IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe something in your study/work that has made you feel confident

Describe something in your study/work that has made you feel confident

Suggested ideas for each part

• When it happened: 🏆 After giving a successful presentation / 🎓 When passing an important exam / 👩‍🏫 After receiving praise from a teacher/boss
• What it was: 🎤 A class presentation / ✍️ A well-written essay / 📊 A work project that impressed the boss
• Why it made you feel confident: ✅ Gained recognition / 🏅 Proved my abilities / 💪 Overcame a challenge
• How you felt about it: 😊 Proud and motivated / 🌟 More self-assured / 🚀 Encouraged to improve further

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last year, I delivered my first big presentation in class.
2. Past continuous: While I was preparing, I felt a bit nervous.
3. Comparisons: Now, I feel much more confident than before.
4. Present perfect: Since then, I have become more comfortable with public speaking.
5. Conditional sentence (Type 2): If I hadn’t taken that challenge, I wouldn’t have gained confidence.

Collocations

1. Step out of my comfort zone 🚶‍♂️➡️🌟 (bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn)
2. Overcome my fear 😨➡️😊 (vượt qua nỗi sợ hãi)
3. Build self-confidence 🏗️💪 (xây dựng sự tự tin)
4. A sense of accomplishment 🏆 (cảm giác thành tựu)
5. Gain recognition 👏 (được công nhận)
6. Feel a great sense of pride 😌 (cảm thấy tự hào)
7. Motivated to improve 🚀 (có động lực để phát triển)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One experience that really built my self-confidence 🏗️💪 was when I had to give an important presentation in my English class 🎤. This happened about a year ago, when I was in university. I had always been quite nervous about speaking in front of a large audience, so the thought of presenting made me anxious 😬. However, I knew that it was a chance to step out of my comfort zone 🚶‍♂️➡️🌟 and improve my communication skills.

To prepare for the presentation, I spent hours researching my topic and practicing my speech in front of a mirror. I also asked my friends to listen and give feedback. When the day finally arrived, I was still a bit nervous, but as soon as I started speaking, I gained confidence. I made eye contact with my classmates, spoke clearly, and even managed to add a joke that made everyone laugh 🤭. When I finished, my teacher gave me positive feedback and said that my presentation was well-structured and engaging. That moment gave me a sense of accomplishment 🏆 and made me realize that I was more capable than I thought.

Since then, I have become much more comfortable with public speaking. The experience taught me that confidence doesn’t come naturally – it has to be built over time by facing challenges. If I hadn’t taken that opportunity, I wouldn’t have gained so much self-assurance. Now, whenever I have to present something, I remember that moment and feel motivated to improve 🚀 even more.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. How can a person become more confident?

Ideas

• ✅ Practice regularly
• 🏆 Set and achieve small goals
• 💬 Receive positive feedback from others

Collocations

1. Develop a growth mindset 🌱 (phát triển tư duy cầu tiến)
2. Take small steps 👣 (bắt đầu với những bước nhỏ)
3. Learn from failures ❌➡️📚 (học hỏi từ thất bại)

Sample answer

A person can become more confident by taking small steps 👣 towards their goals. Confidence isn’t something that happens overnight; it requires effort. One effective way is to develop a growth mindset 🌱, meaning they should see challenges as opportunities to improve. Also, making small achievements and learning from failures ❌➡️📚 can gradually build self-confidence.

2. What can teachers do to help their students become more confident?

Ideas

• 👏 Encourage students with positive reinforcement
• 💡 Provide opportunities for public speaking and teamwork
• 🤝 Create a supportive learning environment

Collocations

1. Boost self-esteem 🎈 (nâng cao lòng tự trọng)
2. Create a safe learning space 🏫 (tạo môi trường học tập an toàn)
3. Encourage participation 🗣️ (khuyến khích tham gia)

Sample answer

Teachers play a crucial role in helping students boost their self-esteem 🎈. They should create a safe learning space 🏫 where students feel comfortable expressing themselves. Additionally, they can encourage participation 🗣️ by giving students opportunities to share their ideas in class without fear of making mistakes. Positive reinforcement, such as praising their efforts, also helps a lot.

3. How can teachers help their students become more confident by rewarding them for studying?

Ideas

• 🏅 Give certificates or small prizes
• 👏 Provide verbal encouragement
• ⭐ Recognize improvement, not just results

Collocations

1. Recognize students’ efforts 🏆 (công nhận nỗ lực của học sinh)
2. Foster motivation 🌟 (thúc đẩy động lực học tập)
3. Create a positive learning environment 😊 (tạo môi trường học tập tích cực)

Sample answer

Teachers can recognize students’ efforts 🏆 by rewarding them for their hard work. This could be in the form of certificates, small gifts, or even just words of encouragement. Such rewards can foster motivation 🌟 and help students feel proud of their achievements. This creates a positive learning environment 😊 where students feel more confident to keep improving.

4. Why do so many people lack confidence these days?

Ideas

• 📱 Social media comparisons
• 😰 High expectations and pressure
• 🏫 Lack of encouragement in school or family

Collocations

1. Fear of failure 😨 (nỗi sợ thất bại)
2. Societal pressure 🎭 (áp lực xã hội)
3. Low self-esteem 😞 (lòng tự trọng thấp)

Sample answer

Many people lack confidence due to societal pressure 🎭 and the fear of failure 😨. In today’s world, social media plays a big role in making people compare themselves to others, which can lead to low self-esteem 😞. Additionally, high expectations from society, family, or school can make people feel like they’re never good enough, reducing their confidence over time.