A time you felt proud, a difficult decision, a moment you helped someone: “describe an experience” cards are some of the most common in IELTS Speaking Part 2. They usually start with “Describe a time when…”.
These cards are really about telling a story, so use past tenses correctly and organise your answer: set the scene, say what happened and finish with how you felt. Below you will find four experience cue cards with band 7+ sample answers, useful vocabulary, and typical Part 1 and Part 3 questions.
You get a cue card and 1 minute to make notes. Then you speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Cover every point on the card, add a short example or story, and finish with the “explain” part.
“Describe an experience” cue cards with sample answers
Describe a time when you felt proud of yourself.
You should say:
- when it was
- what you did
- who was with you
and explain why you felt proud.
Sample Answer:
I felt really proud of myself last spring, when I finished my first half marathon. I had signed up for it about six months earlier, partly as a challenge and partly because a friend persuaded me.
At the start I could barely run five kilometres without stopping, so I followed a training plan, running three or four times a week, even in the rain and snow. On the day of the race my friend ran with me for most of the way, and my parents were waiting near the finish line. The last three kilometres were incredibly hard, but I kept going and finished in just over two hours.
I felt proud not because of the time, which was quite ordinary, but because I had stuck to the plan for so long. It showed me that I can achieve something difficult if I take it step by step, and I have used that lesson in my studies too.
Describe a difficult challenge you faced.
You should say:
- what the challenge was
- when it happened
- how you dealt with it
and explain what you learnt from it.
Sample Answer:
The biggest challenge I have faced was moving to another country for my studies when I was nineteen. I went to Germany for a two-year programme, and at first I spoke only basic German.
The first few months were really tough. I struggled to understand lectures, I found it hard to make friends and I missed my family a lot. To deal with it, I made a few decisions: I joined a language exchange where I met German students twice a week, I recorded lectures so I could listen again, and I forced myself to say yes to every invitation, even when I felt shy.
Gradually things got easier, and by the end of the first year I felt at home. I learnt that discomfort does not last forever, and that the best way through a difficult situation is usually to take small, practical steps rather than waiting to feel ready.
Describe a time when you helped someone.
You should say:
- who you helped
- what the situation was
- how you helped them
and explain how you felt about it.
Sample Answer:
I would like to talk about a time I helped an elderly man at a train station last winter. I was travelling home after work, and the station was crowded because several trains had been cancelled.
I noticed him standing in front of the departures board looking completely lost. When I asked if he was all right, he told me he had to get to a hospital in another town for an appointment, but his train was cancelled and he could not use the ticket app on his phone. So I found the next connection for him, bought a new ticket on my phone and walked with him to the right platform.
It only took about twenty minutes, but he was so grateful that he shook my hand several times. I felt warm and happy for the rest of the evening. It reminded me that small things can make a huge difference to someone, especially to people who find technology difficult.
Describe a happy memory from your childhood.
You should say:
- when it happened
- where you were
- who you were with
and explain why it is a happy memory.
Sample Answer:
One of my happiest childhood memories is a summer I spent at my grandparents’ farm when I was about nine years old. My parents were both working, so my brother and I stayed there for the whole of July.
Every day felt like an adventure. We helped my grandmother feed the chickens in the morning, swam in the river in the afternoon and in the evenings my grandfather told us stories about when he was young. Once, he woke us up in the middle of the night to watch a meteor shower from the hayfield, which I will never forget.
It is a happy memory because life felt so simple and free. There were no screens and no schedules, just time with people who loved us. Now that my grandparents are older, I value those weeks even more.
Useful vocabulary for describing experiences in IELTS
Try to replace basic words like “happy”, “bad” and “difficult” with more precise vocabulary:
| Topic | Words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Telling a story | at first, after a while, all of a sudden, in the end, looking back, it turned out that |
| Positive feelings | thrilled, relieved, proud of myself, over the moon, a sense of achievement, on cloud nine |
| Negative feelings | nervous, frustrated, overwhelmed, disappointed, out of my comfort zone |
| Challenges | to face a challenge, to overcome a difficulty, to rise to the challenge, to stick at something, a turning point |
| Useful phrases | I will never forget…, it was a real eye-opener, it taught me that…, if I could do it again, I would… |
IELTS Speaking Part 1: questions about experiences
Part 1 questions are short and personal. Give a direct answer and add one reason or example.
1Do you like trying new things?
Yes, most of the time. Last year I tried rock climbing for the first time, and now I go to an indoor climbing centre every week.
2What did you enjoy doing as a child?
I loved building things with Lego and playing outside with the other children in our street until it got dark.
3Do you keep photos of special moments?
Yes, mostly on my phone. Every year I choose the best ones and print a small photo book, which my family loves looking at.
4Is there anything you would like to learn to do in the future?
I would really like to learn to sail. I live near the sea, so it seems a shame not to be able to.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: questions about experiences and learning from them
New to Part 3? See how to give band 7+ answers in Speaking Part 3, with simple and stronger answers compared.
In Part 3 the examiner asks about experiences in general. Give longer answers with reasons, examples and both sides of the argument.
1Do people learn more from success or from failure?
I think failure usually teaches us more, because it forces us to stop and think about what went wrong. When things go well, we rarely ask why. That said, success is important too, because it builds the confidence people need to keep trying. Ideally, people experience both.
2Why do some people avoid new experiences?
Mainly because of fear: fear of failing, of looking silly or of losing what they already have. Some people also simply prefer routine, because it makes them feel safe. As people get older and have more responsibilities, like children or a mortgage, they also tend to take fewer risks.
3Should children be encouraged to take risks?
In my opinion, yes, within reason. Climbing trees, travelling on public transport alone or trying a new sport helps children become independent and confident. If parents protect them from every small danger, they may grow up anxious and unable to deal with problems. Of course, the risks should be suitable for the child’s age.
Practise on your own
Choose one of the cue cards above, set a timer for 1 minute to make notes, and then record yourself speaking for 2 minutes. Listen back and check whether you covered every point and used some of the vocabulary from this page. For more topics, see IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics and cue cards with answers.