The IELTS Speaking test often includes questions about overcoming challenges, as this topic allows examiners to assess candidates’ ability to reflect on personal experiences and express themselves clearly. “Describe a time you overcame an obstacle in your life” is a common cue card topic that has appeared frequently in past IELTS exams and is likely to remain relevant in future tests.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
In this section, the examiner may ask general questions related to obstacles and challenges. Here are some potential questions and sample answers:
Q: Do you think it’s important to face challenges in life?
Band 6-7 Answer:
Yes, I believe facing challenges is important. It helps us grow and learn new skills. When we overcome difficulties, we become stronger and more confident.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Absolutely. Confronting challenges is crucial for personal growth and development. Overcoming obstacles not only builds resilience but also enhances problem-solving skills and boosts self-confidence. Moreover, successfully navigating difficulties often leads to valuable life lessons and a sense of accomplishment.
Part 2: Long Turn
Cue Card:
Describe a time you overcame an obstacle in your life
You should say:
- What the obstacle was
- When you faced this obstacle
- How you overcame it
- And explain how you felt after overcoming this obstacle
Band 6-7 Sample Answer:
I’d like to talk about a time when I overcame a significant obstacle in my life. The challenge I faced was learning to speak English fluently.
I started learning English seriously when I was in high school, about five years ago. At first, it was really difficult for me because I was shy and afraid of making mistakes. I found it hard to express myself clearly in English, especially when speaking with native speakers.
To overcome this obstacle, I decided to take action. I joined an English speaking club at my school and started practicing regularly. I also watched English movies with subtitles and tried to imitate the pronunciation of the actors. Additionally, I found an online language exchange partner and we practiced speaking English together twice a week.
It took me about two years of consistent effort, but eventually, I noticed a big improvement in my English speaking skills. I felt more confident in conversations and could express my ideas more clearly.
After overcoming this obstacle, I felt really proud of myself. It was a great sense of achievement to be able to communicate fluently in English. This experience taught me the importance of persistence and hard work in achieving my goals.
Band 8-9 Sample Answer:
I’d like to recount a time when I successfully overcame a significant obstacle in my life. The challenge I faced was overcoming my fear of public speaking, which had been a persistent barrier to my personal and professional growth.
This obstacle became particularly apparent during my final year of university, approximately three years ago. I was required to deliver a presentation as part of my thesis defense, and the mere thought of standing before an audience filled me with dread. My anxiety was so severe that it affected my ability to articulate my ideas clearly, despite having a comprehensive understanding of my research.
To surmount this hurdle, I adopted a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, I enrolled in a public speaking course that focused on techniques for managing anxiety and improving presentation skills. Concurrently, I joined a local Toastmasters club, which provided a supportive environment to practice speaking regularly. I also implemented daily mindfulness and breathing exercises to help control my nerves.
Perhaps most crucially, I arranged multiple practice sessions with friends and mentors, gradually increasing the size of my audience. This incremental exposure helped desensitize me to the fear of public speaking. I also recorded myself presenting and meticulously analyzed these recordings to identify areas for improvement in my delivery and body language.
The process of overcoming this obstacle spanned several months of dedicated effort. However, the culmination of my hard work was evident during my thesis defense. Despite initial nervousness, I managed to deliver my presentation with confidence and clarity, engaging effectively with the panel’s questions.
After conquering this challenge, I experienced an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and relief. The ability to articulate my ideas confidently in public not only boosted my self-esteem but also opened up new opportunities in my academic and professional life. This experience taught me the invaluable lesson that with persistent effort and the right strategies, even deeply ingrained fears can be overcome.
Follow-up Questions:
Q: How do you think overcoming obstacles contributes to personal growth?
Band 6-7 Answer:
I think overcoming obstacles helps us grow personally because it makes us stronger. When we face challenges, we learn new skills and become more confident. It also teaches us to be patient and persistent.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Overcoming obstacles is instrumental in fostering personal growth in multiple ways. Firstly, it builds resilience, enabling individuals to bounce back from setbacks more effectively in the future. Secondly, the process of tackling challenges often necessitates the acquisition of new skills and knowledge, thereby expanding one’s capabilities. Moreover, successfully navigating difficulties enhances problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills, which are invaluable in both personal and professional contexts. Lastly, the sense of accomplishment derived from overcoming obstacles significantly boosts self-confidence and self-efficacy, encouraging individuals to set and pursue more ambitious goals.
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Examiner: Do you think people face more or fewer obstacles today compared to in the past?
Band 6-7 Answer:
I think people today face different kinds of obstacles compared to the past. In some ways, we have fewer obstacles because of technology and better education. But we also have new challenges like dealing with social media pressure and information overload. So, it’s hard to say if there are more or fewer obstacles overall.
Band 8-9 Answer:
This is a nuanced question that requires careful consideration. On one hand, advancements in technology, medicine, and education have eliminated or mitigated many obstacles that were prevalent in the past. For instance, access to information and learning resources has become significantly easier, potentially reducing educational barriers.
However, contemporary society has also introduced a new set of challenges. The rapid pace of technological change requires constant adaptation and skill updating, which can be stressful. Moreover, issues like climate change, economic instability, and the pressures of social media present unique obstacles that previous generations didn’t face.
Additionally, while globalization has opened up opportunities, it has also intensified competition in many fields, creating new hurdles for individuals to overcome. The abundance of choices in modern life, while beneficial in many ways, can also lead to decision fatigue and anxiety.
Therefore, I would argue that rather than facing more or fewer obstacles, people today encounter a different set of challenges that are equally complex but perhaps more psychologically and emotionally demanding than those of the past.
Examiner: What role do you think education plays in helping people overcome obstacles?
Band 6-7 Answer:
Education is very important in helping people overcome obstacles. It gives us knowledge and skills to solve problems. When we’re educated, we can understand difficult situations better and find solutions. Education also helps us learn from others’ experiences, which can be useful when we face our own challenges.
Band 8-9 Answer:
Education plays a pivotal role in equipping individuals with the tools and mindset necessary to overcome obstacles effectively. Firstly, it provides a broad knowledge base that enhances problem-solving capabilities. This diverse understanding allows individuals to approach challenges from multiple perspectives, increasing the likelihood of finding innovative solutions.
Moreover, education fosters critical thinking skills, enabling people to analyze complex situations, identify root causes of problems, and develop strategic approaches to addressing them. It also cultivates resilience and perseverance, traits that are crucial when facing persistent obstacles.
Furthermore, education exposes individuals to various experiences and ideas, both historical and contemporary, offering valuable insights into how others have overcome similar challenges. This vicarious learning can be instrumental in developing strategies for personal obstacles.
Importantly, education often involves collaborative work, which hones interpersonal skills and teaches the value of seeking support and diverse perspectives when tackling difficulties. It also boosts self-confidence and self-efficacy, empowering individuals to believe in their ability to overcome obstacles.
Lastly, in our rapidly evolving world, education promotes lifelong learning, ensuring that individuals can continually adapt to new challenges and acquire the skills needed to navigate an ever-changing landscape of obstacles.
Key Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores
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Resilience /rɪˈzɪliəns/ (noun): The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Example: “Overcoming obstacles builds resilience, which is crucial for long-term success.” -
Perseverance /ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪərəns/ (noun): Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Example: “Her perseverance in the face of numerous setbacks was truly admirable.” -
To surmount /səˈmaʊnt/ (verb): To overcome (a difficulty or obstacle).
Example: “With determination and hard work, I managed to surmount the language barrier.” -
Adversity /ədˈvɜːsəti/ (noun): A difficult or unpleasant situation.
Example: “Facing adversity can often lead to personal growth and self-discovery.” -
To grapple with (phrasal verb): To struggle with or work hard to overcome or deal with.
Example: “I had to grapple with my fear of public speaking to deliver the presentation effectively.” -
Turning point (noun phrase): A time at which a decisive change in a situation occurs, especially one with beneficial results.
Example: “Overcoming that obstacle was a turning point in my life, boosting my confidence significantly.” -
To rise to the challenge (idiom): To respond successfully to a difficult situation.
Example: “When faced with this unexpected obstacle, I was determined to rise to the challenge.” -
To overcome one’s limitations (phrase): To succeed despite one’s perceived weaknesses or restrictions.
Example: “By learning to speak English fluently, I overcame my limitations in international communication.”
Describe a time when you felt proud of a family member can be another great opportunity to showcase your ability to discuss personal experiences and emotions in English.
Examiner’s Advice
To achieve a high score in the IELTS Speaking test, particularly when discussing overcoming obstacles:
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Use a variety of vocabulary and complex sentence structures to demonstrate your language proficiency.
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Provide specific examples and details to support your points, making your responses more engaging and authentic.
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Practice speaking about personal experiences related to overcoming challenges, as this topic is likely to appear in various forms.
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Work on your fluency by regularly discussing diverse topics in English. This will help you speak more naturally about any subject that arises in the test.
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Pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation, as these contribute significantly to your overall speaking score.
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Describe a goal you set for yourself and achieved can be a great way to practice discussing personal accomplishments and the process of overcoming challenges.
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Listen carefully to the examiner’s questions and address all parts of multi-part questions in your responses.
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Show your ability to reflect on experiences by discussing not just what happened, but also how you felt and what you learned from overcoming obstacles.
Remember, the key to success in the IELTS Speaking test is practice and preparation. Regularly engaging with English content and seeking opportunities to speak English will greatly enhance your performance on test day.
By following these tips and consistently practicing, you’ll be well-prepared to discuss overcoming obstacles and other challenging topics in your IELTS Speaking test. Remember, describe a time when you faced a problem is another common topic that allows you to showcase your language skills in discussing challenges and solutions.