[Band 8.5] Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded IELTS Cue-Card

In Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded Cue Card, you should say:

1. What was this thing?

2. How did you succeed in it?

3. Why it was difficult?

4. How you felt about doing it?

Here’s the sample answer to Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded topic from the latest IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 2023:

INTRODUCTION

In my life, I have accomplished a lot of things that seemed challenging at first but were simple to do once I got going. So today, I’d like to share one such true story from my life about how I overcame a fear.

What was this thing?

Swimming is the subject I’d want to discuss. I have always been afraid to get in the water, but I finally came to the realisation that learning to swim is difficult but an essential life skill. Additionally, I believed it would be beneficial exercise and aid my physical development.

How did you succeed in it?

So I joined Swimming classes near my home. Although my initial training experiences were frightening, I managed to finish the course.

I’m grateful to my amazing mentor. After hanging up my bathing suit in the locker room on the first day, I stood hesitantly by the poolside as I awaited the instructor and the other students to arrive.

But sooner than I anticipated, the trembling subsided and everything started to seem “okay.” To keep myself floating, the teacher made me put on colourful water wings. I learned how to swim in this way.

Why it was difficult?

For me, things weren’t nearly as simple. When I was in close proximity to water, my aquaphobia always surfaced.

My uncle nearly drowned as a child in an improperly managed swimming lesson, and my mother told me she had once been dangling over a bridge, among other horrible tales I heard as a child. Due to these encounters, I found swimming to be even more challenging.

How you felt about doing it?

And once I knew it, I was just as happy as Larry. The most comforting aspect was that no one would ever again dare to refer to me as a nervous grownup. I felt secure and more at ease than ever when floating in the water.

Concluding the Cue Card

Finally, I just want to say that. It was a Herculean job for me to learn to swim, but in the end, my perseverance paid off.

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FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

Following are the probable set of IELTS Speaking Part-3 follow-up questions for Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded cue card:

1) What kinds of jobs require people to be confident?

Every profession, in my opinion, calls for a certain amount of confidence, but those that involve dealing with clients need a lot more. Teachers, Salespersons, Doctors, Lawyers, TV anchors, Public speakers, Preachers, Nurses etc. are some of the jobs that need the strongest confidence.

2) On what occasions should children be encouraged? How?

When kids are afraid to do something that is good for them, I believe they should be encouraged to do it. However, the encouragement should only be given up to a point; they shouldn’t feel as though it’s being forced upon them.

For instance, if kids show an interest in music, we might push them to learn how to sing. Parents might also take kids to a music concert to expand their knowledge and inspire them.

3) How do you help children stay focused?

Children are more prone to distractions than an adult. However, there are some really good ways to assist children to stay focused.

First, one can provide a distraction-free environment for kids to learn in, such as decluttering their room. Moreover, teaching them about meditation would be another technique to assist them in focusing.

4) What challenges do young people face today?

There are, in my opinion, primarily two difficulties that young people nowadays must overcome. The first one has to do with the mind and mental health. Today, everyone is aware of the rise in cases of young depression and suicide. Furthermore, they also have to contend with the rising competitiveness in their fields of study or employment.

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OTHER LATEST CUE CARDS YOU MUST READ BEFORE THE EXAM:

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Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste ↗	Describe a problem you had while shopping online or in a store ↗	Describe a photo that you took and are proud of ↗

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I hope it gives you some realistic idea on how to carry a conversation around Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded IELTS Cue card topic. However, it is strongly advised not to reproduce the same answer during the exam. You should rather reformulate and personalise your answer.

If you still need any help, don’t be shy to comment below.

ALL THE BEST!

Rajit