IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a challenge you faced that you thought was rather difficult

Describe a challenge you faced that you thought was rather difficult

Suggested ideas for each part

• What it was: 📝 Preparing for an important exam / 🎤 Giving a speech in English / 🏃 Running a marathon
• When and where you faced it: 🏫 During high school/university / 🏆 At a competition / 💼 At work
• Why it was difficult: 😰 Lack of experience / ⏳ Limited time / 😓 High pressure
• How you felt at the time: 😞 Nervous and stressed / 💪 Determined to succeed / 😃 Proud after overcoming it

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last year, I took on a huge challenge that changed my life.
2. Past perfect: Before the event, I had never experienced such pressure.
3. Past continuous: While I was preparing, I felt overwhelmed with stress.
4. Conditional sentence (Type 3): If I hadn’t pushed myself, I would have regretted it.
5. Emphatic structures: What really made this challenge difficult was the lack of time.

Collocations

1. Push oneself to the limit 🏋️‍♂️ (thúc đẩy bản thân đến giới hạn)
2. Step out of my comfort zone 🚀 (bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn)
3. Overcome obstacles 🧗 (vượt qua trở ngại)
4. Experience a sense of accomplishment 🎉 (cảm giác thành tựu)
5. Struggle with self-doubt 🤯 (đấu tranh với sự nghi ngờ bản thân)
6. Learn from failures 📖 (học hỏi từ thất bại)
7. Build resilience 💪 (xây dựng khả năng chịu đựng)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One of the biggest challenges I have ever faced was giving a public speech in English 🎤. This happened when I was in university, and I had to present my graduation project in front of a panel of professors and fellow students. As someone who used to be shy and uncomfortable speaking in front of a crowd, this challenge really pushed me to the limit 🏋️‍♂️.

Before the presentation, I had never spoken in English for such a long time in front of an audience. I remember feeling extremely nervous, and I even struggled with self-doubt 🤯. I kept thinking, “What if I forget my words? What if I make a mistake?” These thoughts made me even more anxious. However, I knew that this was a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone 🚀 and improve my confidence.

To prepare for it, I practiced every single day. I recorded myself speaking, corrected my mistakes, and even asked my friends to listen and give feedback. I also tried breathing exercises to calm my nerves. The day of the presentation finally arrived, and although I was still nervous, I reminded myself to stay calm and take it one step at a time.

Surprisingly, everything went better than I expected! My voice was steady, and I delivered my speech smoothly. In the end, the professors gave me positive feedback, and I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment 🎉. Looking back, I realize that if I hadn’t faced this challenge, I would have missed the chance to grow and become more confident.

Overall, this experience taught me that sometimes, we just need to believe in ourselves and overcome obstacles 🧗 to reach our full potential. Since then, I have become much more comfortable with public speaking, and I now see challenges as opportunities rather than problems.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. What do children often do when they face a challenge?

Ideas

• 😢 Some cry or get frustrated
• 💡 Some ask parents or teachers for help
• 🛑 Some give up easily, while others keep trying

Collocations

1. Seek guidance from adults 👩‍🏫 (tìm kiếm sự hướng dẫn từ người lớn)
2. Develop problem-solving skills 🧠 (phát triển kỹ năng giải quyết vấn đề)
3. Show perseverance 💪 (thể hiện sự kiên trì)

Sample answer

When children face a challenge, their reactions vary. Some might seek guidance from adults 👩‍🏫, such as parents or teachers, when they don’t know how to solve a problem. Others might try to handle the situation themselves and develop problem-solving skills 🧠. However, some children get frustrated and give up easily, while others show perseverance 💪 and keep trying until they succeed. It really depends on their personality and upbringing.

2. Is it easy for children to overcome a challenge?

Ideas

• ✅ Some find it easy if they have support
• ❌ Some struggle due to lack of experience
• 💪 It depends on their resilience and mindset

Collocations

1. Face obstacles with determination 🔥 (đối mặt với thử thách bằng sự quyết tâm)
2. Rely on encouragement from others 🤝 (dựa vào sự khuyến khích từ người khác)
3. Build self-confidence 💪 (xây dựng sự tự tin)

Sample answer

It depends on the child’s personality and environment. Some children can face obstacles with determination 🔥, while others find it overwhelming. If they rely on encouragement from others 🤝, such as supportive parents and teachers, they are more likely to succeed. However, overcoming challenges can also help children build self-confidence 💪, which is an essential skill for their future.

3. Do most people choose to face a challenge alone or with others?

Ideas

• 🏋️‍♂️ Some prefer facing challenges alone to prove their strength
• 👥 Others seek teamwork and support
• 🔑 The type of challenge determines the approach

Collocations

1. Rely on teamwork and collaboration 🤝 (dựa vào làm việc nhóm và hợp tác)
2. Demonstrate independence 💡 (thể hiện sự độc lập)
3. Seek emotional support ❤️ (tìm kiếm sự hỗ trợ tinh thần)

Sample answer

This depends on the individual and the type of challenge. Some people prefer to demonstrate independence 💡 by solving problems alone because they want to prove their abilities. Others rely on teamwork and collaboration 🤝, especially when the challenge requires different skills. In many cases, people also seek emotional support ❤️ from friends and family to stay motivated. Personally, I believe that working with others can often make challenges easier and more enjoyable to overcome.

4. How do challenges help people grow?

Ideas

• 🌱 Challenges teach resilience and patience
• 🧠 They improve problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• 💪 Overcoming difficulties builds confidence and independence

Collocations

1. Strengthen mental toughness 🏋️‍♂️ (tăng cường sức mạnh tinh thần)
2. Develop a growth mindset 🌱 (phát triển tư duy phát triển)
3. Turn failures into learning opportunities 📚 (biến thất bại thành cơ hội học tập)
4. Gain valuable life experience 🎓 (có được kinh nghiệm sống quý giá)

Sample answer

Challenges play a crucial role in personal growth because they push people to step out of their comfort zones. When people face difficulties, they have to develop a growth mindset 🌱 and find ways to solve problems. This process strengthens mental toughness 🏋️‍♂️ and helps them become more independent.

Moreover, challenges allow people to turn failures into learning opportunities 📚. For example, if someone fails an exam, they will learn the importance of preparation and time management. Over time, these experiences help them gain valuable life experience 🎓 and become more resilient. In my opinion, facing challenges is essential for both personal and professional development.