Introduction

Facing challenges can be daunting, but describing a time you successfully did something difficult highlights resilience, determination, and problem-solving skills. In many speaking exams, especially language proficiency exams like IELTS, you may be asked to describe a specific event or achievement. One of these types of questions is “Describe a time you did something difficult”. This is a “Describe” cue card prompt which tests your storytelling, vocabulary and ability to describe a specific event.

In this post we’ll show you how to approach and structure your answer to this type of question. We’ll give you tips on how to write a good answer, a model answer for you to use as inspiration and how to practice similar cue card prompts.

Describe Cue Card Questions

When you get a “Describe” cue card question the aim is to tell a story clearly and concisely. These questions often ask for personal experiences, thoughts or feelings so you can draw from real life. With questions like “Describe a time you did something difficult” you get to tell an experience that shows a challenge and your resilience, critical thinking and determination.

Typical Cue Card Requirements
A “Describe” cue card question will have:

1. A main point to focus on (e.g. a difficult experience).
2. Additional guidance to help you answer, such as:

• What the task or challenge was
• How you tackled the difficulty
• What you did
• What happened and what you learned

Answering all the guidance will help you to have a well rounded answer and keep the story structured and interesting.

How to Answer ‘Describe a time you successfully did something difficult’

Preparing for this involves thinking of an experience that fits the question and shows you in a good light. Choose an experience where you overcame a specific hurdle or learned something through hard work and effort.

Choosing the Right Experience
To make your answer interesting consider:

1. Relevance: Pick an experience that’s relevant and can be described in the time given. It could be a work project, a personal achievement or an academic accomplishment.
2. Significance: Choose a story that had a big impact on you, this will make it easier to convey your emotions and insights.
3. Clarity: Make sure the experience is simple enough to tell without confusion. Don’t choose an overly complex story that needs too much detail.

How to Structure Your Answer: The format for ‘Describe a time you successfully did something difficult’

Structuring your answer is crucial to deliver a clear and concise answer. Here’s a template:

1. Introduction
   Start with a brief summary of the event or challenge. Describe what the difficult task was and provide some context.
2. Challenge Explanation
   Why was this task difficult? What obstacles did you face, what were your initial thoughts and why did it seem difficult at the time.
3. What you did
   How did you tackle the problem? What strategies, tools or resources did you use to overcome the difficulty.
4. What happened
   What was the outcome? Were you successful? What did you get out of it.
5. What you learned
   Summarise what you learned from the challenge. How did this experience help you grow or reinforce a skill.

Example Answer: A Model Response for ‘Describe a Time You Did Something Difficult’

Introduction

The most difficult experience I had was preparing for a big presentation at work. As a new employee at a marketing agency I was tasked with leading a pitch for a big client. It was a great opportunity but felt overwhelming.

Challenge Explanation

The challenge wasn’t just presenting; it was understanding every detail of the client’s needs, analyzing the market data and coordinating with different departments to put together a proposal. I had never led a project of this size before and I knew my performance would impact the company’s relationship with this big client.

Approach and Strategy

To tackle the challenge I broke down the task into smaller steps. First I did in-depth research on the client’s industry to understand the trends and competitive landscape. Then I had meetings with team members from sales, product development and customer service to get different perspectives on our proposal. I also practiced my presentation every day, recording myself and adjusting my tone and pace based on feedback from colleagues.

Throughout the process I reminded myself to focus on one task at a time rather than getting overwhelmed by the bigger picture. I used a checklist and set deadlines to stay on track without feeling too much pressure.

Outcome

We won the pitch. The client was impressed with our research and bespoke approach and we secured a contract that deepened our relationship. I got positive feedback from my manager who liked that I was able to manage the project on my own and deliver a professional presentation.

Reflection and Learning

From this experience I learned the value of preparation and planning when dealing with big tasks. I also learned that breaking down big tasks into smaller, achievable goals makes them more manageable. This experience gave me more confidence and taught me that a clear plan and persistence can get you through even the toughest of situations.

Tips for Practicing and Preparing for the ‘Describe’ Cue Cards

Preparation is key to acing the “Describe” cue cards. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

1. Build a Bank of Stories Think of experiences from different areas of your life—work, studies, hobbies or personal achievements. Write down key points for each story—challenge, approach and outcome. Having several examples ready will make it easier to adapt to different prompts.
2. Practice Storytelling Focus on clarity and structure in your storytelling. Practice telling your stories in a clear and concise way, paying attention to the details that make the story interesting. Emphasise your emotions and personal growth, that adds depth to your answer.
3. Use Keywords Each “Describe” cue card will have keywords that will give you a hint of what the examiner wants to hear. For example, words like “successfully,” “challenge” or “overcome” in this prompt means you should focus on your problem solving skills and positive outcomes.
4. Record Yourself Practicing with a timer or recording yourself is helpful. Listening to your recordings will help you identify where you need to slow down, add more details or adjust your tone. Go for a natural pace and conversational tone.
5. Get Feedback Ask friends, family or language tutors to listen to your answers and give you feedback. They may point out areas where you can improve your clarity, engagement or overall delivery.
6. Stay Calm and Confident Remember, the purpose of “Describe” prompts is to test your communication skills not your life experiences. Don’t stress about having a “perfect” story. Instead focus on telling it clearly, confidently and positively.

Conclusion

When asked to “Describe a time you successfully did something difficult,” the examiner is looking for you to reflect on a challenging experience and tell it well. By choosing a meaningful event, structuring your answer and practicing storytelling you can deliver a good answer. This is a great opportunity to showcase qualities like resilience, planning and determination—all useful in any context.

So practice with similar prompts, get feedback and be aware of your language and tone. The more you prepare the more confident you will be when describing your experiences.