leap-scholar-logo
hamburger-menu
cue_card_backround_image_mobile

IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe a Challenge You Faced That You Thought Was Rather Difficult: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Sep 27, 2024, 12:07

Overview

In this IELTS Speaking Test, the topic, 'Describe a Challenge You Faced That You Thought Was Rather Difficult,' requires you to discuss a personal experience where you overcame a significant obstacle. Key factors to include are the nature of the challenge, your feelings at the time, and the steps you took to overcome it. This task is part of round 2, also known as the individual long turn, which lasts for 3-4 minutes.

 

Practising this topic will help you develop fluency, coherence, and the ability to structure your thoughts. It encourages you to use descriptive vocabulary and past tenses while enhancing your storytelling skills, which are crucial for achieving a higher band score in the IELTS Speaking section.

 

 

Cue Card/Topic: Describe a Challenge You Faced That You Thought Was Rather Difficult.

You should say

  • What it was?
  • When and where do you face it?
  • Why you thought it was a difficult challenge?
  • Explain how you felt at the time.
Sample Answer 1

Introduction (Covers: What it was?)
 

  • One significant challenge I faced was during my final year of engineering at college.
  • I had to complete a major project that would determine my final grades and impact my job prospects.
  • This project required not only technical skills but also extensive research, which felt overwhelming.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: When and where do you face it?)

 

  • This challenge arose last year during the busy months leading up to our final exams.
  • I was working on my project in the college lab in Pune, often staying late into the night.
  • Balancing this project with my regular studies became a real struggle, leaving me stressed and anxious.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: Why you thought it was a difficult challenge?)

 

  • The project was challenging because it required knowledge of programming, which I found difficult.
  • I often felt overwhelmed by the amount of work I needed to do, which made me doubt my abilities.
  • The pressure to perform well added to my stress, as I wanted to meet both my and my professors' expectations.

 

Conclusion (Covers: Explain how you felt at the time.)

 

  • I felt a mix of anxiety and determination throughout the process, fearing I wouldn't meet my deadline.
  • Completing the project successfully brought me immense relief and boosted my confidence.
  • This experience taught me valuable lessons in time management and the importance of perseverance in facing challenges.
Sample Answer 2

Introduction (Covers: What it was?)

 

  • A significant challenge I encountered was during my preparation for the IELTS exam last year.
  • I was aiming for a high band score to secure admission to a prestigious university abroad.
  • The pressure to perform well was immense, as my future education depended on this exam.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: When and where you faced it?)

 

  • I started my preparation six months before the exam, dedicating hours each day to studying at home in Delhi.
  • I enrolled in a coaching class but often felt overwhelmed by the vast amount of material I had to cover.
  • Balancing my studies with work commitments made it challenging to find enough time for focused preparation.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: Why you thought it was a difficult challenge?)

 

  • The difficulty lay in mastering all four sections of the exam—listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
  • I struggled particularly with the writing section, as I found it hard to express my ideas clearly and cohesively.
  • The fear of not achieving the desired score created a lot of stress and anxiety, making it hard to concentrate.

 

Conclusion (Covers: Explain how you felt at the time.)

 

  • I felt a mix of anxiety and determination as the exam date approached, worrying about my performance.
  • After taking the exam, I experienced a wave of relief, especially knowing I had done my best.
  • This challenge taught me the value of perseverance and time management, and I learned to trust my preparation process, ultimately achieving the score I needed.
Sample Answer 3

Introduction (Covers: What it was?)

 

  • A major challenge I faced was during my internship at a marketing firm last summer.
  • I was assigned to lead a project that involved creating a social media campaign for a new product launch.
  • This was my first experience in a leadership role, and I felt the weight of expectations from my team and supervisors.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: When and where you faced it?)

 

  • The challenge unfolded over the course of three months, from June to August, at the firm’s office in Bengaluru.
  • I had to coordinate with various departments, including design and sales, which made the task quite complex.
  • Balancing my responsibilities as an intern with the demands of leading the project was particularly tough.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: Why you thought it was a difficult challenge?)

 

  • The challenge felt difficult because I had to manage different opinions and ideas from my team members while keeping everyone on track.
  • I also faced a steep learning curve regarding social media strategies, as I was not familiar with all the platforms.
  • The pressure to deliver results by the deadline added to my stress, as I was anxious about meeting both my own and the company’s expectations.

 

Conclusion (Covers: Explain how you felt at the time.)

 

  • I felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety throughout the project, eager to prove myself yet worried about failing.
  • Successfully completing the campaign and receiving positive feedback from my supervisors gave me immense satisfaction.
  • This experience taught me valuable lessons in teamwork and leadership, and I now feel more confident in taking on similar challenges in the future.

When the cue card section begins, the examiner will hand you a cue card titled "Describe a Challenge You Faced That You Thought Was Rather Difficult." 

 

You’ll have one minute to prepare your answer, and during this time, you can make notes. After that, you’ll need to speak on the topic for up to two minutes without interruption.


The best way to answer these cue cards is to break your response into small, manageable pieces: an introduction, a detailed description, key highlights, and a conclusion. This approach helps you stay organised and ensures you cover all aspects of the topic within the time limit.

 

Suggested Read: Latest Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking: Definition & Best Sample Questions

 

Considering that, here's how we'll break our topic down. 

 

Introduction (Covers: What it was?)

 

  • Clearly state the challenge you faced.
  • Mention the significance of this challenge in your life.
  • Provide a brief overview of your feelings regarding this challenge.

 

Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (Covers: When and where do you face it?)

 

  • Explain when this challenge happened in your life (e.g., during your studies, work, or personal life).
  • Describe the location or situation where you encountered this challenge.
  • Mention any specific events that led to this situation to give a clear picture.

 

Key Highlights (Covers: Why you thought it was a difficult challenge?)

 

  • Discuss the factors that made this challenge difficult for you.
  • Highlight any skills or resources you felt were lacking at the time.
  • Share any emotional or mental struggles you experienced while dealing with the challenge.

 

Conclusion (Covers: Explain how you felt at the time.)

 

  • Reflect on your feelings during this challenge (e.g., frustration, anxiety, determination).
  • Mention any lessons you learned or how you grew as a person.
  • Briefly touch on how this experience has shaped your approach to future challenges.

 

By following this structure, you can ensure your response is clear, organised, and within the two-minute limit.

Follow-Up Questions

The follow-up questions, often referred to as round 3 or the two-way discussion round, follow the cue card section in the IELTS speaking test. In this round, the examiner will ask you questions related to the topic of your cue card, allowing you to expand on your thoughts and demonstrate your ability to discuss ideas more deeply. 


These questions often require you to share your opinions, make comparisons, and explain your reasoning. Expect to engage in a more conversational style, where you can provide personal insights or examples from your experiences. 

 

Below are some sample questions and possible answers for the topic “Describe a Challenge You Faced That You Thought Was Rather Difficult”. 

 

Refer to this List of Idioms for the IELTS Speaking Test 2024 to boost your band score.

Q1. Is it easy for children to overcome a challenge?

Answer 1: I believe it can be challenging for children to overcome difficulties, as they may lack the experience and skills needed to navigate complex situations. However, with the right support from adults and peers, children can learn to tackle challenges more effectively. Encouragement and guidance can help them build resilience and develop problem-solving skills.


Answer 2: Overcoming challenges can be difficult for children because they are still learning how to cope with setbacks. They might feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to approach a problem. Nonetheless, if they receive encouragement and assistance from parents or teachers, they can gain confidence and learn to face challenges head-on.

Q2. Do most people choose to face a challenge alone or with others?

Answer 1: I think many people prefer to face challenges with others rather than alone. Having support from friends or family can make a significant difference, as it provides encouragement and different perspectives on the issue. Collaborating can also help individuals feel less isolated during tough times.

Answer  2: Many individuals choose to confront challenges alone, as they may believe it helps them grow independently. However, I think having a support system can provide motivation and different perspectives. It ultimately depends on the person's personality and the nature of the challenge they are facing.

Q3. What do children often do when they face a challenge?

Answer 1: When faced with a challenge, children often seek help from adults or friends. They may talk about their struggles and look for advice on how to approach the situation. Sometimes, they may also try different strategies, such as practising or experimenting, to find a solution.

Answer 2: Children typically respond to challenges by either asking for support or attempting to figure things out on their own. They might express their feelings, whether frustration or determination and try various methods to overcome the obstacle. Engaging in play or creative activities can also help them process their emotions and develop solutions.

Q4. What activities do you think would make children feel challenged? Why?

Answer 1: Activities like learning a musical instrument or participating in team sports can challenge children significantly. These activities require dedication, practice, and collaboration with others, helping them build skills while learning to cope with both success and failure. The experience teaches them resilience and teamwork, which are essential for personal growth.

Answer 2: I believe activities such as solving puzzles or engaging in science experiments can challenge children intellectually. These tasks encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills, pushing them to explore new ideas and approaches. Such challenges can foster creativity and a sense of achievement once they overcome them, boosting their confidence.

FAQs

Q. What is the marking scheme for the IELTS speaking test?

Ans. The IELTS speaking test is assessed based on four key criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Each criterion is equally weighted, and the examiner evaluates how well you can express your ideas, use vocabulary appropriately, construct sentences correctly, and speak clearly and understandably.

Q. How many hours is the IELTS speaking test?

Ans. The IELTS speaking test typically lasts between 11 to 14 minutes. It consists of three parts: an introduction and interview (4-5 minutes), the cue card task (3-4 minutes), and a discussion (4-5 minutes). Despite its brief duration, the speaking test aims to assess your proficiency in English communication effectively.


 

Q. How to find resources for practising cue-card topics?

Ans. To find resources for practising cue-card topics, you can explore various online platforms, including IELTS preparation websites, YouTube channels dedicated to IELTS, and mobile apps specifically designed for speaking practice. Additionally, joining study groups or forums can provide access to sample cue cards and peer feedback, enhancing your preparation.

IELTS Important Information

Read More about IELTS Practice Test

IELTS Accepting Universities

IELTS Test Centre and Dates in India

IELTS Accepting Countries

Top Speaking Sample with Answers

Master IELTS Speaking for ₹99