Last Updated on August 29, 2025
A cue card for the question “Describe an achievement success you are proud of” can be found in this IELTS speaking blog. The three sections of the IELTS speaking test are the introduction, the cue card round, and the follow-up discussion round. You will have 11 to 15 minutes to present your ideas and communication abilities to the examiner.
We have included three model responses for this IELTS Speaking Cue Card, along with follow-up questions, to help you practice and come up with ideas.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 – IELTS Cue Card
For IELTS Speaking Task 2 (Part 2), you must prepare a cue card that will be provided by your examiner. You can find your topic in that cue card—“Describe an achievement success you are proud of”—along with some sub-questions.
You will be given 1 minute to prepare, and then you must speak for 1–2 minutes. The examiner may stop you once you’ve covered all the given prompts.
The IELTS Speaking Part 3 will then move into a follow-up discussion around the topic on your cue card.
Describe an achievement success you are proud of – Model answer and Follow-up questions
Describe an achievement success you are proud of
- You should say:
- What do you achieve?
- When you achieve it?
- How do you achieve it?
- And explain why you are proud of it?
The model cue card answers for the topic “Describe an achievement success you are proud of” are given below, followed by IELTS Speaking Cue Card Part 3 follow-up questions.
Model Answer 1 – Describe an achievement success you are proud of
Introduction
I am especially proud of having finished my Master’s degree with honours. It was a journey that was not very easy, and the feeling of achievement was quite fulfilling.
What you achieved / When you achieved it
This was a milestone that I met two years ago when I graduated from university. I felt honoured both as an individual and as a family member since I became the first member of the family to study higher education in a foreign country.
How you achieved it
I have attained this success by working hard, managing time and my professors. There were days when I felt tired, and I remained motivated and oriented toward my goal.
Why are you proud of it
I feel proud of this accomplishment as it has not only enhanced my self-esteem, but also made new career prospects available to me. It demonstrated to me that I can cut through any hurdle as long as I work hard.
Conclusion
This is something that I will never forget in my life since it has influenced my personal and professional development.
Model Answer 2 – Describe an achievement success you are proud of
Introduction
One of the achievements that I am proud of is the time that I won first place in an inter-college debate competition.
What you achieved / When you achieved it
This was in my undergraduate years. Competitors were very fierce, and they represented other reputable colleges.
How you achieved it
I trained for weeks in advance, researching, trying out speeches and polishing my arguments. The day of the event I remained calm, made my points when asked, and responded to the rebuttals with confidence.
Why are you proud of it
I take pride in it as it improved my communicative capacity, leadership capabilities as well as confidence on the stage. It also made me well recognised amongst my peers and my professors.
Conclusion
This was one of the lessons which made me understand that even in a competitive world, you can shine when you are prepared and believe in yourself.
Model Answer 3 – Describe an achievement success you are proud of
Introduction
I consider one of my greatest accomplishments to be achieving the skill to play the guitar and play in front of an audience for the first time.
What you achieved / When you achieved it
This was an accomplishment of mine some one year ago in the course of my college cultural festival. It was a big step for one who was shy.
How you achieved it
I had been practising the guitar for several months and spending at least an hour a day on practice. First, I couldn’t control it easily with studies, yet I remained persistent.
Why are you proud of it
I feel proud that I conquered the fear of the stage and used music as my personal expressive tool. The cheering that I got made me very happy and confident.
Conclusion
This is an accomplishment of its own since it not only demonstrated to me the happiness of following a passion but also created confidence in my potential.
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Follow-up Questions
Follow-up questions for “Describe an achievement success you are proud of” are given below. In the actual exam, this part lasts for about 4–5 minutes, where you discuss general questions related to your cue card topic.
Do you think achievements are important in life?
Yes, success provides us with the impetus and meaning. They guide us on the way of our progress and encourage us to work more.
Should children be rewarded for their achievements?
Absolutely. The rewarding of children also makes them motivated and enables them to develop their confidence. Yet it must strike a balance where they also get to know the importance of working hard.
Which is more important – personal achievements or professional achievements?
Both are important. The personal achievements make us happy and satisfied, whereas the professional ones enable us to develop in terms of our working sphere and create a stable future.
Do people in your country celebrate achievements differently from those in other countries?
Yes, there are frequently celebrations of achievements in my country with family get-togethers and sweet and blessings of elders. Celebrations in other cultures may be either more formal or individualistic.
Related Vocabulary – Describe an achievement or success you are proud of
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Acknowledgement or praise for achievements |
| Milestone | A significant stage or achievement in life | Completing my degree was a major milestone in my academic journey. |
| Accomplishment | Something achieved successfully, often through effort | Winning the award was a proud accomplishment. |
| Perseverance | Continued effort despite difficulties | Perseverance helped me finish my research project. |
| Recognition | The achievement gave me the confidence to take on new challenges. | She received recognition for her outstanding performance. |
| Self-motivation | Ability to push oneself towards a goal without external pressure | Self-motivation played a key role in my success. |
| Dedication | Strong commitment towards a task or purpose | His dedication towards studies impressed his teachers. |
| Confidence | Belief in one’s abilities | The achievement gave me confidence to take on new challenges. |
| Determination | Firm decision and willpower to achieve something | With determination, she overcame all obstacles. |
| Resilience | Ability to recover quickly from difficulties | My resilience kept me going after multiple failures. |
| Fulfilment | Satisfaction gained from achieving something meaningful | Completing my project gave me a sense of fulfilment. |
Conclusion
To sum up, achievements, whether big or small, shape our personality and future. They not only give us confidence but also serve as motivation for greater goals. Practising IELTS Cue Card topics like Describe an achievement or success you are proud of through this IELTS speaking blog will strengthen your IELTS Speaking Cue Card performance.
Related IELTS Cue Card Topics
Below are links to related IELTS speaking blog articles on other IELTS Cue Card topics:
- Describe a sportsperson that you admire
- Describe a historical period
- Describe a long car journey you went on
- Describe a place where you would like to go to relax
- Describe something that surprised you
- Describe a piece of good advice that you gave to someone
- Describe Something That You Did With Someone
FAQs
This subject is widespread, as the successes indicate personal development, social communication and narration skills, which are the key to the IELTS Speaking.
Use a definite outline: Introduction, When/What How you made it happen, Why you are proud, Conclusion.
Yes, even such minor steps as acquisition of something or assistance can be good when described with feelings and description.
A blog about IELTS speaking provides model responses, vocabulary, and techniques, and allows you to get a clear idea of how to construct your thoughts in a confident manner during the IELTS Speaking Cue Card round.
The examiner does not look at the level of your success, but fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and capacity to develop ideas.
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