Hello, and welcome to IELTS TIME! Today, we’re tackling a Part 2 cue card: Describe a competition you took part in. You should say: what the competition was, when and where it was held, what you did in the competition, and explain what you learned from the competition.
As always, let’s start with Joseph’s story.
I’d like to talk about a public speaking competition I took part in last year. It was actually my first time doing something like that, and it was a pretty eye-opening experience.
The competition was called the Youth Voices Challenge, and it was organized by the staff at the local community center. It took place in October, in the community center’s main auditorium, which is a fairly modern building with good facilities. It was a Saturday morning, and the atmosphere was a mix of nervous energy and excitement.
In the competition, participants had to deliver a five-minute speech on a topic of their choice. I chose to speak about the importance of digital literacy for young people in today’s world. I’d spent a good few weeks preparing for it – researching my topic, structuring my points, and practicing my delivery. On the day itself, I remember feeling incredibly nervous backstage, my heart pounding! But once I got up on stage and saw the friendly faces in the audience, I settled into it. I tried to make eye contact, vary my tone, and use gestures to emphasize my points. There were about 15 other participants, and the topics were so varied and interesting.
What I learned from this competition was immense. Firstly, it significantly improved my confidence in speaking in front of an audience. Before that, I’d always been a bit shy, but preparing and delivering that speech really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Secondly, I learned the importance of thorough preparation. The more I practiced, the more comfortable and natural I felt . And finally, I realized that public speaking isn’t about being perfect; it’s about connecting with your audience and conveying your message clearly. Even though I didn’t win, the experience itself felt like a huge victory for me. It’s definitely something I’d consider doing again.
You just heard a fantastic response from Joseph, who shared his experience participating in a public speaking competition
Let’s begin by dissecting why Joseph’s response was so effective. He did a brilliant job of structuring his answer, which is crucial for clarity in the IELTS exam. He meticulously addressed all parts of the cue card, telling us precisely what the competition was—a public speaking event called the “Youth Voices Challenge”—and he was specific about when and where it was held, in October last year at the community center’s main auditorium. This level of detail helps the examiner visualize the event.
Joseph then dove into what he did in the competition, detailing his preparation, from researching his topic on digital literacy to structuring his points and practicing his delivery. He even conveyed his emotions, describing how his heart was pounding backstage before he settled into it once on stage. He made sure to mention how he tried to vary his tone and use gestures to emphasize his points, painting a vivid picture of his performance.
However, the most impactful part of Joseph’s response was undoubtedly what he learned from the competition. He focused on personal growth, explaining how it was a truly eye-opening experience that significantly improved his confidence in speaking in front of an audience. It genuinely pushed him out of his comfort zone. He emphasized the importance of thorough preparation and the profound realization that public speaking isn’t about being perfect; it’s about conveying your message clearly and connecting with your audience. Even though he didn’t win, he wisely concluded that the experience itself felt like a huge victory for him, a powerful way to express a positive outcome.
Joseph naturally wove in some fantastic vocabulary and phrases that you absolutely should consider adding to your own IELTS toolkit. Think about phrases like “a mix of nervous energy and excitement” to describe an atmosphere, or how he settled into it once he began. The term “immense” is a great, strong adjective to describe the amount he learned, and the idiom “pushed me out of my comfort zone” is perfect for discussing personal development. Notice how he used active verbs like “vary my tone” and “emphasize my points.” By adopting such descriptive language, you can elevate your own responses and impress the examiner.
Now, I can already hear some of you thinking, “But I haven’t been in a public speaking competition!” And that’s perfectly fine! The beauty of this cue card is its incredible versatility. You just need to talk about any competition you’ve taken part in. We’re not looking for Olympic gold medals here; we’re looking for your ability to communicate effectively about an experience.
Think broadly! Have you ever taken part in a charity run or a local marathon—even something like a 5K fun run? What about academic events like a debate, a science fair, a maths quiz, or a spelling bee? If you’re more on the creative side, maybe you entered an art competition, a photography contest, or a talent show where you performed music or danced. Even a baking competition or a friendly workplace challenge counts. Some of you might have joined an e-sports tournament, a board game night, or a local quiz at a café.
The key is to find any event with a competitive element, big or small, and focus on what you did and what you learned from it. You don’t need to have won first place to tell a great story—you just need to reflect on the experience and show how it affected you.
To give you another example—and to show how even a personal challenge can be rich with detail—let me share a story from last year. It wasn’t a major competition, and there was no trophy involved, but it turned out to be a really meaningful experience for me.
I participated in a 10-kilometer charity run. It was part of a larger community event held in early spring, on a Sunday morning with perfect running weather. The route followed a popular trail through a city park, and the atmosphere was full of energy and positive vibes.
For me, the competition was less about beating others and more about competing against myself. I’d set a personal goal to finish the 10K under a certain time, and I’d spent about two months consistently training for it, running a few times a week to build my endurance. On the day of the race, the atmosphere was electric – thousands of people, all running for various causes. During the run itself, I focused entirely on my pacing, trying to maintain a steady rhythm. There were moments, especially around the 7-kilometer mark, when my legs were burning and my resolve started to fade. But seeing other runners, some much older or younger, pushing themselves, gave me a real boost to keep going.
What I learned from that experience was immense. Firstly, it reinforced the power of consistency and discipline; those regular training runs really paid off on race day. Secondly, it taught me a lot about mental resilience and pushing past perceived physical limits. There’s a point where your body wants to stop, but your mind can tell it to keep going, and overcoming that internal struggle was incredibly empowering. Finally, there was the wonderful sense of collective achievement and community, knowing we were all running for a good cause. It was a deeply satisfying experience, and achieving my personal time goal felt like a significant personal victory, far more important than my ranking among thousands of runners.
So, as you prepare for your IELTS Speaking test, remember: it’s not about having the most dramatic or impressive story. What matters is how you tell it—clearly, confidently, and with reflection. Whether it’s a high-stakes debate or a personal challenge like a charity run, every experience can become a compelling story when you focus on what you did and what you learned.
Take inspiration from Joseph’s example and think about the competitions or challenges you’ve faced—big or small. Practice describing them with structure, emotion, and specific vocabulary.
That’s all for this episode of IELTS TIME! If you found this helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow IELTS learner. And as always, keep practicing, stay positive, and I’ll see you next time!
Leave a Reply