Storytelling: The necessary skill for IELTS Speaking Part 2

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Imagine this: you get a cue card that says, “Describe a time when you achieved something important.”  Your mind goes blank, and all you can think is, “How on earth am I going to talk for two minutes about this?”

​The problem isn’t that you don’t have stories. It’s that you don’t know how to tell them. The secret to handling this part of the test with confidence is exactly that: learning how to tell a story.

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​Why Storytelling Matters in IELTS Speaking Part 2
In Part 2, you’ll usually get a cue card asking you to talk about a personal experience—something like “Describe a time when you helped someone” or “Talk about a memorable journey.” These aren’t questions you can answer with just one or two sentences. They’re designed to let you show your ability to speak at length in a clear and natural way.
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That’s where storytelling comes in. A good story:

• Gives you material to work with. Instead of struggling to fill the time, you can expand on what happened, how you felt, and what you learned.
• Keeps your answer organized. A beginning, middle, and end naturally create structure and coherence.
• Shows your language range. Talking about past events, emotions, and reflections allows you to demonstrate different tenses, connectors, and vocabulary.
• Engages the examiner. A personal, relatable story is far more interesting than a flat, memorized response.

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How to Tell a Story Effectively
How to Tell a Story Effectively
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a professional storyteller. A simple structure works best:
 
1. Set the Scene (Beginning). Give the listener the basic background so they can understand your story. Include:

• When it happened – give a clear time reference (last year, during college, when I was a child)
• Who was involved – mention the key people (friends, family, classmates)
• Where it took place – provide the setting (at school, on a trip, at home)

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​Here’s an example IELTS Speaking Part 2 question:​

Describe a memorable meal you’ve had. You should say:
• what it was
• where you had it
• who you were with
and explain why it was memorable.

This is a sample response that sets the scene:

• “One of the most memorable meals I’ve had was last year on my mother’s birthday. There are four kids in my family but we all live far away from my parents now. That day, though, two of my siblings and I managed to travel back to our hometown to celebrate—my mom turned 70, by the way. I went with my son and husband, and my two siblings also brought their families. It felt like a reunion of sorts because we hadn’t all been together for a few years. Since we were quite a big group, we decided to go to a seafood restaurant with outdoor dining near the beach."

 

2. Describe the Main Event (Middle). This is the heart of your story. Share what actually happened. Make it detailed and engaging by:

• Explaining what happened – walk the listener through the main events
• Adding specific details – include sights, sounds, or actions that made it memorable
• Describing your emotions – say how you felt at the time
• Mentioning other people’s reactions – if it adds to the story
• Including background or cultural context – only if it helps show why the event was meaningful

All of these add depth and make your story more real and relatable

​Here’s the continuation or middle part of the sample response:

• “We ordered a huge spread—grilled fish, prawns, crabs, and even some dishes I had never tried before. The food was amazing, but what made it really special wasn’t just how good it tasted or how beautiful the setting was. It was the laughter around the table and the feeling of being together as a family. I was so excited to see my nieces again and to finally meet my baby nephew. I think my parents were clearly overjoyed to have their grandchildren together in one place.
• I should add that growing up, money was tight for our family, so we rarely ate out. Our parents didn’t usually celebrate their birthdays but my mom always tried her best to cook something special at home whenever one of us had a birthday. So celebrating by going to a nice restaurant wasn’t really something we did much as a family. That’s why this celebration felt extra meaningful.”

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In this part of the response, specific details are given (grilled fish, etc) as well as the emotions of the speaker  (excited) and the other people  on that occasion (grandparents overjoyed). 
The cultural/personal background (money was tight, rarely ate out) adds depth—it explains why this meal was meaningful.
 

3. Wrap It Up (End). Give your story a clear conclusion so it doesn’t feel unfinished. You can:

• Connect it to the present – explain how the experience affects you now
• Reflect on the experience – share what it meant to you or why it stood out
• Highlight a lesson learned – mention what the situation taught you
• Look to the future – say how it might influence what you’ll do next

 
Here’s the conclusion of our sample response:

• “Now that we’re older and doing a bit better in life, we can afford to treat our parents to a nice dinner from time to time, but this was the first time three of us children were able to visit at the same time. Our youngest sister is working abroad so this is why she couldn’t make it, but we were able to get her on a video call and it almost felt like she was there, too.
• We took lots of pictures that day because we weren’t sure we’d have the chance to do that again soon, but we promised to try to go home together more often, especially for our parents’ birthdays. I truly hope we keep that promise—because as our parents get older, these moments become even more valuable.”

 
The story concludes by looking to the future and reflecting on the experience. The speaker ties it to a promise to reunite more often for their parents’ birthdays, showing a future outlook, and also emphasizes how valuable family time has become as their parents get older. This gives the story both emotional reflection and a forward-looking closure.

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What if the story does not have much emotional weight?
Sometimes your story might not carry strong emotions or deep personal meaning—and that’s perfectly fine. In these cases, you can still conclude smoothly by using lighter alternatives:

• Summarize the main event:
  “Overall, it was a fun day out and definitely one of the more enjoyable weekends I’ve had.”
• Highlight a small detail that stood out:
  “What I remember most was how friendly the staff were at the café—they accommodated our requests at such short notice without any complaints at all.”
• Simply state why you enjoyed it:
  “I really appreciated having that break because it gave me time to recharge before the next busy week.”​

Even if the story feels simple, giving it a brief summary or highlight at the end makes your answer sound complete and organized.

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How NOT to Tell a Story
Not all storytelling helps your score—here are a few pitfalls to avoid:

• Listing facts like a robot. “I went there. I saw this. I did that.” Flat and forgettable.
• Going off-topic. Don’t spend two minutes talking about something unrelated to the cue card.
• Memorizing a script. Examiners know when you’ve memorized. It sounds unnatural and affects fluency.
• Aiming for perfection. Small mistakes are fine—it’s communication and flow that matter most.

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How to Practice Storytelling for the Exam
The good news is that storytelling is a skill you can train, even if you don’t feel like a natural speaker. Try these techniques:

• Practice with cue cards. Use real IELTS topics and give yourself two minutes to tell the story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Use the “3-2-1 Technique.” Tell the same story three times: first in 3 minutes (relaxed), then in 2 (more focused), and finally in 1 (sharper and organized). Eventually you'll strike a balance between letting the story flow but still keeping it focused. 
• Record yourself. Listening back helps you catch areas where your story is unclear or too repetitive.
• Story swap with a partner. Explaining experiences to someone else helps you add natural details and emotion.
• Keep a story bank. Make a list of personal experiences—like a funny mistake, a proud achievement, or a meaningful trip. Having ideas ready saves time during the test.

​Storytelling is more than a speaking technique—it’s the bridge that connects your ideas with the examiner in a clear, engaging way. You don’t need to invent the perfect story; you just need to tell real experiences with structure and confidence. With practice, storytelling can turn IELTS Speaking Part 2 from the most stressful task into your strongest performance.