Describe a Time When You Had to Stay Calm Under Pressure – IELTS Speaking Guide

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate in English. Examiners evaluate your fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Questions like “Describe a time when you had to stay calm under pressure” are common. This article will guide you through answering this type of question effectively.

II. Main Content

Part 1: Introduction and Interview Questions

In Part 1 of the Speaking test, the Examiner asks general questions about yourself. Here are some common questions that may be asked:

• Can you describe your hometown?
• What is your favorite type of weather?
• How do you handle stress in your daily life?

Sample Answer for “How do you handle stress in your daily life?”:

Answer: I handle stress by practicing mindfulness and deep-breathing exercises. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I take a few moments to close my eyes and focus on my breath. Additionally, I find that maintaining a regular exercise routine and staying organized with my tasks helps me manage stress effectively.

Analysis: This response demonstrates fluency and coherence. It also showcases a good range of vocabulary such as “mindfulness,” “deep-breathing exercises,” and “overwhelmed.”

Part 2: Long Turn

In Part 2, you are given a cue card with a topic and a few bullet points to guide your response. Here’s a sample cue card:

Cue Card:

Describe a time when you had to stay calm under pressure.
You should say:

• when it happened
• where it happened
• what the situation was
• and explain why you needed to stay calm.

Sample Answer:

One time, I had to stay calm under pressure was during my final year of university. It happened about two years ago in the examination hall. I vividly remember sitting down, feeling anxious as it was my last exam, and I needed a good grade to graduate with honors. Suddenly, the fire alarm went off, and everyone started to panic. However, I knew that keeping calm was crucial. I took deep breaths, reassured my peers, and waited patiently for the invigilator’s instructions. Eventually, it was a false alarm, and we resumed our exam. Staying calm not only helped me handle the situation better but also allowed me to focus and perform well in the exam.

Analysis: This answer is structured well, with a clear storyline. It uses descriptive language such as “anxious,” “vividly remember,” and “crucial,” which enhances the lexical resource.

student staying calm

Follow-Up Questions:

1. Why do you think it is important to stay calm under pressure?

   • Answer: Staying calm allows you to think rationally and make informed decisions, which can be critical in resolving the situation effectively.

2. Can you give another example of a stressful situation you handled well?

   • Answer: Sure, another example would be when I was leading a project at work. There was a sudden change in the client’s requirements, and my team was under tight deadlines. By maintaining composure and reassessing our strategy, we were able to deliver the project successfully.

Part 3: Two-way Discussion

In Part 3, the Examiner will discuss more abstract ideas and issues related to Part 2. Here are some example questions and answers:

1. Why do some people handle pressure better than others?

   • Answer: People handle pressure differently due to various factors such as their personality, experience, and coping mechanisms. Those with a positive outlook and effective stress management strategies are often better equipped to handle pressure.

2. Do you think stress is always negative?

   • Answer: No, stress can sometimes be positive. This is known as eustress, which can motivate individuals to perform better and achieve their goals. However, chronic stress is detrimental to both mental and physical health.

Analysis: These answers highlight the ability to analyze and evaluate, which are important for scoring high in the Speaking test.

III. Key Vocabulary and Structures

Important Vocabulary:

1. Mindfulness /ˈmaɪnd.fəl.nəs/ (noun) – The practice of being aware and present in the moment.

   • Example: Practicing mindfulness daily has significantly reduced my stress levels.

2. Overwhelmed /ˌəʊ.vəˈwelmd/ (adjective) – Feeling sudden, strong emotions.

   • Example: She felt overwhelmed by the amount of work she had to complete.

3. Crucial /ˈkruː.ʃəl/ (adjective) – Extremely important or necessary.

   • Example: It is crucial to stay calm during emergencies.

Useful Sentence Structures:

• Complex Sentences: Using although, even though, because, etc.

  • Example: Although the situation seemed dire, I knew I had to stay calm to resolve it effectively.

• Relative Clauses: Using who, which, that, etc.

  • Example: The fire alarm, which caused widespread panic, turned out to be a false alarm.

IV. Tips for High Scores

1. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice helps improve fluency and coherence.
2. Expand Your Vocabulary: Learn new words and phrases and practice using them in context.
3. Work on Pronunciation: Clear and accurate pronunciation is crucial.
4. Develop Storytelling Skills: Structure your answers with a beginning, middle, and end.

Being well-prepared for questions about staying calm under pressure can impress the Examiner and earn you high marks in your IELTS Speaking test. Good luck!