Describe something you did that made you proud

The cue card

Describe something you did that made you proud. You should say:

• what you did
• when you did it
• how difficult it was
• and explain why you felt proud

You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1 to 2 minutes.

🎙 Practise this card with the examiner

Notes you could make in 1 minute

Write key words only, one line per bullet point:

• passed my driving test
• last year, second try
• nervous, hard roads
• independence

Band 7+ sample answer

Something I did that made me really proud was passing my driving test in Australia last year. That might sound like a small thing, but for me it was a big milestone.

I'd never driven before I came here, because in my home city I always used public transport. But where I live now, in the outer suburbs, the buses are not very frequent, and I realised I'd never be really independent without a licence.

It was much harder than I expected. First I had to pass the knowledge test, which was fine, but then I had to complete a lot of supervised driving hours. I was very nervous behind the wheel, especially on busy roads and roundabouts, which we didn't really have at home. I failed my first practical test, because I didn't check my blind spot when changing lanes, and I felt so disappointed that I almost gave up.

But I stuck at it. I booked extra lessons with an instructor, practised every weekend with a friend, and the second time I passed with very few mistakes.

I felt proud for a few reasons. Partly because I'd overcome my nerves and kept going after failing, which isn't easy for me. But mostly because of what it meant in practical terms. Now I can drive to work, take my kids to sport and visit friends without spending hours on buses. It really changed my daily life, and it gave me a lot more confidence in general.

🔊 Listen to the sample answer

About 247 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.

Useful vocabulary for this topic

• a sense of accomplishment
• to overcome my nerves
• to stick at it
• it was well worth it
• a big milestone
• against my expectations

Why this answer works: it covers every bullet point, tells a short story with specific details (names, places, numbers), uses a range of tenses, and finishes with the "explain" point, which is where you show your best vocabulary.

Follow-up and Part 3 questions

Examiner's follow-up (Part 2): Did you tell other people about it?

Part 3 discussion questions:

• Should parents praise their children often?
• Do people feel proud of different things at different ages?
• Is it important to win in competitions?
• How can teachers motivate students?

Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.

More cue cards

• Describe a historic place you have visited
• Describe a park or garden you like to visit
• All 30 IELTS cue cards