Maria sat on her bed, a deep sigh escaping her lips. The email was open on her laptop screen, but she didn’t need to read it again. The number was burned into her mind: 6.0.
She had studied for months. Every evening after work, she would open her books and listen to podcasts. She had practiced speaking in front of a mirror, trying to perfect her accent. The IELTS test was her one chance, her golden ticket to a new life in an English-speaking country. A life of new experiences and opportunities.
She needed a score of 6.5. This 6.0 was not enough. The dream of studying abroad, a dream she had held for years, felt like a fragile glass vase that had just shattered on the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was over.
For a few days, Maria felt lost. She went to work, she came home, but her mind was elsewhere. Her friends tried to cheer her up, but she just smiled and said, “I’m fine,” even though she wasn’t.
One evening, her mother found her staring out the window. “What’s wrong, my dear?” she asked.
“My IELTS score, Mum,” Maria said, her voice cracking. “It’s not high enough. I can’t go.”
Her mother sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulder. “So, you didn’t get the score you wanted,” she said softly. “But does that mean you are a failure? No. Does it mean your dream is impossible? Also no.”
“But I can’t apply to the universities,” Maria whispered.
“Not yet,” her mother corrected. “You can take the test again. You can work even harder. This is just a small setback, not the end of the road.”
Maria thought about her mother’s words. A small setback. She had been treating it like the end of everything. She realised her mother was right. She had to try again. Giving up was not an option.
The next day, Maria signed up for an intensive English course. The classes were three evenings a week. It was difficult, but she was more motivated than ever. She found a language partner online and they spoke every day for thirty minutes. She watched English films without subtitles, and she read English newspapers.
Six months later, Maria took the test again. She was nervous, but she felt more prepared this time. The long wait for the results was agonising.
Then, the email arrived. She took a deep breath and clicked it open. Her eyes scanned the page, searching for the number. She saw it. 7.0.
A huge smile spread across her face. A single tear of joy rolled down her cheek. She didn’t just meet her goal; she surpassed it. Her dream was now closer than ever, and she knew that this journey, the hard work and the small setbacks, had made her stronger.
Vocabulary Notes
Dashed: This verb means to destroy or ruin a hope or dream. It often suggests that the hope was suddenly and completely gone.
Example from the story: “which dashed her hopes of going to an English speaking country to study.”
Similar words: shattered, crushed, destroyed, ruined.
Example sentence: The bad weather dashed our plans for a picnic in the park.
Agonising: This adjective describes something that causes great physical or mental pain, worry, or difficulty. The wait for the results was agonising for Maria because she was so anxious and stressed.
Example from the story: “The long wait for the results was agonising.”
Similar words: excruciating, tormenting, unbearable, painful.
Example sentence: He had to wait for an agonising ten minutes before the dentist saw him.
Surpassed: This verb means to be better or greater than something else, or to exceed a particular goal or limit. Maria surpassed her goal of 6.5 by getting a 7.0.
Example from the story: “She didn’t just meet her goal; she surpassed it.”
Similar words: exceeded, outdid, bettered, topped.
Example sentence: The company’s profits this year surpassed all expectations.
Setback: This noun refers to a problem or difficulty that delays or stops progress. It is a temporary issue, not a permanent one.
Example from the story: “This is just a small setback, not the end of the road.”
Similar words: difficulty, hitch, problem, complication.
Example sentence: The rain was a minor setback, but we continued with our plans.
Fragile: This adjective describes something that is easily broken, damaged, or destroyed. It can be used for physical objects or for abstract ideas like hopes and dreams.
Example from the story: “The dream… felt like a fragile glass vase that had just shattered on the floor.”
Similar words: delicate, breakable, weak, vulnerable.
Example sentence: Please be careful with that glass box; it’s very fragile.
Story written by Gemini Pro AI
Image created by Imagiyo AI
CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads
Reading Short Stories/Content for English Learners 
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