# Describe a time you helped someone: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Experiences

Describe a time you helped someone.

You should say:
- who you helped
- when and where it happened
- how you helped this person
- and explain how you felt about helping them

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

## Band 7 sample

I'm going to talk about a time I helped an elderly man at a train station, which happened about a year ago.

I was travelling back from a weekend trip, and I was waiting at a big station in the capital to change trains. There were huge crowds because some trains had been cancelled, and the announcements were changing every few minutes. I noticed an old man standing near the information board, looking really confused. He had a heavy suitcase and a paper ticket in his hand, and he kept asking people questions, but everyone was in a rush and nobody stopped.

So I went over and asked if he needed help. It turned out his train had been cancelled and he didn't know how to find the replacement, because all the information was on the app and he didn't have a smartphone. I checked the timetable on my phone and found a train to his town that was leaving from a different platform in twenty minutes. Then I carried his suitcase up the stairs, because the lift was out of order, and I waited with him until the train arrived. I even explained the situation to the conductor so that he won't have any problem with his ticket.

Honestly, I felt really good afterwards. He thanked me many times and he told me about his grandchildren while we were waiting, which was lovely. But I also felt a bit sad, because I realised how difficult modern life can be for older people who are not used to the technology. Since then, I try to pay more attention to people around me in public places.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer gives a clear, well-ordered account with relevant detail, such as the cancelled trains and the broken lift. Vocabulary is good and mostly accurate ("in a rush", "out of order", "replacement"), but linking is fairly simple ("So", "Then"). There are typical errors: "so that he won't" should be "wouldn't" after a past verb, and "Since then, I try" needs the present perfect ("I've tried"). Band 8 would bring more vivid, idiomatic expression of feelings and a wider range of linking and sentence structures.

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

## 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.