Ielts Writing Task 2
January 23, 2025
As an IELTS instructor, I understand that most candidates find IELTS an arduous task, especially when attempting to get a band score of 7 or above to gain admission into universities. Among all, the section that disquiets them the most is usually the Speaking test, especially during the cue cards round like (Describe a situation when you helped someone) of Part 2. In this round, you will be provided with a cue card that mentions the topic you need to speak about for a term of two minutes; there is just one minute for preparation.
This guide on ‘Describe a situation when you helped someone’ is to boost your confidence. So let us get on with how you can approach this cue card effectively and impress the examiner with your response!
Describe a time when you helped someone
- You should say:
- Who did you help?
- How do you help them?
- Explain how this person reacted to your help.
- Explain how you feel after helping this person.
Love toward Animals – Describe a Time When You Helped Someone: Sample Answer 1
Introduction
Helping others instills great fulfillment in me, hence invoking a sense of purpose and happiness. I have always tried to help everyone in need but have always given considerable thought to animals that look up to us for help. This writing is concerned with an incident in which I had to help a stray puppy find a home.
What the situation was?
This transpired a few months back while I was returning home after visiting a friend’s house. It was a late evening, with the alley streets quieter than usual. As I approached the dimly lit corner, I noticed a small puppy sitting by the roadside, shaking from the cold. It was drizzling lightly, and the puppy was now wet and scared. People walked by without paying any much attention at all, but I couldn’t simply leave the pup there.
What was the state of the person?
The “person” suffered from the stray condition of a small brown-and-white puppy. Its big, innocent eyes stared at me, and it was clear that he was deserted. Its fur was matted, and it was trembling uncontrollably. I could tell he was hungry, frightened, and not sure what to do next.
How did you help?
I took it home immediately. I wrapped it in my jacket to keep it warm and walked the rest of the way. Upon reaching home, I gave it warm milk and biscuits, and he gulped it all down. I then shampooed him and checked for wounds; fortunately, he was fine, only exhausted.
The following day, I took it to the vet for a check-up and vaccine inoculations. Once the puppy was deemed healthy, I put its pictures online on the local animal adoption pages to find a loving family. Within a week, some kind family reached out to me telling me they wanted to adopt the puppy. I went over to make sure it was a safe environment, and seeing the puppy relax in its new home felt really rewarding.
And express how you felt after rendering help to him/her.
Tending to the needs of that little creature was the most gratifying thing I would have done in my entire life. Watching the puppy grow from a frightened, abandoned animal to a happy pet brought incredible joy and peace to me. It also accompanied a renewed belief that care should be extended to the ones who cannot care for themselves.
Conclusion:
The experience taught me that tiny acts of kindness can really go a long way. It also served as inspiration for me to help further with the rescue of animals and to promote the adoption of stray animals. For me, the puppy’s mission is a source of eternal joy and inspiration.
Helped My Cousin – Describe a Time When You Helped Someone: Sample Answer 2
Introduction
There are times in life that when we help others, we become better humans. The very act of helping makes our bonds grow stronger as it evokes feelings of connectedness and compassion.
Who did you help?
I want to share an experience where I offered to help my cousin Riya prepare for her dance competition. Riya is extremely passionate about dancing but received a sprain on her ankle a week prior to the performance date. This left her a bit worried regarding her routine and choreography.
How did you help? Explain how this person reacted to your help.
Being a good dancer myself, I just thought that I could step in and help her to do her practice in those days while she was recovering. I helped her to refine her movements, bring out the right expressions on her face, and give some steps that were simpler yet still mind-blowing, in order to compensate for her lack of mobility. I spent hours with her every day, practicing over and over, and slowly she began to get a little more confident about her performance.
When the day of the competition came, Riya danced with all her heart. In spite of her injury, she put on a fabulous performance that got her second prize. She was abundantly grateful and very emotional and said she couldn’t have done it without my encouragement.
How did you feel after helping this person?
Seeing Riya create her magic and witness her joy gave me a sense of pride and immense happiness. To know my efforts made her achieve, and treasure her passion, and humility was fulfilling.
Conclusion
This experience taught me that even a small helping hand can go a long way in a person’s life. It strengthened my bond with Riya and reminded me of the joy that comes from selflessly supporting someone else in need.
Explore Related Cue Card Topic
Describe A Skill That You Can Teach Other People
Describe a Volunteering Experience You Have Had
Describe a Bag You Want to Own
Follow-up Questions for IELTS Cue Card Topic: “Describe a Situation When You Helped Someone in Need”
1. Do you think it’s important to help people?
I strongly believe that it is important to help others. Helping others not only makes one happy, bringing people closer but also brings society closer together. We all have responsibilities toward our family, friends, and workplaces: but feel convinced about the fact that helping strangers is equally important. Therefore, we would create an image of togetherness yet a world more sympathetic toward its citizens.
2. Do people hesitate to seek help?
Yes, people sometimes hesitate to ask for help. Some individuals feel that seeking assistance makes them feel weak or incapable of pursuing their responsibilities. Some are worried that they may become a burden on the one they are asking for help. There is also a social stigma attached to vulnerability; that is why many people do not express their needs. However I believe seeking help is not a sign of weakness; rather, it is a step towards solution finding. It is upon the community to reach out to support those in need and foster trust and harmony as a process.
3. Have you ever sought help from others?
Yes, I have reached out for help in the past. I was finding myself struggling in math more than a couple of years ago and had an important exam that I had to pass. I called a friend, who was quite brilliant with the subject. He didn’t think twice before he generously offered his help, I used to go to his house every evening after school and he tutored me. This helped me a lot, and I was able to pass that exam. Later on, I returned the favor by helping him with his knowledge of literature since that was a weaker area for him.
4. How can our country help visitors?
India epitomizes hospitality, but tourists often struggle with the language barrier. We could facilitate communication by either providing language assistance services or ensuring more multilingual signs. Tourists would be better served by clear directions and ready information about various tourist locations. Lastly, it is crucial to raise awareness among locals about how they should treat visitors, as their action is seen as the image of our nation.
5. How can we encourage children to help others?
Setting positive examples can teach children to offer help when they see someone in need. Adults should not only remove litter but also carry out little acts of kindness, such as helping neighbors or donating items to a charitable cause. Allowing children to assist with small activities, like feeding animals roaming your neighborhood or giving toys to less fortunate children, encourages the importance of helping those in need. In this way, hopefully, empathy and compassion from an early age will promote them into responsible and caring human beings in the future.
