Describe a difficult challenge you faced.
This test has appeared in 6 seasons · 2 reported by test takers
- Sep–Dec/2025
- May–Aug/2025
- Jan–Apr/2025
- Sep–Dec/2024
- Jan–Apr/2024
- Sep–Dec/2023
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Your home
- Do you live in a house or an apartment? (Why?)
- Which room do you spend the most time in? (Why?)
- What would you like to change about your home? (Why?)
- Do you think you will live there for a long time? (Why not?)
Mobile phones
- How often do you use your mobile phone? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do you mainly use your phone for? (Tell me more about that.)
- How old were you when you got your first mobile phone? (Tell me more about that.)
- Do you think children should have their own mobile phones? (Why is that?)
School
- Where did you go to secondary school? (Tell me more about that.)
- What was your favourite subject at school? (Tell me more about that.)
- Did you enjoy your time at school? (Why is that?)
- Do you think schools today are better than they were in the past? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a difficult challenge you faced.
You should say:
- what the challenge was
- when it happened
- how you dealt with it
and explain why you found it difficult.
Follow-up question after your talk: Would you handle it differently now? / Did anyone help you through it?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
dealing with difficulties
- Can you explain why some people give up quickly when something is hard?
- How would you compare a difficult task at work with a difficult moment in sport?
- In general, where do people find support when they face problems?
challenges and personal growth
- Can you explain why difficult experiences can be useful later in life?
- What could be done about students who give up as soon as something goes wrong?
- Can you speculate on how the challenges young people face will change in the future?
Test titles follow test-taker reports and each season's forecasts — IELTS does not publish its papers. "Reported" means someone reported meeting this topic in a dated test. The questions are written by us in the format of the real test.