IELTS Speaking Part 2 · Experiences
Describe a time you learned a new skill
Describe a time you learned a new skill
You should say:
- what skill you learned
- when you learned it
- how you learned it
and explain why you decided to learn this skill.
How to plan your answer
Use your 1 minute to jot down key words for each point, not full sentences.
- 1
what skill you learned
Basic digital video editing using a free software program on my laptop.
- 2
when you learned it
About two years ago during my summer break from university.
- 3
how you learned it
Watching online video tutorials and practicing by making short family clips.
- 4
and explain why you decided to learn this skill.
Wanted to organize holiday clips and now use it for academic projects.
Sample answer
about 238 words · 2 minutesI'd like to talk about a time I decided to learn basic digital video editing. It happened about two years ago during my summer break from university. At the time, I had a lot of free time on my hands and wanted to do something productive rather than just scrolling through social media. I chose video editing because my family had recently returned from a wonderful vacation, and all our video clips were just sitting on my phone, completely unorganized. I wanted to assemble them into a nice family movie. To master the basics, I didn't take any formal course. Instead, I downloaded a free editing application on my laptop and relied heavily on step-by-step video tutorials online. At first, it was quite overwhelming because the interface had so many buttons, tracks, and options. However, I took a hands-on approach by practicing for an hour or two every evening. I learned how to cut unnecessary footage, add smooth transitions, insert background music, and adjust color levels. The reason I was so motivated to stick with it was that I wanted to create a meaningful keepsake for my parents. When I finally finished the ten-minute video and showed it to them, they were thrilled. Looking back, learning this skill was incredibly rewarding because it not only gave me a creative outlet, but it also proved useful later on when I had to create video presentations for my academic projects.
A teaching example, not a script to memorise. Say it in your own words.
Useful phrases
time on my hands
Since I had extra time on my hands, I decided to take up gardening.
relied heavily on
She relied heavily on online dictionaries while studying abroad.
hands-on approach
The teacher likes to take a hands-on approach to science lessons.
stick with it
Learning an instrument is tough, but you will succeed if you stick with it.
a creative outlet
Painting gives her a creative outlet after a stressful day at work.
Common mistakes
I have learned this skill two years ago.
I learned this skill two years ago.
Use past simple, not present perfect, with specific past time expressions like 'ago'.
I decided to learn this skill for make my parents happy.
I decided to learn this skill to make my parents happy.
Use 'to' plus infinitive verb to express purpose, not 'for' plus base verb.
It was very difficulty at the beginning.
It was very difficult at the beginning.
Use the adjective 'difficult' after the linking verb 'was', not the noun 'difficulty'.
Tips for a higher band
- Use natural discourse markers like 'At the time' or 'Looking back' to organize your talk logically.
- Include topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'footage', 'transitions', and 'interface', to demonstrate range.
- Vary your sentence structure by combining simple, compound, and complex sentences throughout the answer.
Part 3 follow-up questions
After Part 2 the examiner may ask deeper questions on the same theme.
- What skills do you think are most important for young people to learn today?
- Is it better to learn a skill from a teacher or self-teach using online resources?
- How have the skills required in the workplace 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.
Practice estimate, not an official IELTS score.