Describe an exciting activity you tried for the first time

Welcome back to IELTS TIME. Today’s topic is: Describe an exciting activity you tried for the first time. You should say what it was, where and when you tried it, who you did it with, and explain why it was so exciting.

We have two fantastic model responses for you today. First, we’ll hear from Joseph, who shares a personal milestone regarding independence. Then, we’ll listen to Blondie’s high-energy experience from just last month. Let’s jump into Joseph’s story first.

An exciting activity that I tried for the first time was driving a car on a highway completely on my own. I did this about a year ago, shortly after I got my driving licence. It took place on a busy highway just outside my city, which connects several suburbs and usually has heavy traffic, especially during the day.

At the time, I had plenty of experience driving on quiet local roads, but I had always avoided highways because of the high speed and the pressure of sharing the road with experienced drivers. Although I was alone in the car, my father played an important role in this experience because he had spent weeks helping me practise and encouraged me to challenge myself when I felt ready.

What made this experience so exciting was the intense mix of fear, responsibility, and independence. In the beginning, I was extremely nervous, constantly checking my mirrors and worrying about making mistakes. However, after a while, I started to relax and feel more in control, and I even began to enjoy the smooth flow of traffic. By the time I reached my destination, I felt proud of myself because it marked a major step toward becoming more confident and independent as a young adult. That sense of achievement is what made the experience truly exciting and memorable for me.

That was Joseph’s story. To recap, he took us back about a year to the moment he first tackled highway driving alone, shortly after earning his license. He described the setting as a busy, high-traffic route just outside the city. While he was physically alone in the vehicle, he acknowledged his father’s guidance as the foundation for his confidence. Joseph explained that the thrill came from a clear shift in his emotions, moving from extreme nervousness and fear to a triumphant sense of independence and control.

In terms of vocabulary, Joseph used some very precise language. The phrase “smooth flow of traffic” is a natural collocation that demonstrates a strong command of topic-specific vocabulary. He also used the expression “marked a major step toward,” which is a sophisticated way to describe a significant life milestone. Finally, describing his feelings as an “intense mix of fear and responsibility” gives the story the emotional depth and precision required for the higher bands.

Now let’s move on to Blondie’s response, which focuses on a very different kind of first-time experience.

The exciting activity I tried for the first time was a high-intensity interval training class, often referred to as HIIT. I decided to challenge myself with this just last month at a boutique fitness studio located in the heart of the city. It was a chilly Tuesday evening, and the transition from the quiet, dark streets to the high-energy, neon-lit environment of the gym felt incredibly dramatic. I attended the session with my cousin, a dedicated fitness enthusiast who had been nudging me for weeks to stop being a “couch potato” and experience the intensity of a group workout firsthand.

The experience was exhilarating, mainly because of the unique structure of the workout and the electric atmosphere in the studio. HIIT is a training method that involves short, explosive bursts of exercise followed by brief recovery periods. This constant fluctuation in heart rate creates a physical rush that is far more intense than a standard jog or gym session.

The combination of the pounding bass from the speakers, the synchronized movement of the group, and the encouraging shouts from the instructor created a powerful sense of momentum. What really made it exciting was hitting a “second wind” during the final set of mountain climbers; pushing past my perceived physical limits gave me a massive surge of endorphins. Finishing the session alongside my cousin left me feeling completely spent but also triumphant, providing a sense of accomplishment that made the entire experience unforgettable.

That was Blondie’s story. She described trying out a HIIT fitness class just last month at a city studio. It was a cold evening, but the atmosphere inside was a complete contrast to the weather outside. She went with her cousin, who acted as her motivator to get off the sofa and get moving. Blondie explained that the excitement stemmed from the “interval” nature of the workout and the shared energy of the group, which pushed her to find a burst of energy right at the end to finish the session feeling victorious.

Blondie used some excellent evocative language to bring her story to life. She used the idiom “couch potato” to describe her previous inactivity, which adds a nice touch of personality to the response. She also mentioned hitting a “second wind,” which is a perfect way to describe a sudden burst of energy during physical exertion. Her use of the word “triumphant” to describe her final mood is a much more advanced choice than simply saying she felt happy.

It’s really interesting to see how different an “exciting” experience can be, ranging from Joseph’s quiet moment of independence on the road to Blondie’s high-octane gym session. If neither of those scenarios feels quite right for you, don’t worry—there are plenty of other directions you could take.

One strong option is to talk about the first time you travelled alone to a new place. For example, you might describe taking a solo train trip to a nearby city. You could explain when and where it happened, what it felt like to navigate stations and unfamiliar streets on your own, and how exciting it was to make decisions independently without relying on anyone else. This type of story works particularly well because the excitement comes from a mix of uncertainty and freedom, and it allows you to describe a clear emotional shift from nervousness to confidence.

You could also choose an activity that involves learning a new physical skill, such as trying indoor rock climbing for the first time. In this case, you could describe walking into the climbing gym, putting on safety equipment, and feeling intimidated by the height of the walls. The excitement naturally comes from the physical challenge itself — your racing heart, shaky hands, and the adrenaline rush as you push yourself to reach the top. Finishing the climb for the first time gives you a clear ending to the story and a strong sense of achievement.

Another relatable option is to describe the first time you cooked a complicated meal entirely on your own. For instance, you might talk about attempting a full dinner with multiple dishes rather than a simple recipe. You could explain when and where this happened, who you were cooking for, and why it felt exciting to manage everything at once, from timing the dishes to adjusting flavours. The excitement comes from the pressure of not wanting to fail, combined with the satisfaction of seeing everything come together successfully at the end.

Finally, you might talk about trying an organised group activity for the first time, such as joining a dance class or a group cycling session. You could describe arriving at the venue, feeling slightly awkward among strangers, and struggling to keep up at first. As the class progresses, the shared energy of the group and encouragement from the instructor often transform that initial discomfort into excitement and enjoyment. This type of experience works well because it combines social interaction, physical movement, and a clear emotional journey.

Ultimately, the key thing to remember is that an exciting activity doesn’t have to be extreme or dramatic. What matters most is that it was meaningful to you and that you experienced it for the first time. Whether it was travelling alone, pushing your physical limits, or stepping outside your comfort zone in a small but personal way, a strong answer comes from clearly describing what happened and how your feelings changed throughout the experience. If you can do that, you’re already well on your way to a confident and convincing response.

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