Describe a time you helped someone
The full IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card, a band-8 model answer you can learn from, the Part 3 questions that follow, and examiner strategy. Free, no sign-up.
Describe a time when you helped someone.
You should say:
- who you helped
- how you helped them
- why they needed help
- and explain how you felt about helping them
You will have one minute to prepare and should then speak for one to two minutes.
Band-8 model answer
One time that comes to mind was when I helped a new international student settle in during my first year at university. She'd just moved from another country and, understandably, was finding everything overwhelming — the language, the paperwork, even simple things like where to buy groceries. We happened to be in the same class, and I could see she was struggling to keep up, partly because the lecturers spoke so quickly. So I started sharing my notes with her, and gradually I ended up showing her around the city, helping her open a bank account, that sort of thing. The reason she needed help was really just that she had no support network yet; she was completely on her own. As for how it made me feel, it was genuinely rewarding — far more than I expected. There's something quite humbling about realising that a small effort on your part can make an enormous difference to someone else. We actually became close friends afterwards, and I think I got as much out of that friendship as she got from my help, so in a way it wasn't purely one-directional at all.
Why this answer scores band 8
- ✓Fluent narrative with embedded reasons ('partly because the lecturers spoke so quickly')
- ✓Emotional vocabulary handled precisely: 'humbling', 'genuinely rewarding'
- ✓A thoughtful twist at the end that adds depth rather than repeating the prompt
Part 3 follow-up questions
After the cue card, the examiner discusses the topic in more depth. Practise these aloud too — Part 3 is where the highest bands are won or lost.
Examiner strategy for this cue card
Practise this answer out loud in a real Speaking test
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Describe a time you helped someone — FAQ
How do you answer the 'Describe a time you helped someone' IELTS cue card?
Spend your one minute of preparation noting a few keywords for each prompt (who you helped; how you helped them; why they needed help; and explain how you felt about helping them), then speak for the full two minutes. Cover each point briefly but give most of your time to the final 'explain why' prompt, where the marks are. A full band-8 model answer is shown on this page.
How long should the IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?
You should talk for up to two minutes without stopping. It is better to keep going and cover the topic in depth than to finish early — the examiner will stop you when the time is up.
What Part 3 questions follow 'Describe a time you helped someone'?
Part 3 broadens the topic into a discussion. For this cue card, expect questions such as: Why do you think some people are more willing to help others than others are? Is it the responsibility of individuals or governments to help those in need? Do people in cities help strangers less than people in the countryside?