Name: IELTS Speaking Part 2 - Describe an exciting activity you tried for the first time
Uploaded: 2025-12-26T14:19:41.000Z
Duration: 9 min 4 s
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Today's speaking topic Describe an exciting activity you tried for the first time.

In your answer, you should explain what the activity was, where and when it happened, who you did it with, and

In this lesson, you are going to hear two model responses.

The first comes from Joseph, who talks about a personal moment of independence.

The second is from Blondie, who describes a high energy fitness experience.

After each response, I'll break it down so you can clearly see why it works.

An exciting activity that I tried for the first time was driving a car on a highway completely on my own.

I did this about a year ago, shortly after I got my driving license.

It took place on a busy highway just outside my city, which connects several suburbs and usually has heavy traffic, especially during the day.

At the time, I had plenty of experience driving on quiet local roads, but

I had always avoided highways because of the high speed and the pressure of sharing the road with experienced drivers.

Although I was alone in the car, my father played an important role in this experience because he he had spent weeks helping me practice and encouraged me to challenge myself when I felt ready.

What made this experience so exciting was the intense mix of fear, responsibility and independence.

In the beginning, I was extremely nervous, constantly checking my mirrors and worrying about making mistakes.

However, after a while I started to relax and feel more in control and I even began to enjoy the smooth flow of traffic.

By the time I reached my destination, I felt proud of myself because it marked a major step toward becoming more confident and independent as a young adult.

That sense of achievement is what made the experience truly exciting and memorable for me.

Joseph answers every part of the cue card very clearly.

Driving alone on a highway for the first time, he tells us when and where it happened about a year ago on a busy highway outside his city.

Although he was alone in the car, his father's support and preparation played an important role.

And finally, he clearly explains why it was exciting, focusing on the emotional shift from fear to confidence and independence.

Joseph's response follows the structure set out in the cue card, which helps keep his answer clear and organized.

Like any strong response, he addresses each required point directly, making it easy for the listener to understand what happened and why the experience mattered to him.

Phrases like smooth flow of traffic show accurate topic specific language.

The expression marked a major step toward is a sophisticated way to describe a life milestone, and

describing his emotions as an intense mix of fear and responsibility adds depth and precision to his answer.

These are exactly the kinds of phrases that help push a response into the higher bands.

Now let's look at a very different kind of exciting first time experience.

The exciting activity I tried for the first time was a high intensity interval training class on often referred to as hit.

I decided to challenge myself with this just last month at a boutique fitness studio located in the heart of the city.

It was a chilly Tuesday evening and the transition from the quiet, dark streets to the high energy, neon lit environment of the gym felt incredibly dramatic.

I attended the session with my cousin, a dedicated fitness enthusiast who had been nudging me for weeks to stop being a couch potato and experience the intensity of a group workout firsthand.

The experience was exhilarating mainly because of the unique structure of the workout and the electric atmosphere in the studio.

HIIT is a training method that involves short, explosive bursts of exercise followed by brief recovery periods.

This constant fluctuation in heart rate creates a physical rush that is far more intense than a standard jog or gym session.

The combination of the pounding bass from the speakers, the synchronized movement of the group, and

the encouraging shouts from the instructor created a powerful sense of momentum.

What really made it exciting was hitting a second wind during the final set of mountain climbers.

Pushing past my perceived physical limits gave me a massive surge of endorphins.

Finishing the session alongside my cousin left me feeling completely spent, but

also triumphant, providing a sense of accomplishment that made the entire experience unforgettable.

Let's take a closer look at why it works so well.

Trying a HIIT workout class for the first time.

She tells us when and where it happened just last month at a boutique gym in the city.

She explains who she went with, her cousin who encouraged her to try it, and

she spends plenty of time explaining why it was exciting, focusing on the intensity of the workout, the atmosphere, and

Her answer is detailed, energetic and and very easy to visualize.

Blondie also uses excellent idiomatic language.

The phrase couch potato adds personality and sounds very natural.

Second wind is a perfect idiom for describing a sudden burst of energy, and

choosing triumphant instead of simply happy shows strong vocabulary control.

These small choices make her response feel confident and fluent.

So as you can see, an exciting activity can mean very different things to different people.

If neither of these examples feels right for you, that's completely fine.

Let's look at some other strong ideas you could use.

One strong option is to talk about the first time you traveled alone to a new place.

For example, you might describe taking a solo train trip to a nearby city.

You could explain when and where it happened, what it felt like to navigate stations and unfamiliar streets on your own, and

how exciting it was to make decisions independently without relying on anyone else.

This type of story works particularly well because the excitement comes from a mix of uncertainty and freedom, and

it allows you to describe a clear emotional shift from nervousness to confidence.

You could also choose an activity that involves learning a new physical skill, such as trying indoor rock climbing for the first time.

In this case, you could describe walking into the climbing gym, putting on safety equipment, and

feeling intimidated by the height of the walls.

The excitement naturally comes from the physical challenge itself your racing heart, shaky hands, and

the adrenaline rush as you push yourself to reach the top.

Finishing the climb for the first time gives you a clear ending to the story and a strong sense of achievement.

Another relatable option is to describe the first time you cooked a complicated meal entirely on your own.

For instance, you might talk about attempting a full dinner with multiple dishes rather than a simple recipe.

You could explain when and where this happened, who you were cooking for, and

why it felt exciting to manage everything at once, from timing the dishes to adjusting flavors.

The excitement comes from the pressure of not wanting to fail, combined with the satisfaction of seeing everything come together successfully at the end.

Finally, you might talk about trying an organized group activity for the first time, such as joining a dance class or a group cycling session.

You could describe arriving at the venue, feeling slightly awkward among strangers and struggling to keep up at first.

As the class progresses, the shared energy of the group and encouragement from the instructor often transform that initial discomfort into excitement and enjoyment.

This type of experience works well because it combines social interaction, physical movement, and a clear emotional journey.

Ultimately, an exciting activity doesn't have to be extreme or dramatic.

What matters is that it was meaningful to you and that you experienced it for the first time.

If you clearly describe what happened and how your feelings changed, you'll have a strong and convincing answer.

If you found this lesson useful, feel free to leave a like or a comment below.