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IELTS Speaking Part 2 · Experiences

Describe a happy moment from your childhood

Describe a happy moment from your childhood

You should say:

  • when this happened
  • where you were
  • who was with you
  • what you did

and explain why this moment made you feel so happy.

How to plan your answer

Use your 1 minute to jot down key words for each point, not full sentences.

  1. 1

    when this happened

    When: Summer holiday when I was about eight years old, during school break.

  2. 2

    where you were

    Where: My grandparents' cozy countryside house located near a quiet, scenic lake.

  3. 3

    who was with you

    Who: My older brother, two close cousins, and my caring grandparents.

  4. 4

    what you did

    What: Built a wooden treehouse together and shared a lovely outdoor picnic.

  5. 5

    and explain why this moment made you feel so happy.

    Why & Closing: Loved the sense of pure freedom, teamwork, and lasting warmth.

Sample answer

about 230 words · 2 minutes

I would like to talk about a particularly happy memory from my childhood. This happened during a summer holiday when I was about eight years old. My family had traveled to stay at my grandparents' house, which was situated in a quiet countryside village near a small, beautiful lake. I was surrounded by my family, including my older brother, two of my cousins, and my grandparents, who were always so welcoming. On one specific afternoon, my cousins and I decided to build a makeshift treehouse in a large oak tree in the back garden. We spent hours gathering fallen branches, leftover timber, and old cushions. My grandfather even helped us safely secure the plank platform. Afterwards, my grandmother brought out homemade lemonade and fresh sandwiches, so we had an impromptu picnic right up in our new hideaway. This moment made me feel extraordinarily happy mainly because it gave me a strong sense of absolute freedom and creativity. Being away from the routine of school, with no screens or schedules, allowed us to immerse ourselves completely in imaginative play. Working together with my cousins created a warm bond between us, and seeing our hard work pay off in a fun treehouse gave me immense pride. Looking back, that simple afternoon remains one of my most cherished memories because it captures the pure, carefree bliss of growing up in a loving environment.

A teaching example, not a script to memorise. Say it in your own words.

Useful phrases

  • makeshift treehouse

    We built a makeshift treehouse in the backyard using old wooden pallets.

  • impromptu picnic

    The warm weather prompted us to have an impromptu picnic in the park.

  • sense of absolute freedom

    Hiking high in the mountains always gives me a sense of absolute freedom.

  • hard work pay off

    Seeing my exam results made all the long hours of hard work pay off.

  • carefree bliss

    Relaxing by the calm sea brought back memories of pure carefree bliss.

Common mistakes

It was happened when I was eight years old.

It happened when I was eight years old.

The verb 'happen' is intransitive and should not be used in passive voice.

I was very happy because I played with my cousins and ate sandwiches.

What made me so thrilled was bonding with my cousins over an outdoor lunch.

Using basic sentence structure and repetitive vocabulary limits your lexical resource score.

This memory is making me feel happy every time I think.

This memory makes me feel happy every time I think about it.

Use simple present for permanent truths, and do not omit the preposition 'about'.

Tips for a higher band

  • Use varied time expressions and past narrative tenses to smoothly link events together.
  • Focus on precise emotional adjectives rather than just listing the activities you did.
  • Maintain a steady, natural conversational pace with proper pauses rather than rushing.

Part 3 follow-up questions

After Part 2 the examiner may ask deeper questions on the same theme.

  • Do you think children today have fewer opportunities for outdoor play compared to past generations?
  • What role do cherished family memories play in shaping a person's character as they grow up?
  • How has the general perception of a happy childhood changed over the last few decades?

Now try this cue card

1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak, then a band estimate and tips for each criterion.

Practise this cue card

Practice estimate, not an official IELTS score.

Practise this cue card
Describe a happy moment from your childhood (IELTS Cue Card & Sample Answer)