Speaking Part 2: Describe Something You Did That Made You Feel Proud

IELTS Speaking Part 2 challenges candidates to speak continuously for two minutes about a specific topic. Today, we explore one of the most personal yet rewarding topics you might encounter: describing an achievement that filled you with pride. “Describe something you did that made you feel proud” topic allows you to showcase both your language skills and personal experiences, making your response authentic and engaging. Understanding how to structure your answer effectively will boost your confidence and help you achieve your target band score.

Complete Task Requirements

Describe something you did that made you feel proud

You should say:

• What it was
• How you did it
• How difficult it was
• And explain why you felt proud of it

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for 1-2 minutes. Use this time wisely to organize your thoughts and plan your response structure.

Describe Something You Did That Made You Feel Proud Samples

Band 5.5 – Beginner Level

I want to talk about when I learned to cook my grandmother’s special recipe. It was her famous chicken soup that she made for our family every Sunday.

I started learning this recipe last year when my grandmother was sick. She taught me step by step in her kitchen. First, I had to buy the right ingredients from the market. Then she showed me how to prepare the chicken and vegetables. The most important part was adding the spices at the right time. I practiced many times because I wanted to make it perfect.

It was quite difficult for me because I’m not good at cooking. I burned the soup two times at the beginning. The hardest part was getting the taste exactly like my grandmother’s soup. I had to remember many small details that she told me.

I felt very proud when I finally made the soup correctly. My whole family said it tasted just like grandmother’s cooking. I was happy because I could continue our family tradition. Now I can make this soup for my future children, and they will know about their great-grandmother’s recipe.

Band 6.5 – Intermediate Level

I’d like to describe an achievement that holds special meaning for me – successfully organizing a charity fundraiser for local homeless families during my university years.

The project began when I noticed increasing numbers of homeless individuals near our campus during winter. I decided to coordinate a month-long fundraising campaign involving multiple student organizations. My approach included establishing partnerships with local businesses, organizing awareness events, and creating an online donation platform. I spent countless hours contacting potential sponsors, designing promotional materials, and managing a team of twenty volunteers.

The endeavor proved more challenging than I initially anticipated. Coordinating schedules among different groups required extensive planning and communication skills. Many businesses initially declined our requests for support, which was quite discouraging. The most demanding aspect was maintaining team motivation when progress seemed slow. Additionally, handling the financial responsibilities and ensuring transparency added considerable pressure.

What made this accomplishment particularly meaningful was witnessing the direct impact of our efforts. We raised over $5,000 and provided winter supplies to fifteen families. I felt immense pride not only because we exceeded our target but because the experience demonstrated that young people could create positive change in their communities. This project taught me valuable leadership skills and reinforced my belief in the power of collective action.

Band 7.0+ – Advanced Level

I’d like to recount an experience that remains one of my most profound personal achievements – successfully completing my first marathon after recovering from a serious knee injury that had sidelined me from running for over eighteen months.

My journey back to competitive running began with extensive rehabilitation and a meticulously planned training regimen. Initially, I could barely manage a ten-minute walk without experiencing discomfort. Working closely with physiotherapists and sports medicine specialists, I gradually rebuilt my strength through targeted exercises and cross-training activities. The training progression was painstakingly slow, starting with alternating walking and jogging intervals before eventually building up to longer continuous runs. I implemented a structured sixteen-week program that incorporated speed work, hill training, and progressively longer weekend runs.

The physical and psychological challenges were formidable. Beyond the obvious concern about re-injury, I grappled with self-doubt and the mental barriers that had developed during my recovery period. There were numerous occasions when setbacks – minor aches or particularly difficult training sessions – threatened to derail my progress entirely. The most arduous aspect was overcoming the fear that had become deeply ingrained after my initial injury. Each step required conscious effort to silence the voice of doubt that questioned whether my body could withstand the demands I was placing upon it.

The profound sense of accomplishment I experienced upon crossing that finish line transcended the mere completion of a race. It represented a triumph over adversity and a testament to the resilience of human determination. I felt an overwhelming surge of pride because this achievement symbolized much more than athletic prowess – it embodied my capacity to overcome significant obstacles and emerge stronger. This experience fundamentally transformed my understanding of personal limitations and reinforced my conviction that perseverance and strategic planning can overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Must-know Vocabulary and Expressions

Useful Tips to Improve Speaking Skills for IELTS Candidates

Developing your speaking skills for “describe something you did that made you feel proud” topics requires balancing authenticity with strategic language use. Your response should sound natural while demonstrating the grammatical range and vocabulary that examiners seek at higher band levels. Remember that genuine experiences always resonate more powerfully than fabricated stories, as they allow for more detailed descriptions and emotional depth.

• Structure your response chronologically to maintain logical flow from initial decision through challenges to final achievement
• Use specific time markers and sequencing language such as “initially,” “subsequently,” “ultimately” to guide listeners through your narrative
• Incorporate a range of past tenses naturally including simple past for main events, past continuous for ongoing processes, and past perfect for background information
• Add emotional depth through personal reflection in your “describe something you did that made you feel proud” answer by explaining not just what happened but how it affected you and what you learned
• Include precise details and measurements to make your story more convincing and demonstrate vocabulary range
• Connect your achievement to broader themes like personal growth, community impact, or overcoming limitations to show depth of thinking

Your Path Forward

Success with “describe something you did that made you feel proud” topic blends preparation with authentic storytelling. Your most compelling responses emerge from genuine experiences, not fabricated tales. Sometimes quiet victories – mastering your grandmother’s recipe or helping a struggling friend – resonate more powerfully than grand achievements.

Explore your personal moments of triumph. What made you stand taller? Practice weaving these experiences into narratives using our vocabulary, but let your unique voice shine through. Regular practice builds confidence, transforming simple stories into memorable responses that captivate examiners.