IELTS Speaking · Part 2 · Cue card
Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded at
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
This Part 2 cue card asks you to describe describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded at. Your long turn has to cover 4 prompts (what it was; why it was difficult; how you managed to do it; how you felt afterwards), and the last one carries the most marks.
The cue card
Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded at.
You should say:
- what it was
- why it was difficult
- how you managed to do it
- and explain how you felt afterwards
How to structure your long turn
- 1
what it was
- 2
why it was difficult
- 3
how you managed to do it
- 4
and explain how you felt afterwards
Rounding-off questions
Why is it important to face challenges?
Do people learn more from success or failure?
Where this leads: Part 3 on skills and success
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