​How to Talk About First Experiences in IELTS Speaking

Talking about the first time you did something is a common topic in the IELTS Speaking test. Many students struggle with this, often making grammatical errors, for example, "I first time see this movie in 2020." This article will help you understand how to correctly structure your sentences when describing your first experiences.

Basic sentence grammar
When describing the first time you did an activity, you typically use the past tense because you're talking about a completed action. Going back to the previous example, 
          "I first time see this movie in 2020."
the correct verb should then be "saw" instead of see.
          Correct: I saw the movie [for the first time] in 2020.

Word order when using "the first time" 
You probably noticed that we changed the word order of the corrected sentence above. The phrase "the first time" cannot be used directly before the verb like in "I first time see the movie..." Many students make errors by misplacing "first" or by structuring the sentence incorrectly. Here are some examples and corrections:

Incorrect: I first time went to a concert last year.
Correct: The first time I went to a concert was last year.
Correct: I went to a concert for the first time last year.

Incorrect: I first time tried sushi was when I was 15.
Correct: I first tried sushi when I was 15.
Correct: The first time I tried sushi was when I was 15. 

You could also use "the first time" as an introductory phrase followed by a clause that describes the action.
Examples:
The first time I visited Paris, I was amazed by the Eiffel Tower.
The first time I took the test, I didn't pass.
The first time I read the book, I had a hard time understanding it.

The above sentences could also be rewritten in a different word order where the time clause is at the end. Note that a comma is no longer needed in this structure: 

I was amazed by the Eiffel Tower the first time I visited Paris.
 I didn't pass the first time I took the test.
I had a hard time understanding it the first time I read the book.

Using "when" to describe the first time
You can also use the word "when" to introduce the time clause. This often comes after a main clause.

Example: I was excited when I first visited Bali. 
I was in sixth grade when I got my first mobile phone.
Or:  When I was in sixth grade, my parents gave me my first mobile phone. 

More Examples
Let’s practice with a few more examples to solidify your understanding:

• Talking about a travel experience:

Incorrect: I first time traveled alone in 2019.
Correct: The first time I traveled alone was in 2019.
Correct: I traveled alone for the first time in 2019.

• Talking about a new hobby:

Incorrect: I played this video game first time when I was ten.
Correct:  I played this video game for the first time when I was ten.
Correct: I was ten when I first played this video game.

• Talking about trying new food:

Incorrect: I first time ate blue cheese at an Italian restaurant.
Correct: The first time I ate blue cheese was at an Italian restaurant.
Correct: I ate blue cheese for the first time at an Italian restaurant. 

Think about various "firsts" in your life and how you would describe them. Regular practice will help you become more comfortable with the correct structures.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively talk about your first experiences while avoiding common errors.