Last Updated on July 15, 2025
“Describe a time when you helped a friend” is a common cue card in IELTS Speaking Part 2. In this article, you’ll find sample answers, essential vocabulary, common follow-up questions from Part 3, and an explanation of what this topic assesses.
This cue card helps test your ability to narrate past events, describe personal relationships, and explain the impact of your actions on others.
Learn how to answer “Describe a time when you helped a friend” with IELTS sample answers, Band 9 vocabulary, tips, follow-up questions & structure.
Cue Card Topic Breakdown
You will have:
- 1 minute to prepare
- 1–2 minutes to speak
Describe a time when you helped a friend
You should say:
- Who your friend is
- What problem they had
- How you helped them
- And how you felt about it
Why This Cue Card Matters
This cue card helps examiners assess your ability to:
- Tell personal stories with fluency and coherence.
- Use a mix of past and descriptive language.
- Express empathy and the nature of relationships.
- Organize your thoughts into a clear narrative structure.
Helping with Exam Stress: Describe a Time When You Helped a Friend
What is the name of your friend?
My friend, Anjali, is a person with whom I grew up. We attend the same college and school and she had never failed to be supportive.
What was their trouble?
A few months back Anjali had been under extreme tension before she took up her final college exams. The calculus paper in particular made her feel totally lost, and she knew that she was going to fail.
What you did to help them?
Being aware of how bright she tends to be, I volunteered to assist. I would spend many evenings with her and break down difficult ideas into simpler processes. We went through many practice problems, and I tried to encourage her by reminding her about her past. I played the role of her personal tutor, even preparing some simplified notes.
And you what did you think of it?
I was at first concerned that I may not be effective enough but watching her build a stronger understanding and grow in confidence was so satisfying. I was extremely relieved and proud when she later informed me that she had scored a decent grade in the exam. It actually made us even closer.
Assisting with a House Move: Describe a Time When You Helped a Friend
What is the name of your friend?
I will discuss one of my best friends in the university who was called Rohit. He used to take care of me thus I was happy to reciprocate.
What was their problem?
Rohits mother was forced to change apartments rather impetuously last year, as her landlord chose to sell the house. He had limited time, his budget did not cover the services of any professional movers, and the major portion of his family was out of town. He was actually finding it so hard to pack and move everything.
What you did in order to help them?
I jumped to the offer of assistance. One whole weekend I stayed at his former apartment. We systematically packed his packages in boxes, some furniture we disassembled and then there were several trips on my part driving his boxes and other parcels of smaller furniture to his new location with my car. This involved much manual work yet we turned it out to be an enjoyable experience through music and ordering pizzas.
And what you felt about it?
I was completely tired at the finish, but I was very content and fulfilled. Remembering that I could make his life easier as he is facing such a tense moment felt good. He was very thankful and that was all that reminded me of what friendship is all about; showing up in someone else life when they really need it.
Offering Emotional Support During a Breakup: Describe a Time When You Helped a Friend
Who your friend is?
I’d like to talk about my friend, Priya. She’s been my confidante for years, and we share everything.
What problem they had?
A few months ago, Priya went through a very difficult breakup with her long-term boyfriend. She was completely heartbroken, feeling lost, and struggling to cope with the emotional pain. She became quite withdrawn and stopped engaging in her usual activities.
How you helped them?
My main goal was to be a pillar of support. I spent countless hours just listening to her, letting her vent and cry without judgment. I visited her frequently, brought her favourite comfort food, and encouraged her to get out of the house for short walks. I didn’t offer unsolicited advice, but rather reminded her of her strength and resilience. We watched movies, talked about future plans, and slowly, I saw her begin to heal.
And how you felt about it?
It was hard to see her in so much pain, but I felt it was my duty as a friend to be there for her. There was a sense of quiet fulfillment in just being present and offering comfort. Witnessing her gradually regain her confidence and happiness was incredibly rewarding. It reinforced my belief that sometimes, the best help you can give is simply your time and unwavering support.
Resolving a Technical Glitch: Describe a Time When You Helped a Friend
What kind of you have?
I can explain the situation when I assisted one of my good friends, Ali, who is a member of my photography club. He is a technically competent professional, yet at times even professional people encounter bad surprises.
What was their problem?
Ali had a very crucial photography portfolio that he was to submit in a competition and then some unexpected disaster occurred as the external hard disk where all his edited high resolution photographs were saved got corrupted. He was not able to call any of his files and it was only a few hours to the deadline. He was in a panic, as he thought he would lose all he had done.
What you did to help?
As I happen to have at least some experience in data restoration and problem-solving, I instantly went there to his home. We tested the various software and command-line prompts. Then, we could restore an original backup partition on his laptop after an hour of hard work and save the majority of his important files. It was not a very comfortable moment, yet my technical skills came in handy.
What you thought of it?
I had a jolt of adrenalin going through the procedure and then such relief on getting the data back. Better still, I felt very contented that I could use my particular abilities to really save a friend out of a problematic situation. I felt wonderful to know that I had saved his efforts and his shot at the competition and Ali was extremely grateful.
Follow-Up Questions (IELTS Part 3)
What motivates people to assist their friends?
Individuals assist their friends mainly because of loyalty, understandings, and respect. Relations between friends are mutually supportive, thus, there is a natural urge to help a loved one when he/she is in need. It even magnifies the ties among people.
Do you believe in charity to others in the society?
Absolutely. Assistance to other members of society, creates a sense of belonging and unity. It helps establish stronger social bonds and resolve widespread challenges and make everyone in the environment more supportive, not only the people who you personally know.
How does helping a friend differ with that of helping a stranger?
The contrast is in the level of relation and the sense of responsibility. You know more about the situation of a friend and are more invested in it. Assisting someone who is a stranger is also substantial, but the motive does not include a pre-existing personal relationship; in most cases it is pure altruism or the feeling of civic responsibility.
Are individuals out to receive something when they assist people?
It varies. In tight friendship assistance is commonly provided without necessarily expecting an immediate payback but there is a certain agreement that you are there to help each other. In other situations or circumstances, there may be those who may anticipate a favour as a payback or there are many so generous who do not anticipate any returns.
Which type of problems do friends often assist one another with?
Friends can provide a lot of assistance with a variety of issues, such as emotional support when we are going through some tough period in our life, and are experiencing a breakup or a grievous loss, as well as practical assistance, when we have certain academic issues, house-moving, career-planning or even financial problems. This is quite subjective, it depends on the case and the character of friendship.
Vocabulary to Use for This Cue Card
| Word/Phrase | Meaning | Example Sentence |
| Pillar of support | Someone who offers strong, reliable help | She was a pillar of support for me during my tough times. |
| Lend a hand | To help someone | I always try to lend a hand whenever my friends need it. |
| Go the extra mile | To make a special effort to help | He really went the extra mile to ensure I understood the topic. |
| Come to someone’s aid | To help someone who is in trouble | When I lost my keys, my neighbour immediately came to my aid. |
| Ease someone’s burden | To make a difficult situation less difficult for someone | Helping him pack really eased his burden of moving. |
| Be there for someone | To be available to support someone | I made sure to be there for her after her breakup. |
| Offer solace | To provide comfort in times of distress | She offered me solace when I was feeling down. |
| Moral support | Encouragement and emotional backing | All I could offer was moral support, but it seemed to help. |
| Reciprocate | To respond to an action or gesture by making a corresponding one | I hope to reciprocate his kindness someday. |
| Grateful/Thankful | Feeling or showing appreciation | I was incredibly grateful for his timely intervention. |
Related Topics for IELTS Practice:
- Describe the Scene of a Hospital
- Describe a Skill You Want to Learn
- Describe an important day in your life
- Describe a Difficult Decision You Made
- Describe a Historical Building You Have Been To
- Describe an Item of Clothing Someone Gave You
- Describe a Place You Would Like to Live in the Future
- Describe an Old Person Who Has Had an Interesting Life
- Describe a Place in Your City Where You Can See Wildlife
- Describe a Village Near Your Hometown: IELTS Cue Card
Summary
| Section | Key Points |
| Cue Card Breakdown | Focus on a specific instance of helping a friend, detailing the problem, your actions, and your feelings. |
| Sample Answers | Four examples covering academic, practical, emotional, and technical help. |
| Vocabulary Bank | Phrases to describe support, effort, and emotional responses. |
| Follow-Up Questions | Explores broader themes of helping others and the nature of friendship. |
| Related Topics | Linked with cue cards involving personal interactions, problem-solving, and emotional experiences. |
Final thoughts on the IELTS topic “Describe a time when you helped a friend”
This IELTS cue card offers you a superb chance to demonstrate your capability to narrate a connected story, to be able to utilize correct past tenses, and to present empathy. Do not forget to plan your answer by using a beginning, middle and ending. It is not enough to write that something happened, but to write how you contributed, why your friend was in need of help, and how you felt after that.
FAQs
What іs an example оf helping a friend for IELTS?
Examples include assisting with studies, helping with a move, offering emotional support during a difficult time, оr providing practical advice.
Can I talk about helping a family member instead оf a friend?
The cue card specifically asks for a “friend,” sо it’s best tо stick tо that. However, the themes оf help and support are similar.
Is іt okay іf the help I gave wasn’t a huge act?
Absolutely! Even small acts оf kindness оr support can be significant. The examiner іs assessing your communication skills, not the scale оf your heroic deed.
Should I include details about my friend’s reaction?
Yes, describing your friend’s reaction (e.g., relief, gratitude) adds depth tо your story and shows the impact оf your help.
How can I prepare for this cue card?
Think оf a few real-life instances where you helped a friend. Practice narrating these stories aloud, focusing оn the five bullet points, and incorporating some оf the vocabulary provided.
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