# Describe a time you had to wait for something: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Experiences

Describe a time you had to wait for something.

You should say:
- what you waited for
- where you waited
- how long you had to wait
- and explain how you felt while you were waiting

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

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about a time when I had to wait for the results of my university application. It was about five years ago, when I was finishing high school.

I had applied to study engineering at the best university in my region, and to get in you had to take an entrance exam. The exam was in early June, and the results were published online, but only at the end of July, so I had to wait during nearly two months. Most of that time I was at home, in my small town, helping my parents in their shop.

To be honest, the waiting was harder than the exam itself. At the beginning I tried not to think about it and I went out with my friends a lot. But as the date got closer, I became more and more nervous. I kept checking the university website, even though I knew the results weren't ready, and I couldn't sleep well. I also kept going over the questions in my head and thinking about the mistakes I made.

My parents were very supportive. My father kept telling me that whatever happened, it wasn't the end of the world, and there were other good universities. That helped a little bit, but I still felt anxious.

Finally, on the day of the results, I woke up at five in the morning and waited for the website to update. When I saw my name on the list, I literally jumped and shouted, and my mother came running into the room because she thought something bad happened. It was one of the happiest moment of my life, and I think the long wait made it feel even better.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer gives a clear account of the wait and shows how the speaker's feelings changed over time ("more and more nervous"). It uses good phrases such as "going over the questions in my head" and "it wasn't the end of the world", and speaks at length without strain. However, a past perfect form is missing ("she thought something bad happened" rather than "had happened"), there are slips such as "wait during nearly two months" (rather than "wait for") and "one of the happiest moment" (rather than "moments"), and the emotional language is fairly general. Band 8 adds more precise, idiomatic description of feelings and fully accurate tense use.

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

## 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.