Are you preparing for the IELTS Speaking test? One common topic that often comes up is describing a time when you had to work with someone who had different ideas. This can be a challenging scenario to articulate, but with the right approach, you can impress the examiner and boost your score. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to tackle this topic effectively, providing sample answers and expert tips to help you excel in your IELTS Speaking exam.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
In Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking test, the examiner may ask you some general questions about teamwork and collaboration. Here are some potential questions you might encounter:
- Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
- Have you ever had to work with someone you didn’t get along with?
- How do you handle disagreements in a team setting?
Let’s look at a sample answer for the third question:
Examiner: How do you handle disagreements in a team setting?
Sample Answer (Band 7-8):
“Well, when it comes to disagreements in a team, I believe communication is key. I always try to listen actively to understand the other person’s perspective. Then, I express my own views calmly and logically. Usually, by finding common ground and focusing on our shared goals, we can reach a compromise that works for everyone.”
Key phrases: communication is key, listen actively, express my own views, finding common ground, focusing on shared goals
Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
In Part 2, you might receive a cue card related to working with someone with different ideas. Here’s a sample cue card:
Describe a time when you had to work with someone who had different ideas from you.
You should say:
- Who this person was
- What you were working on together
- What ideas you disagreed on
- How you resolved the disagreement
And explain how you felt about the experience.
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“I’d like to talk about a time when I collaborated with a colleague named Sarah on a marketing campaign for our company’s new product line. Sarah and I were tasked with creating a comprehensive strategy to launch the product in the local market.
From the outset, it was clear that Sarah and I had divergent views on how to approach the campaign. I was in favor of a digital-first strategy, focusing heavily on social media and influencer marketing. I believed this would help us reach our target demographic more effectively and cost-efficiently. Sarah, on the other hand, advocated for a more traditional approach, emphasizing print media and television advertisements. She argued that this would give our product a more premium image and appeal to a broader audience.
Initially, our disagreement led to some tension in our working relationship. However, we both recognized the importance of finding a middle ground for the success of the project. We decided to take a step back and objectively analyze the pros and cons of each approach. We conducted market research and gathered data on consumer preferences and media consumption habits in our target market.
To resolve our differences, we ultimately opted for an integrated approach that combined elements from both our ideas. We allocated our budget to include a strong digital presence while also incorporating strategic traditional media placements. This compromise allowed us to leverage the strengths of both strategies and mitigate their weaknesses.
Looking back, I feel that this experience was incredibly valuable. It taught me the importance of being open-minded and willing to compromise. I realized that diverse perspectives can lead to more robust and innovative solutions. The campaign was a resounding success, and I believe it was largely due to the synergy we achieved by blending our different ideas. This experience has made me more appreciative of working with people who think differently from me, as it often leads to more creative and effective outcomes.”
Key phrases: tasked with creating, launch the product, divergent views, in favor of, digital-first strategy, reach our target demographic, cost-efficiently, advocated for, premium image, appeal to a broader audience, tension in our working relationship, finding a middle ground, take a step back, objectively analyze, conducted market research, gathered data, resolve our differences, opted for an integrated approach, combined elements, allocated our budget, leverage the strengths, mitigate their weaknesses, incredibly valuable, being open-minded, willing to compromise, diverse perspectives, robust and innovative solutions, resounding success, synergy, blending our different ideas, more appreciative, creative and effective outcomes
Follow-up Questions
- How did this experience change your approach to teamwork?
- What do you think are the main benefits of working with people who have different ideas?
Sample Answer (Band 8-9) for Question 1:
“This experience significantly transformed my approach to teamwork. It made me more receptive to different viewpoints and less rigid in my own ideas. Now, I actively seek out team members with diverse perspectives, as I’ve seen firsthand how this can lead to more innovative solutions. I’ve also become more adept at mediating disagreements within a team, focusing on finding common ground rather than pushing for my way. Overall, it’s made me a more collaborative and flexible team player.”
Key phrases: significantly transformed, more receptive, less rigid, actively seek out, lead to more innovative solutions, adept at mediating, focusing on finding common ground, more collaborative and flexible team player
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
In Part 3, the examiner will ask more abstract questions related to the topic. Here are some potential questions and sample answers:
Examiner: Why do you think conflicts arise when people with different ideas work together?
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“Conflicts in collaborative settings often stem from a variety of factors. Firstly, people have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives which naturally lead to diverse approaches to problem-solving. Additionally, ego and personal attachment to one’s ideas can make individuals less receptive to alternative viewpoints. There’s also the issue of communication barriers – people may struggle to articulate their ideas clearly or misinterpret others’ intentions. Lastly, the pressure of deadlines and high-stakes projects can exacerbate tensions, making it harder for people to find common ground. However, it’s important to note that these conflicts, when managed effectively, can actually lead to more creative and robust solutions.”
Key phrases: stem from a variety of factors, different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, diverse approaches, ego and personal attachment, less receptive, communication barriers, articulate their ideas clearly, misinterpret others’, pressure of deadlines, high-stakes projects, exacerbate tensions, find common ground, lead to more creative and robust solutions
Examiner: How can organizations benefit from having employees with diverse ideas and perspectives?
Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
“Organizations can reap numerous benefits from fostering a workforce with diverse ideas and perspectives. Firstly, it enhances creativity and innovation, as different viewpoints can lead to novel solutions to complex problems. This diversity also improves decision-making processes, as it helps to avoid groupthink and encourages critical analysis of ideas from multiple angles. Moreover, a diverse workforce can better represent and understand a company’s varied customer base, leading to improved product development and customer service. It also promotes a culture of learning within the organization, as employees are exposed to different ways of thinking and working. Lastly, companies with diverse perspectives are often more adaptable to change and resilient in the face of challenges, as they have a broader range of experiences and skills to draw upon.”
Key phrases: reap numerous benefits, enhances creativity and innovation, lead to novel solutions, improves decision-making processes, avoid groupthink, critical analysis, better represent and understand, improved product development, promotes a culture of learning, exposed to different ways of thinking, more adaptable to change, resilient in the face of challenges, broader range of experiences and skills
Key Vocabulary and Phrases
To score high in your IELTS Speaking test, it’s crucial to use a range of sophisticated vocabulary and phrases. Here are some key terms related to working with people who have different ideas:
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Diverse perspectives [daɪˈvɜːs pəˈspektɪvz] (noun phrase): Different viewpoints or ways of looking at something.
Example: “The team’s diverse perspectives led to a more comprehensive solution.” -
To find common ground [faɪnd ˈkɒmən graʊnd] (phrasal verb): To discover shared interests or opinions.
Example: “Despite our differences, we managed to find common ground on the project’s main objectives.” -
To compromise [ˈkɒmprəmaɪz] (verb): To settle differences by mutual concession.
Example: “We had to compromise on the budget allocation to satisfy both departments.” -
Collaborative approach [kəˈlæbərətɪv əˈprəʊtʃ] (noun phrase): A way of working that involves cooperation between team members.
Example: “Our collaborative approach allowed us to leverage everyone’s strengths.” -
To resolve conflicts [rɪˈzɒlv ˈkɒnflɪkts] (verb phrase): To find a solution to disagreements or problems.
Example: “We used mediation techniques to resolve conflicts within the team.”
Tips from an IELTS Examiner
As an experienced IELTS examiner, I recommend the following strategies to excel in the Speaking test:
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Practice regularly: Familiarize yourself with common topics and practice articulating your thoughts clearly.
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Use a variety of vocabulary: Incorporate sophisticated words and phrases naturally in your responses.
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Provide specific examples: When describing situations, give concrete details to make your answers more engaging and authentic.
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Show reflection: Demonstrate your ability to analyze experiences and draw insights from them.
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Maintain fluency: Aim for smooth delivery, but don’t worry about small pauses or minor mistakes – they’re natural in spoken language.
Remember, the key to success in the IELTS Speaking test is to communicate effectively and demonstrate your language skills. By following these tips and practicing regularly, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle any topic, including describing times when you had to work with someone with different ideas.
For more tips on improving your IELTS Speaking skills, check out our guide on how to describe a person who is a great communicator. This can provide valuable insights into effective communication strategies that you can apply when discussing collaborative experiences.