?

I have progressed beyond 5k to 15k runs, have joined a running club and have a rigorous training program.

Why should it make any difference to you?

Participation in a marathon challenges my physical and psychological boundaries. It instils discipline, patience and endurance.

Marathons have only been completed by less than one per cent of the world population.

Launching My Own Business: Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved

What is the aspiration?

 I would like to launch a business in the sphere of edtech in order to make learning accessible.

How did this start?

 I was inspired in my university days to mentor students living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

What have you done?

 I have developed an MVP (minimum viable product), implemented business classes, and at present am pitching to investors.

What is so important about it?

 It combines meaning with effectiveness. I desire to see education made more open and individualized.

Money is not the only motivation in starting a business – entrepreneurship is about working on genuine problems.

Learning Spanish Fluently: Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved

What is the ambition?

I want to speak Spanish fluently, both conversationally and professionally.

When did this start?

It started after my trip to Spain, where I struggled to communicate with locals.

What have you done so far?

I use Duolingo daily, attend weekend classes, and speak with native Spanish speakers online.

Why is it important?

Language connects cultures. Spanish fluency opens global job opportunities and deeper travel experiences.

Use language apps + live practice for faster fluency.

Follow-Up Questions: Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved

Why do people have ambitions?

Ambitions drive personal growth. They give direction and help people overcome challenges.

Are ambitions always about success or money?

No. Many ambitions are about self-growth, travel, learning, or helping others.

Can ambitions change over time?

Yes. Life events, career shifts, or personal values can lead people to redefine their ambitions.

Is ambition always good?

Mostly, yes. But excessive ambition can cause burnout. Balance is key.

Vocabulary to Use for This Cue Card

Below is a vocabulary table with definitions and sample usage:

Phrase / Word	Meaning	Example Sentence
A long-held ambition	A goal you’ve had for a long time	Becoming a novelist is a long-held ambition of mine.
A significant aspiration	A strong personal dream or hope	My significant aspiration is to become a successful entrepreneur.
Yet to materialise	Hasn’t become real yet	This ambition has yet to materialise due to funding issues.
A work in progress	Still being worked on	My language fluency is still a work in progress.
Procrastinated on taking action	Delayed necessary steps	I procrastinated on taking action for over a year.
Lacked the necessary resources	Didn’t have the tools or support	I lacked the necessary resources to pursue the idea earlier.
Took some preliminary steps	Began the early stages	I took some preliminary steps by joining an online course.
Conducted some initial research	Researched basic info first	I conducted some initial research into market demand.
Re-evaluating my approach	Rethinking your method	I’m re-evaluating my approach after facing repeated setbacks.
Committing more time and effort	Dedicating more energy and focus	I plan to succeed by committing more time and effort.
milestone	Important event or achievement	“Graduation was a milestone in my life.”
pursue	To follow or strive toward something	“I continue to pursue this dream daily.”
determination	Strong will to achieve something	“Her determination helped her succeed.”
breakthrough	A major achievement	“That prize was a breakthrough moment.”
long-term goal	A target you plan to achieve later	“This ambition is a long-term goal.”

Related Topics for IELTS Prep

Describe an important day in your life

Describe a Difficult Decision You Made

Describe a Historical Building You Have Been To

Describe an Item of Clothing Someone Gave You

Describe a Place You Would Like to Live in the Future

Describe an Old Person Who Has Had an Interesting Life

Describe a Place in Your City Where You Can See Wildlife

Summary Table

Section	Key Points
Cue Card Explained	Focus on a personal ambition not yet achieved
4 Sample Answers	Topics: author, marathon, business, language fluency
Follow-Up Questions	Add depth and show reflection
Vocabulary Bank	Use ambition-related words to boost your score
Related Topics	Interlink with similar IELTS cue cards
FAQ Section	Clears common doubts on what counts as a valid ambition

Final thoughts on Describe an Ambition You Have Not Yet Achieved

When you share an ambition that you have not already fulfilled, you have a chance to demonstrate individuality, strategy, and personal introspection in IELTS Speaking. Speak confidently with the use of clear examples, rich vocabulary and an organized style. Emphasis should be on why the ambition is important, what you have achieved and how you intend to move towards it.

FAQs

What kind of ambitions do people usually have?

People often dream about career success, academic goals, fitness targets, or personal achievements like learning a new skill.

Can ambition be both personal and professional?

Yes. Ambitions can be personal (like traveling the world) or professional (like becoming a CEO).

Why do some ambitions remain unfulfilled?

Lack of time, financial barriers, fear of failure, or shifting priorities can delay or stop goal achievement.

Do people’s ambitions change with age?

Yes. Young people often aim for exploration and growth, while older individuals focus on stability and legacy.

Is having ambition always good?

Ambition is generally positive. It drives progress. But excessive ambition without balance can cause stress or burnout.