# Describe a difficult challenge you faced: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Experiences

Describe a challenge you faced that was difficult.

You should say:
- what the challenge was
- when it happened
- how you dealt with it
- and explain why it was difficult for you

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about the time I broke my ankle in my final year at university. That was about two years ago, just six weeks before my final exams.

It happened in a really silly way. I was running down the stairs in the library because I was late for a lecture, and I missed the last step and fell. I heard a crack, and straight away I knew something was wrong. My friend took me to the hospital, and after an X-ray the doctor told me the bone was broken and I will need a cast for at least six weeks.

Dealing with it was harder than I expected. I live on the fourth floor and there's no lift in my building, so even going out to buy food was a big problem. For the first week I just stayed at home and felt sorry for myself. But then I realised I couldn't afford to fall behind, so I made a plan. My flatmates helped me with the shopping, and a classmate recorded the lectures for me. I also asked my department for an extension on one assignment, and they were very understanding. Slowly I got used to the crutches, although my arms were aching all the time.

It was difficult for me for a few reasons. First, I'm a very independent person, so asking other people for helps every day was quite uncomfortable. Second, the timing was terrible, because it was the most important period of my degree, and I was really worried of failing my exams. In the end, though, I passed all of them, and I learned that it's OK to accept help when you really need it.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is clear and personal, and the practical details make the difficulty easy to understand. Vocabulary is good ("felt sorry for myself", "fall behind", "an extension", "got used to the crutches"), and most narrative tenses are controlled. There are a few typical errors: a missed backshift in "the doctor told me... I will need a cast" (rather than "I would need"), the uncountable noun made plural in "asking other people for helps" (rather than "for help"), and the preposition in "worried of failing" (rather than "worried about failing"). The reasons are listed with "First" and "Second". For Band 8, the speaker would need more precise and idiomatic language for emotions and a more flexible range of structures.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-difficult-challenge).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.