Describe a time you felt proud: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe a time when you felt proud of something you did.

You should say:

what you did
when and where it happened
who knew about it

and explain why you felt proud.

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.

Try it before you read the sample. Answer this card out loud with our AI examiner and get an estimated band.

Practise with the AI examiner

Sample answer

About 234 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

I'd like to talk about the time I completed a half marathon, which is a twenty-one-kilometre race, about eighteen months ago.

It was a big achievement for me because I'd never been sporty. At school I was always the last to finish in running races, and I'd convinced myself that I just wasn't the athletic type. But when I turned twenty-five, I decided I wanted to get fitter, and a colleague persuaded me to sign up for a charity race in my city.

I trained for about five months, following a plan I found online. I started by running just two kilometres, and slowly built it up. There were plenty of mornings when I didn't feel like getting out of bed, especially in winter, and I had a knee injury halfway through that set me back a few weeks. On the day of the race, my family came to watch, and my colleague ran alongside me for most of it.

I finished in just over two hours, which is nothing special for experienced runners, but for me it was huge. I felt proud partly because I'd proved to myself that I could do something I'd always believed was impossible, and partly because we raised money for a children's hospital. It also changed how I see myself. I realised that a lot of the limits I'd set for myself were really just in my head.

Why this works: it covers every point on the card in order, gives specific details and a short story rather than general statements, and ends by explaining the feeling or reason, which the last line of the card asks for.

Useful vocabulary

not the athletic type: not a person who is naturally good at sport
sign up for: to register for an event or course
build something up: to increase it gradually
set someone back: to delay someone's progress
prove something to yourself: to show yourself that you can do it
be in your head: to exist only in your mind, not in reality

Rounding-off question

After you finish, the examiner may ask one short question, such as:

Do you think it's important to celebrate your achievements?

Part 3 questions: Success and achievement

In Part 3, the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the cue card topic. Give an opinion, explain why, and add an example.

What do most people in your country think it means to be successful?

For many people, success is still measured mainly by money and professional status, such as having a well-paid job or owning a house. That said, younger people increasingly talk about balance, so success also means having time for family, health and personal interests.

Is success more about hard work or luck?

I'd say hard work is essential, but luck plays a bigger role than people like to admit. Being born into a supportive family, or meeting the right person at the right time, can open doors. Hard work determines how well you use those opportunities.

Now say it out loud

Reading a good answer helps, but speaking is what improves your band. This set includes this cue card, Part 1 questions on weekends and animals, and a Part 3 discussion.

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This sample answer was written by TestWise Prep to show language that scores well. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas, not to memorise, because examiners mark rehearsed answers down.