IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe something you did that made you feel proud.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

Describe something you did that made you feel proud.
You should say:

• What it was

• How you did it

• How difficult it was
  And explain why you felt proud of it

1. Speaking Expressions

A. What it was

• It all began when… (Mọi chuyện bắt đầu khi…)

• I decided to take on… (Tôi quyết định đảm nhận…)

• I set out to… (Tôi bắt đầu với mục tiêu…)

• The task I completed was… (Công việc tôi hoàn thành là…)

B. How you did it

• Step by step, I… (Từng bước, tôi…)

• I dove right in by… (Tôi lao vào bằng cách…)

• With perseverance, I… (Với sự kiên trì, tôi…)

• I enlisted help from… (Tôi nhờ sự giúp đỡ từ…)

C. How difficult it was

• It wasn’t a walk in the park… (Nó không hề dễ dàng…)

• I hit a few roadblocks… (Tôi gặp không ít trở ngại…)

• At times, I felt completely out of my depth… (Có lúc tôi cảm thấy lạc lõng hoàn toàn…)

• It tested my limits… (Nó thách thức giới hạn của tôi…)

D. Why you felt proud

• It gave me a real sense of accomplishment… (Nó mang lại cho tôi cảm giác hoàn thành thật sự…)

• I stood back and admired what I’d achieved… (Tôi lùi lại và ngắm nhìn thành quả của mình…)

• I surprised even myself by… (Thậm chí tôi còn bất ngờ vì…)

• It boosted my confidence enormously… (Nó nâng cao sự tự tin của tôi rất nhiều…)

2. Ideas & Collocations

• Organise a charity run (tổ chức chạy bộ gây quỹ từ thiện)

• Learn a new programming language (học ngôn ngữ lập trình mới)

• Complete a full marathon (hoàn thành cuộc thi marathon toàn phần)

• Fundraise for a cause (kêu gọi tài trợ cho một mục đích)

• Overcome self-doubt (vượt qua sự hoài nghi bản thân)

• Burn the midnight oil (thức khuya làm việc)

• Reach the finish line (về đích)

• Build something from scratch (xây dựng từ con số không)

• Stay the course (kiên trì đến cùng)

• Reap the rewards (gặt hái kết quả)

3. Sample Answer

It all began when I decided to organise a charity run for a local children’s hospital. As someone who loves running but had never planned an event, I set out to manage everything—from securing permits to recruiting volunteers. Step by step, I contacted the district sports centre, drafted a route map along the Saigon River, and posted digital flyers in community groups. With perseverance, I negotiated a small sponsorship from a café chain to cover water and snacks.

It wasn’t a walk in the park, though. On the day of the event, heavy rain threatened to cancel everything. I hit a few roadblocks—volunteers couldn’t make it, the sound system failed, and we risked muddy trails. At times, I felt completely out of my depth, juggling registration tables while fielding worried calls from participants. Yet, I refused to give up. I dove right in by rallying passersby to help set up tents and borrowed a portable speaker from a friendly shop owner.

When the runners finally gathered at the start line, the energy was electric despite the drizzle. Watching forty or so people dash off, cheering “For the kids!”, I knew it tested my limits but was paying off. By the end, we had raised a substantial amount—enough to fund a week’s worth of medication for underprivileged children—far more than I dared hope.

I still remember the moment I counted the donations: I stood back and admired what I’d achieved. It gave me a real sense of accomplishment, not merely because of the money raised, but because I surprised even myself by pulling off something so complex under pressure. The heartfelt “thank you” from the hospital coordinator and the smiles on the children’s faces made me realize that my hard work had real impact. It boosted my confidence enormously and taught me that with burning the midnight oil, teamwork, and resilience, I could build something from scratch and reap the rewards. To this day, organising that run remains one of the proudest moments of my life.

IELTS Speaking Part 3

1. Which is more important: personal goals or work goals?

Expressions:

• In my view… (Theo quan điểm của tôi…)

• Both have their merits… (Cả hai đều có giá trị riêng…)

• It boils down to balance… (Tóm lại là cần sự cân bằng…)

• You need alignment between… (Bạn cần sự đồng nhất giữa…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Work–life integration (hòa nhập công việc – cuộc sống)

• Career progression vs. personal fulfilment (thăng tiến nghề nghiệp so với thỏa mãn cá nhân)

• Set SMART goals (đặt mục tiêu SMART)

Sample Answer:
In my view, neither should come at the expense of the other. Both have their merits: work goals drive career progression and financial stability, while personal goals—like health or family time—fuel well-being. It boils down to balance and ensuring alignment between what you want professionally and personally, so one enriches the other.

2. Have your goals in life changed since childhood?

Expressions:

• Looking back… (Nhìn lại…)

• When I was younger… (Khi còn nhỏ…)

• Fast-forward to now… (Nay nhìn lại…)

• My priorities have shifted… (Ưu tiên của tôi đã thay đổi…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Childhood dreams vs. adult realities (giấc mơ thời thơ ấu so với thực tế người lớn)

• Evolve your ambitions (phát triển tham vọng của bạn)

• Add new dimensions to goals (thêm chiều mới cho mục tiêu)

Sample Answer:
Looking back, when I was younger, my main goal was to become a professional footballer. Fast-forward to now, my priorities have shifted to making a positive impact through community work and career growth. My priorities have shifted from chasing glory to creating sustainable change, reflecting my growth and evolving values.

3. Does everyone set goals for themselves?

Expressions:

• Generally speaking… (Nói chung…)

• Some people prefer to go with the flow… (Một số người thích sống theo dòng chảy…)

• Goal-oriented individuals… (Những người có định hướng mục tiêu…)

• It varies by personality and culture… (Tùy theo tính cách và văn hóa…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Implicit vs. explicit goals (mục tiêu ngầm so với mục tiêu rõ ràng)

• Vision boards and planners (bảng tầm nhìn và sổ kế hoạch)

• Adapt goals as you go (điều chỉnh mục tiêu khi cần)

Sample Answer:
Generally speaking, while many people set explicit goals, others prefer to go with the flow, letting opportunities guide them. Goal-oriented individuals might use vision boards or planners, but overall, it varies by personality and culture, and some find implicit direction just as motivating.

4. Do you think material rewards are more important than non-material ones at work?

Expressions:

• On the whole… (Nhìn chung…)

• Money talks, but… (Tiền quan trọng, nhưng…)

• Recognition can outweigh cash… (Ghi nhận có thể vượt trội hơn tiền bạc…)

• People crave meaning as much as money… (Mọi người khao khát ý nghĩa ngang với tiền bạc…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Performance bonuses vs. praise (thưởng hiệu suất so với lời khen)

• Career development opportunities (cơ hội phát triển nghề nghiệp)

• Sense of belonging (cảm giác thuộc về)

Sample Answer:
On the whole, while money talks, employees often value recognition and career development opportunities just as much. A simple “thank you” or promotion can outweigh cash because people crave meaning as much as money, and feeling part of a team fosters loyalty.

5. What makes people feel proud of themselves?

Expressions:

• Without a doubt… (Chắc chắn…)

• It’s the sense of overcoming… (Là cảm giác vượt qua…)

• Achieving something meaningful… (Đạt được điều có ý nghĩa…)

• Recognition by others reinforces it… (Sự ghi nhận từ người khác củng cố nó…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Self-efficacy (năng lực bản thân)

• Milestone achievements (cột mốc quan trọng)

• Positive feedback loop (vòng lặp phản hồi tích cực)

Sample Answer:
Without a doubt, people feel proud when they overcome challenges and achieve something meaningful—be it personal, academic, or professional. Recognition by others—like praise from peers or family—reinforces that pride, creating a positive feedback loop that encourages further growth.