Mastering the IELTS Speaking Test: How to Describe Overcoming a Significant Obstacle

The IELTS Speaking test is a crucial component of the IELTS exam, assessing your ability to communicate effectively in English. One common topic that frequently appears in the test is describing a time when you had to overcome a significant obstacle. This article will provide you with valuable insights and strategies to excel in this particular speaking task, helping you achieve a high band score in your IELTS Speaking test.

Overcoming obstacles in IELTS Speaking

Understanding the IELTS Speaking Test Structure

Before we delve into the specific topic, let’s briefly review the structure of the IELTS Speaking test:

1. Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes)
2. Part 2: Individual Long Turn (3-4 minutes)
3. Part 3: Two-way Discussion (4-5 minutes)

Now, let’s explore how the topic of overcoming obstacles might appear in each part of the test.

Part 1: Introduction and Interview

In this section, the examiner may ask you general questions about yourself and your experiences. Here are some potential questions related to overcoming obstacles:

1. Do you enjoy challenging yourself?
2. How do you usually deal with difficulties in your life?
3. Can you tell me about a recent challenge you faced?

Let’s look at a sample answer for the first question:

Examiner: Do you enjoy challenging yourself?

Candidate: Absolutely, I thrive on challenges. I believe that pushing myself out of my comfort zone is essential for personal growth. Whether it’s tackling a difficult project at work or learning a new skill, I find that overcoming challenges gives me a sense of accomplishment and boosts my confidence. It’s not always easy, but the satisfaction of conquering a challenge is incredibly rewarding.

Part 2: Individual Long Turn

In this section, you’ll be given a task card with a topic to speak about for 1-2 minutes. Here’s a sample cue card related to overcoming obstacles:

Cue Card

Describe A Time When You Had To Overcome A Significant Obstacle.

You should say:

• What the obstacle was
• When and where it happened
• How you overcame it
• And explain how you felt about the experience

Sample Answer

Here’s a sample answer that would likely score well in the IELTS Speaking test:

“I’d like to talk about a time when I had to overcome a significant obstacle in my academic life. The challenge I faced was completing my final year project for my computer science degree while simultaneously dealing with a family emergency.

This situation occurred about two years ago during my last semester at university. The project was crucial for my graduation, and I had been working on it for months. However, just a few weeks before the deadline, I received news that my father had been hospitalized due to a severe health condition.

Overcoming this obstacle required a great deal of perseverance and time management. I had to juggle my time between visiting my father at the hospital and working on my project. I created a strict schedule for myself, allocating specific hours for hospital visits and project work. I also reached out to my professors and explained the situation. They were understanding and provided me with some flexibility on certain aspects of the project.

To maximize my productivity, I set up a makeshift workstation in the hospital so I could work while being near my father. I also delegated some tasks to my teammates and focused on the most critical aspects of the project myself.

The experience was incredibly challenging, both emotionally and mentally. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed and thought about giving up. However, the support from my family and the determination to complete my degree kept me going.

In the end, I successfully submitted the project on time and my father’s health improved. Looking back, I feel a sense of pride in my ability to persevere through such a difficult time. This experience taught me the importance of resilience, time management, and the power of a support system. It also made me realize that I’m capable of handling more than I sometimes give myself credit for.”

Follow-up Questions

After your response, the examiner might ask additional questions such as:

1. How did this experience change you as a person?
2. What advice would you give to someone facing a similar challenge?

Part 3: Two-way Discussion

In this section, the examiner will ask more abstract questions related to the topic. Here are some potential questions and sample answers:

Examiner: Do you think people face more or fewer obstacles in modern life compared to the past?

Candidate: That’s an interesting question. I believe that the nature of obstacles has changed rather than their quantity. In modern life, we face different challenges compared to our ancestors. For instance, we now deal with issues like information overload, work-life balance, and rapid technological changes. These weren’t concerns in the past, but people then had to contend with more physical hardships and limited access to resources.

However, I would argue that we have more tools and resources at our disposal to overcome obstacles today. The internet provides a wealth of information and support networks, and advancements in various fields have solved many problems that were once insurmountable. So while we may face numerous challenges, we’re also better equipped to handle them.

Examiner: How do you think overcoming obstacles contributes to personal development?

Candidate: Overcoming obstacles plays a crucial role in personal development. Firstly, it builds resilience and mental toughness. When we face and conquer challenges, we develop the confidence to tackle future problems head-on.

Secondly, it enhances our problem-solving skills. Each obstacle presents a unique set of circumstances that require creative thinking and strategic planning to overcome. This process sharpens our analytical abilities and improves our decision-making skills.

Moreover, overcoming obstacles often leads to self-discovery. We learn about our strengths, weaknesses, and values when pushed out of our comfort zones. This self-awareness is invaluable for personal growth.

Lastly, the process of overcoming obstacles often requires us to seek help or collaborate with others, which can improve our interpersonal skills and expand our networks. All these factors contribute significantly to our overall personal development.

Key Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores

To achieve a high band score, it’s crucial to use a range of vocabulary and complex sentence structures. Here are some key words and phrases that can elevate your speaking:

1. Perseverance /ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/ (noun): Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
   Example: “Her perseverance in the face of adversity was truly inspiring.”

2. Resilience /rɪˈzɪliəns/ (noun): The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
   Example: “The resilience he showed during the crisis impressed everyone.”

3. To overcome /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ (verb): Succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty.
   Example: “She managed to overcome her fear of public speaking through practice and determination.”

4. To persevere /ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪə(r)/ (verb): Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
   Example: “Despite numerous setbacks, he persevered and eventually achieved his goal.”

5. To rise to the challenge (idiom): To respond successfully to a difficult situation.
   Example: “When faced with the unexpected problem, the team rose to the challenge and found an innovative solution.”

6. To push oneself out of one’s comfort zone (phrase): To force oneself to do something that is uncomfortable but will likely lead to growth.
   Example: “Learning a new language pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it was incredibly rewarding.”

Tips from an IELTS Speaking Examiner

As an experienced IELTS Speaking examiner, here are some tips to help you excel in this part of the test:

1. Practice regularly: Familiarize yourself with common IELTS topics and practice speaking about them.

2. Use a variety of sentence structures: Mix simple, compound, and complex sentences to demonstrate your language proficiency.

3. Incorporate idiomatic expressions: Use idioms and colloquial phrases naturally to show your command of English.

4. Be specific and provide examples: When describing experiences, give concrete details to make your answers more engaging and authentic.

5. Manage your time effectively: In Part 2, use the one-minute preparation time wisely to organize your thoughts.

6. Stay calm and confident: Even if you make mistakes, maintain your composure and continue speaking.

7. Listen carefully to the questions: Make sure you understand what the examiner is asking before you start your response.

By following these strategies and practicing regularly, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle any question about overcoming obstacles in your IELTS Speaking test. Remember, the key is to demonstrate your English language skills while providing thoughtful and engaging responses.

For more tips on acing your IELTS Speaking test, check out our articles on describing a person who is very resourceful in challenging situations and describing a time when you had to push yourself to achieve something. These resources will provide you with additional insights and strategies to boost your performance in the IELTS Speaking test.