An achievement you are proud of
IELTS Speaking Part 2 · cue card
Describe an achievement you are proud of.
You should say:
- what you achieved
- when you achieved it
- how you achieved it
- and explain why you are proud of it
You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.
Free account required for the live AI partner.
Band 7+ sample answer
About 238 words, roughly two minutes spoken. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise: examiners notice rehearsed answers.
One achievement I'm genuinely proud of is completing a half marathon last February, the Dhaka Half Marathon, which is twenty-one kilometres.
To understand why it matters, you need to know that two years ago I couldn't run for more than five minutes without stopping. I was overweight, I slept badly, and I spent most evenings sitting in front of a screen. After a health check-up showed my blood pressure was higher than it should be for my age, I decided to change something.
I started very small. I followed a free beginner running app that combined one minute of running with two minutes of walking, three times a week in the park near my house. Gradually the running sections got longer. After about six months I could run five kilometres, and a friend from work persuaded me to sign up for the half marathon. I followed a sixteen-week training plan, ran early in the morning to avoid the heat, and changed my diet quite a lot, cutting down on fried food and sugary tea.
On the day, I finished in two hours and twenty-one minutes, which is not fast at all, but I didn't stop once.
I'm proud of it because it wasn't about talent; it was about discipline and patience. It also changed how I see myself. I used to think I just wasn't a sporty person, and now I know that habits matter more than labels.
Useful vocabulary
- health check-up
- a medical examination
- gradually
- slowly over time
- persuaded me to
- convinced me to
- cutting down on
- reducing
- discipline
- self-control and regular effort
- labels
- words used to describe or categorise people
Part 3 follow-up questions
- What kinds of achievements are valued in your society?
- Is it more important to win or to take part?
- Should schools give prizes to the best students?
- Do famous people's achievements inspire young people?
- How do people's goals change as they get older?
Tip: in Part 3, give an opinion, a reason and an example, and consider another point of view. Aim for 3–5 sentences per answer.
How to practise this card
- Set a one-minute timer and write keywords for each bullet, not full sentences.
- Speak for two minutes and record yourself on your phone.
- Listen back: did you cover every bullet and the "explain" part? Note one phrase from the vocabulary list to use next time.
- Answer two Part 3 questions out loud, then try the card again with the AI Speaking Partner.