IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe an experience (cue card guide)
How to answer 'describe an experience' cue cards in IELTS Speaking Part 2 using past tenses, storytelling structure and feelings.
By English Grader study guides · AI-assisted educational content · Official sources linked below
The short answer
Tell a short story in order: set the scene, describe what happened, then explain how you felt and why it mattered.
A simple story structure
Experience cue cards reward clear storytelling. Use the cue-card bullet points as a guide, but don't treat them as a checklist read aloud.
- When and where it happened
- Who was there
- What happened, in order
- How you felt and why it was memorable
Related guide: Part 2 cue card practice
Use past tenses accurately
Mix past simple, past continuous and past perfect to show range.
Example
I was waiting at the station when I realised I had left my passport at the hotel.
Keep talking for two minutes
If you run out of ideas, add detail about your feelings or what you learned.
Related guide: Reduce hesitation when speaking
Record and review
Record your answer and get feedback on development, grammar and vocabulary.
Record a Part 2 answer →Put this into practice
Choose Speaking Part 2, take one minute to plan, and record a two-minute answer.
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Official sources and further reading
Practice examples and study routines are illustrative advice, not official band-scored answers or predictions of exam questions.