At a glance
- Skill
- Speaking
- Preparation time
- 30 seconds
- Time to speak
- 1 min
What you need to do
In Speaking Task 2, you talk about something that happened to you — for example, a time you helped someone, a proud moment or a difficult decision. You tell the story and explain how you felt.
The story doesn't have to be dramatic, and it doesn't have to be completely true. What matters is that it answers the question and is clear, organized and easy to follow.
Because you only have one minute, the best stories are simple: one situation, one problem or moment, and one result. You don't need many details — just the right ones.
What you'll see on the test
- 30 seconds to prepare, then 60 seconds to speak.
- The question usually asks what happened, and how you felt or why it mattered.
- Recording starts and stops automatically.
What the test is looking for
Content and coherence
One specific experience, told in order, with enough detail that the listener can picture it.
Vocabulary
Words for describing events and feelings — not just "good" and "bad".
Listenability
How easy you are to follow: speaking smoothly without long pauses, clear sentences and good grammar control.
Task fulfillment
Answering every part of the question, including how you felt, and using most of the minute.
Step-by-step strategy
- 1
Choose a story quickly
Pick the first real or realistic experience that fits. Don't spend your 30 seconds looking for the perfect story.
- 2
Plan it in three parts
Beginning (when and where), middle (what happened), end (how you felt and what you learned).
- 3
Set the scene in one or two sentences
"About two years ago, when I first arrived in Canada, I…"
- 4
Tell it in order with past tenses
Use time words like "at first", "then", "after that" and "in the end".
- 5
Finish with feelings
Explain how you felt and why the experience was important. Most questions ask for this.
- 6
Keep a few stories ready
Before test day, think of 3–4 real experiences — helping someone, a proud moment, a mistake you learned from. Many questions can be answered with one of them.
Useful phrases
Setting the scene
- “I remember one time when…”
- “About two years ago, …”
- “When I first moved here, …”
Telling the story
- “At first, …”
- “Then, …”
- “After that, …”
- “In the end, …”
Describing feelings
- “I felt really nervous because…”
- “I was so relieved when…”
- “It made me realize that…”
Common mistakes
Talking in general instead of telling one story.
Choose one specific day or event. "I usually…" is not a personal experience.
Mixing present and past tenses.
The story happened in the past, so keep your verbs in the past tense.
Forgetting the second part of the question.
If it asks how you felt, save 10–15 seconds at the end to explain your feelings.
Spending too long on the background.
One or two sentences of background is enough. Get to the main event quickly.
Telling a story that doesn't answer the question.
If the question asks about a time you learned something quickly, the story must show what you learned and how.
Examples with answers
Example 1
Task
Talk about a time when someone helped you. What happened, and how did you feel?
Sample answer (what the speaker says)
I remember one time, about two years ago, when I had just moved to Calgary. It was my first winter, and one morning my car wouldn't start because the battery was dead. It was minus twenty-five outside, and I had an important job interview in less than an hour. I was really panicking. Then my neighbour, an older man named Robert, saw me standing next to the car. He came over right away, got his jumper cables, and helped me start the engine. He even gave me some advice about plugging in my car at night. In the end, I arrived at the interview just on time, and I got the job! I felt so grateful and relieved. It made me realize how kind people can be, even to someone they don't know. Now, whenever I see a neighbour who needs help, I try to do the same thing.
Why it works: The story is specific, told in a clear order (setting, problem, help, result) with time words and correct past tenses. It answers both parts of the question — what happened and how the speaker felt — and ends by saying why it mattered. It fills about 60 seconds.
Example 2
Task
Talk about a time when you made a mistake. What happened, and what did you learn?
Sample answer (what the speaker says)
Um, one mistake I'll never forget happened during my first month at a new job. My manager asked me to send an important email to a client, and I was so nervous that I sent it to the wrong person — another client with the same first name! I realized what I'd done about ten minutes later. At first, I wanted to hide it, but then I decided to tell my manager right away. I explained what happened and apologized. She wasn't angry at all. She just helped me call the client and fix the problem. I felt really embarrassed that day, but I learned two important things. First, always check the email address twice before you press send. And second, it's much better to be honest about a mistake quickly, because problems are easier to fix when you catch them early.
Why it works: The story is simple and specific, told in order with past tenses and time words. It answers both parts of the question — what happened and what the speaker learned — and the ending gives two clear lessons. A small hesitation ("Um") at the start is normal and doesn't hurt the score. It fills about 60 seconds.
Questions students ask
Does my story have to be true?
No. Raters score your English, not your life. A realistic story you can tell clearly is fine.
How long is Speaking Task 2?
You get 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
Which tense should I use?
Mainly the simple past (I went, I felt). You might also use the past continuous for background (I was working when…).
What if I can't think of a story?
Use a simple, realistic story, even a small one — being lost in a new city, a job interview, cooking for friends. A clear, ordinary story scores better than a confusing exciting one.
How much detail should I include?
Enough for the listener to picture it: when and where it happened, what happened and how you felt. One or two specific details are better than a long list.