The cue card topic "Describe a time when you helped someone" will guide you on how to effectively respond during the actual IELTS Speaking test. The Speaking module is divided into three parts: an introduction, cue card assessment, and follow-up questions. You will have 12 to 15 minutes to showcase your ideas and speaking abilities. To support your preparation, we have provided four sample responses for this cue card topic.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 - IELTS Cue Card

To achieve a high band score for the cue card "Describe a time when you helped someone," you must effectively respond to the provided sub-questions within two minutes. Before you speak, you will have one minute to prepare and organize your thoughts.

Cue Card Topic:

Describe a time when you helped someone

You should say:

• Who you helped?

• How you helped them?

• Explain how this person reacted to your help?

• Explain how you felt after helping this person?

Describe a Time When You Helped Someone – Model Answers and Follow-up Questions

Below are four sample answers for the topic "Describe a time when you helped someone," along with relevant follow-up questions for IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Model Answer 1

Introduction

At some point, everyone needs assistance, and I believe helping others reflects kindness and humanity. I have often received help and also offered it to others. It always brings me immense happiness.

Who you helped?

I would like to share a time when I helped my school friend Preet with his project. During our 9th standard, Preet met with an accident while returning from school and suffered fractures in both hands, requiring complete bed rest for 21 days. His parents were worried that he wouldn't be able to complete his science project on time.

How you helped them? & Explain how this person reacted to your help?

Since his parents had a commerce background and couldn't assist him with the project, I stepped in. Following Preet’s ideas, I worked on a project about kinetic energy under his guidance. After two weeks of effort, we completed the project. Preet was delighted and grateful, and to our joy, his project even won the award for the most innovative project. Both Preet and his parents sincerely thanked me.

Explain how you felt after helping this person?

Helping him made me extremely happy. Seeing the smile on his face gave me a deep sense of satisfaction — it truly felt like I was soaring on wings.

Conclusion

Initially, I had no idea that my small act would lead to such a significant outcome. I feel grateful that I could help him during a crucial time.

Model Answer 2

Introduction

Helping someone during a difficult situation is a true moral value. I would like to describe a time when I supported a classmate in need.

Who you helped? & How you helped?

I helped my classmate, Ravi Patel, who came from a financially struggling family. He couldn’t afford to buy a geometry compass, which was essential for his mathematics class. At that time, I received ₹100 as monthly pocket money, usually spent on snacks. Instead, I decided to give the full amount to Ravi so he could purchase the compass.

Explain how this person reacted to your help?

Ravi was overwhelmed with happiness when I helped him. He immediately bought the compass and later scored full marks in his final exams, as he was one of the top students in our class.

Explain how you felt after helping this person?

The joy I felt was far greater than the happiness I usually got from spending money on fast food. It gave me a genuine sense of fulfillment.

Conclusion

After that day, Ravi and I became best friends. He would often help me clear my academic doubts, making our bond even stronger.

Model Answer 3

Introduction

I am naturally a helpful person and never miss an opportunity to assist others, whether family, friends, or even strangers. Let me describe a time when I helped an accident victim.

Who you helped? & How you helped?

During the Navratri festival, while returning home from a Garba event around midnight, I noticed an elderly man injured on the roadside. He had just been hit by a car. We immediately parked and called an ambulance. We did not move him, to avoid worsening any internal injuries, but stayed with him and kept him conscious. Thanks to the quick medical response, he received the necessary surgery and survived.

Explain how this person reacted to your help?

After he was discharged, the elderly man and his family visited my house to personally thank me. He hugged me with deep emotion and gratitude, which touched me greatly.

Explain how you felt after helping this person?

Although we often wonder whether our actions make a difference, in this case, I was deeply satisfied knowing I played a role in saving a life.

Conclusion

At the time, I didn’t realize my actions would have such far-reaching results. It remains one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.

Model Answer 4

Introduction

Society has thrived through mutual assistance since ancient times. Helping others during crises or daily challenges strengthens communities and fosters personal growth.

Who you helped? & How you helped?

One evening, while returning from my music class, I saw a pregnant woman struggling to carry her baby and a heavy grocery bag. Sensing her difficulty, I approached her and politely offered to help. Initially cautious, she later trusted me to carry her bags to her nearby home.

Explain how this person reacted to your help?

Upon reaching her house, she kindly offered me coffee and even invited me to stay for dinner, although I politely declined as I had to return home.

Explain how you felt after helping this person?

Despite being late, I felt immense satisfaction knowing I could make a difference in someone's difficult moment.

Conclusion

Performing selfless acts always leaves me feeling positive and hopeful about humanity. I believe regular acts of kindness can make society much better.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Follow-up Questions

Below are sample Part 3 questions related to "Describe a time when you helped someone":

1. How do people usually help each other?

I believe kindness is inherent in most people. We naturally wish to help others as we appreciate receiving help ourselves. Helping others often brings a deep sense of satisfaction.

2. Do you think it’s important to help people who need help?

Absolutely. It’s our moral duty to support others in our families, workplaces, and communities. Just as we expect assistance in our times of need, we should offer it to others.

3. How do you feel after you have helped someone?

I usually feel wonderful after helping someone. Sometimes, even if the help requires personal sacrifice, I find myself feeling even more positive, as if the universe rewards such kindness.

4. Many people only look out for themselves and never think about helping others. What do you think of this attitude?

I believe this self-centered attitude is unfortunate and a sad reflection of modern society, especially in urban areas. If people were less absorbed in their own worlds, they would notice and help those in need more often.

5. What is the most important way for a country to help visitors?

Providing language support is crucial. Additionally, assisting tourists by giving directions and information about local attractions can greatly enhance their experience.

6. Do you think that countries should help other countries in need?

Yes. Just like neighbors help each other, countries should assist others in times of crisis, as the U.S. and other nations have done during natural disasters. Mutual support strengthens global relations.

7. How do people in your community help one another?

In my community, people help by volunteering time, donating money, and supporting local initiatives whenever possible.

8. How can charitable organizations help people?

Charitable organizations provide both financial assistance and skill development programs, like affordable sewing or computer training centers, helping individuals become self-reliant.

9. How can we encourage children to help others?

By setting good examples. When children see adults helping others, they naturally imitate those behaviors.

10. Should parents teach helping others to their children?

Yes, it’s essential. Parents are responsible for shaping responsible citizens. Teaching children by example ensures kindness becomes a natural part of their character.

11. Should schools be responsible for teaching students how to cooperate?

Definitely. Schools should foster teamwork and cooperation rather than overemphasizing competition, which can otherwise hinder social development.

12. How does the government try to help these people?

Governments can help by investing in local economies to create jobs, offering training programs, and ensuring transparency and accountability at the provincial level.

13. Where do these non-government organizations get their money from?

Many NGOs receive funding from international donors and government grants. In India, as incomes rise, more individuals are contributing to charitable causes.

14. What kinds of people need help in India?

Farmers, in particular, need more support. Wealth distribution is still uneven, and more efforts are required to uplift the rural population.

15. What are the differences between help from friends and help from family?

When friends help, we often feel obliged to return the favor. Help from family, however, is usually unconditional, though it can sometimes be taken for granted.