Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life - IELTS Cue Card Sample Answers
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In order to achieve top band score for ‘Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life’, recall the best and exciting event that left a lasting impression on you and use appropriate vocabulary. See how Band 9 answers should be structured in Speaking Part 2.
Table of Contents
- Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question & Sample Answers
- Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 1
- Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 2
- Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 3
- Vocabulary for Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life IELTS Cue Card
- Tips to Answer Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life IELTS Cue Card


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IELTS cue cards like Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life give you an opportunity to share certain memorable life experiences that have had a lasting impact on you. But while answering a list of IELTS cue cards for topic - life, make sure you describe an exciting experience in your life and answer Part 3 questions like 'which was your best life experience so far and why?' with appropriate vocabulary and genuine emotions to add a personal touch to the answer.
To guide you on how to frame such a Band 8+ answer, we have curated 3 sample answers on the topic, Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life, along with appropriate IELTS vocabulary in this blog.
Before you begin, enhance your IELTS Speaking test skills and fluency using the guide provided below!
Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question & Sample Answers
When answering the IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card on an exciting experience, it’s important to tell a compelling story, use vivid descriptions, and express emotions effectively. Now, have a look at this latest IELTS Speaking cue card topic with sample answers below.
Describe an exciting experience in your life.
You should say:
- What it was?
- when it was?
- Why did it happen?
- And explain why it was the best experience.
Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 1
Click on the audio to listen to the sample answer below. Pay attention to the intonation and pronunciation of the words.
- What it was?
- when it was?
It was almost 8 years since I competed in an English Speaking Contest, standing on a big stage in front of a hundred-strong crowd to deliver one of the best speeches I’ve ever given with the support of my friends. That was something you can never forget in your whole life and the most magnificent moment, bar none, of my high school highlights.
- Why did it happen?
- And explain why it was the best experience.
Never did it cross my mind that one day I would be on stage talking about the thing I treasured most in my life – my family and friends or just be qualified enough to represent the entire school competing in such competition. If it hadn’t been for my English teacher’s constant encouragement, I wouldn’t have participated in the contest in the first place. Students were free to choose their topics and were asked to present them in front of a panel of judges and an audience. It sounded intimidating for so many reasons, but I had managed to subdue my anxiety and learned to believe in myself. Preparation for D-day was tough for everyone, both emotionally and physically. We kept practicing nonstop for 4 hours straight, every single day; me trying to perfect my pronunciation and acquire that American accent, my friends singing their heart out Miley Cyrus’s song “True Friend” since we wanted to kick our performance up the notch by featuring some musical element. Our hard work had finally paid off with us bringing home the Champion Cup as well as the Best Performance Award. It brought me to tears as I realized at that moment it wouldn’t have mattered if we hadn’t won because we already won when we got over ourselves, stepped out of our comfort zone, and kept going till the end. That was our true victory. Until now, the lesson I’ve learned 8 years ago still has its own value and will always be there to remind me of those good old days.
Are you having difficulty speaking for IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards like this one?
Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 2
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What it was?
One of the most thrilling experiences of my life was when I went skydiving for the first time. It was an exhilarating and nerve-wracking adventure that I had always dreamed of doing.
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When it was?
This happened about two years ago when I was on vacation in Dubai. My best friend and I had planned this trip for months, and we wanted to make it unforgettable.
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Why did it happen?
Since Dubai is known for its world-class skydiving experience over Palm Jumeirah, we decided to give it a shot. Initially, I was hesitant because the idea of jumping from a plane at 13,000 feet seemed absolutely terrifying. However, we were given a brief training session where the instructors explained the safety procedures and proper body posture for the jump. As I boarded the small aircraft, my heart was racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The view from the plane was awesome, but the moment the door opened, I felt an adrenaline rush like never before. When it was my turn, my instructor gave me a reassuring nod, and before I could process what was happening, we leapt off the plane. The free fall lasted for about 60 seconds, and it felt like I was flying through the sky at an unimaginable speed. The wind roared in my ears, and my entire body was flooded with pure exhilaration. As soon as the parachute deployed, everything became calm and peaceful, and I got to soak in the breathtaking view of Palm Jumeirah. I knew that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the awe-inspiring sights made me feel it was all worth the trouble and hype.
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And explain why it was the best experience.
Skydiving was the most exciting experience of my life because it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realize that I was capable of overcoming my fears. The sense of freedom and adrenaline during the jump was indescribable, and the view was something I will cherish forever. This experience also taught me that sometimes, the most thrilling moments come from stepping into the unknown.
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Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 3
- What it was?
I live to experience life from a distinct perspective, be it through traveling or spending hours with an elder, listening to their stories. So, talking about my latest exciting experience, it would undeniably be my last trip.
- when it was?
So, last month, a friend came to visit from Bangalore. Although she intended to spend some time with me, I, on the other hand, had different plans altogether. Since my friend and I share the same interest in traveling, I planned a trip to Delhi with her.
- Why did it happen?
Since 2020, I hardly got a chance to get out of my house, just like millions of other people. Considering that covid-19 cases began declining in my area, I made the most of this opportunity and planned a week-long trip.
- And explain why it was the best experience.
One of the reasons why this was the best experience of my life so far was because this was my first trip with a friend. So far, I have only traveled with my family. But, this time, I experienced life and came across the world on my own. Right from booking hotels to deciding upon transportation, my friend and I did everything independently.
In the end, I received utmost satisfaction from this trip. And, no doubt, in the future, I will plan a lot of solo trips as well.
Vocabulary for Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life IELTS Cue Card
Word |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Magnificent |
extremely attractive and impressive |
Burj Khalifa is a magnificent piece of architecture. |
Bar none |
with no exceptions |
Amitabh Bachchan is the most talented actor, Bar none. |
Cross one’s mind |
to come into your thoughts as a possibility |
The idea of adopting a pet never crossed my mind. |
Intimidating |
frightening in a way that makes a person feel less confident |
Meera can be very intimidating when she’s angry. |
Subdue |
calm or control your feelings |
When John was not shortlisted for the post of HR, he subdued himself. |
Sing one’s heart out |
to sing with vigor or intensity |
On her wedding day, Rose sang her heart out and thanked her parents for everything. |
Kick something up the notch |
to do something with vigor or intensity |
Mary was late for the office. So she asked the driver to kick his speed up a notch. |
Pay off |
yield good results, succeed |
John’s hard work paid off when he got an immense profit in his business. |
Bring someone to tears |
to bring someone to the point of crying |
During the graduation ceremony, the speech by the dean moved everyone to tears. |
Step out of your comfort zone |
do things that you |
If he wants to be successful, he must step out of his comfort zone and start working hard. |
Exhilarating |
making you feel very excited and happy |
Trekking from the Tiger’ Nest Monastery was exhilarating. |
Give it a shot |
to try or attempt to do something, especially something new |
The startup decided the give the plan a shot in this quarter. |
Adrenaline rush |
a physical feeling of intense excitement and stimulation caused by the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands |
We felt an adrenaline rush while we were skiing in the Alps. |
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity |
very rare or very rarely |
Mario got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when he got selected by NASA. |
Awe-inspiring |
causing a feeling of respect and fear or admiration |
His adventure stories in the Amazon were awe-inspiring. |
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Tips to Answer Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life IELTS Cue Card
Here are some useful IELTS Speaking tips to impress the examiner by framing a comprehensive and unique answer for the IELTS cue card, Describe an Exciting Experience in Your Life:
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Choose a Unique and Personal Experience
Instead of selecting a generic incident, pick something that is personally thrilling and easy to talk about. The key is to choose a story that allows for detailed descriptions and emotional depth. Some great ideas include:
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Adventurous activities – Skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping, or paragliding.
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Unforgettable achievements – Winning a competition, delivering a speech, or getting featured in a magazine.
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Unexpected experiences – Getting lost in a foreign country, meeting a celebrity, or witnessing a rare event.
If you don’t have a real-life exciting experience, you can slightly exaggerate a memory to make it more engaging, as long as it remains believable.
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Follow a Clear and Logical Structure
To make your response easy to follow, structure it based on the four prompts provided along with the main topic. It will help in understanding fluency and coherence in IELTS Speaking and keep you on track during the test.
Begin by briefly introducing the experience, specifying what it was. Then, describe when and where it happened to set the context. Mention who was with you and how they contributed to the excitement. The most important part is explaining why the experience was exciting—focus on specific moments that made it thrilling.
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Use Relevant Descriptive Vocabulary to Make the Answer and Emotions Natural
Adding emotional descriptions and useful idioms for IELTS Speaking to score band 8.0+ make your response more engaging.
Use adjectives to bring the experience to life, such as ‘breathtaking’, ‘nerve-wracking," or ‘unforgettable’. Describe sensory details—what you saw, heard, or felt—to create a more immersive story. Talking about emotions before, during, and after the experience makes it more compelling.
For example, you can describe initial nervousness, the adrenaline rush during the event, and the sense of accomplishment afterward. This makes your answer feel authentic and impactful.
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Use a Range of Tenses and Grammar Structures
Using varied tenses demonstrates strong language and IELTS grammar skills. It not only improves grammatical accuracy but also makes your storytelling more dynamic. Practicing different structures beforehand ensures you can use them naturally.
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Speak Clearly, Fluently, and Confidently
Delivery is just as important as content.
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Avoid long pauses, and if you need time to think, use natural fillers like ‘Let me think for a moment…’ rather than remaining silent.
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Use linking words for IELTS Speaking section, such as ‘Firstly’, ‘After that,’ and ‘Interestingly’ to maintain a smooth flow.
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Speak at a steady pace, ensuring clarity and natural rhythm.
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Enthusiasm in your voice and expressions makes a huge difference—if you sound engaged, the examiner will be more interested in your story.
So, practicing out loud and recording yourself can help identify areas for improvement.
To sum up, practice is key to achieving your desired band level in the IELTS Speaking. Consistent effort and improvement in articulation and vocabulary usage can significantly enhance your performance.
If you have any queries or need personalized guidance for your Speaking test preparation, book a free demo session with our IELTS experts or explore our IELTS Speaking eBook (Channeling the voice in 30 days) for additional practice.
Useful Links:
- Describe a Positive Change in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card | Band 8+ Tips and Sample Answers
- Describe An Important Change In Your Life – IELTS Cue Card
- Describe a Life-Changing Experience You Have Had - IELTS Cue Card
- Describe an Age/Stage You Enjoyed Most in Your Life – IELTS Cue Card Sample
- 75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test
- Reasons For The IELTS Examiner To Interrupt You in IELTS Speaking


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