The cue card
Describe an achievement that you are proud of.
You should say:
- what you achieved
- when you achieved it
- how you achieved it
and explain why you are proud of it.
You have one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes.
Band 8–9 sample answer
Written by Abroadway as a model of natural, high-band speaking (not an official IELTS sample).
Something I'm still quietly proud of is trekking to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal, which sits at just over four thousand metres. For someone who grew up in hot, humid Dhaka and had never climbed anything bigger than the little tea-garden hills around Sylhet, it was a pretty big deal.
It happened about two years ago, during the winter break of my third year at university. Two friends and I had been talking about it half-jokingly for ages, and eventually one of them found reasonably priced flights, so we committed before we could change our minds.
The hard part, surprisingly, was the preparation. I was honestly quite unfit, so for about three months I trained almost every day. Since Dhaka is almost completely flat, I had to improvise: I climbed the stairs of our twelve-storey building with a loaded backpack, sometimes ten times in a row, and I walked in Ramna Park early in the morning before the traffic got bad. Once we were in Nepal, we hired a local guide, who kept reminding us to walk slowly and drink plenty of water, which turned out to be the best advice possible. On the sixth day I developed a pounding headache because of the altitude, and I seriously considered turning back. We rested for an extra day, and the next morning I felt well enough to keep going.
I'm proud of it for a couple of reasons. One is that it proved to me that I'm capable of far more than I assume, as long as I prepare properly and don't give up at the first difficulty. The other is the moment itself. When we finally reached the base camp just after sunrise, surrounded by enormous snow-covered peaks, I felt a mixture of exhaustion and pure joy that I don't think I'll ever forget. Whenever I'm struggling with something now, I remind myself of that morning.
Useful phrases from this answer
- quietly proud
- proud in a private way, without boasting
- a pretty big deal
- something important or significant
- half-jokingly
- partly as a joke and partly seriously
- turning back
- returning without finishing a journey
- within their reach
- possible for them to achieve
- in the right place at the right time
- lucky enough to be somewhere when a good opportunity appears
- standing still
- not making any progress
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
What kinds of achievements are most admired in your country?
In Bangladesh, academic achievements are probably the most admired, at least within families. Getting top grades in public exams or securing a place at a prestigious university or medical college is celebrated enthusiastically, and parents often share the news proudly with relatives. Professional success, especially becoming a doctor or an engineer or getting a government job, carries enormous prestige as well. On a national level, sporting achievements generate huge excitement; a cricket victory against a strong team can feel like a national celebration. More recently, I think people have also started to admire entrepreneurs and young people who build something of their own, which reflects a gradual shift in values.
Is it important for parents to praise their children's achievements?
Yes, I think it's very important, though the way they praise matters a great deal. Children who feel their efforts are noticed tend to be more confident and motivated, whereas those who are constantly criticised may give up or become anxious. However, I'd argue parents should praise effort and persistence rather than just results or natural talent. If a child is only praised for being clever, they may start avoiding challenges in case they fail and lose that label. It's also important not to overdo it; if every small thing is described as amazing, praise loses its value. Sincere, specific encouragement is far more meaningful.
Should schools give prizes to students who do well?
On balance, I think prizes can be a positive motivator, as long as they're not the only thing students are encouraged to strive for. Recognising excellent work publicly gives hard-working students a sense of pride and can inspire others. The problem arises when prizes go to the same handful of high achievers every year, which can leave everyone else feeling invisible or discouraged. To avoid that, schools could reward a wider range of qualities, such as improvement, kindness, creativity or contribution to the community. That way, prizes celebrate different strengths, and more students feel that success is within their reach.
Does success depend more on hard work or on luck?
I'd say hard work is essential but rarely sufficient on its own. Very few people achieve anything significant without years of effort, so in that sense hard work is the foundation. However, it would be naive to ignore the role of luck, including the circumstances you're born into. A child from a wealthy family in Dhaka, with good schools and private tutors, starts with huge advantages compared with a child in a remote village, however hard the second child works. There's also luck in timing, in meeting the right person, or in being in the right place at the right time. So perhaps hard work puts you in a position to benefit when luck comes along.
Why do some people keep setting themselves new goals even after they have become successful?
I think for many people, the satisfaction comes from striving rather than from arriving. Once they reach a goal, the excitement fades surprisingly quickly, and they feel a kind of emptiness that only a new challenge can fill. Highly driven people also tend to define themselves by their progress, so standing still feels almost like failure. For some, there's an element of competition, either with others or with their own past achievements. And on a more positive note, some successful people simply want to use their position to make a bigger difference, for example by starting charities or mentoring others, which naturally creates new goals.
Practise this cue card out loud
Free, no account needed. Use Chrome or Edge with a microphone; you'll get a band estimate for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Want the technique behind a strong Part 2? Read the free Speaking lessons.