The cue card
Describe a happy memory from your childhood.
You should say:
- when it happened
- where it happened
- who was with you
- and explain why it made you happy
Band 7 sample answer
One of my happiest childhood memories is the summer holidays I spent at my grandparents' village when I was about nine. We went there every year for a month, and I looked forward to it for months in advance.
During the day, my cousins and I played outside until it got dark. We climbed apple trees, swam in a small river and helped my grandfather feed the animals. In the evenings, my grandmother baked fresh bread and told us stories under the stars, because there were not many lights in the village.
It made me happy because everything felt simple and carefree. There were no phones or homework, only friends, nature and family. Looking back, I realise those weeks taught me to enjoy small pleasures, and whenever I feel stressed now, I think about that village and instantly feel calmer.
I can still remember the smell of the wood fire and the taste of warm bread with homemade jam. Those little details come back to me whenever I smell smoke, and for a moment I feel like a nine-year-old again, sitting on my grandmother's doorstep with sticky fingers.
About 188 words, roughly 1 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- carefree — without worries
- nostalgic — feeling happy sadness about the past
- look forward to — wait with pleasure
- countryside — land outside towns
- fond memory — a pleasant memory
- simple pleasures — small things that give joy
- look back on — think about the past
Tips for this cue card
- Use “used to” and past simple for repeated childhood actions.
- Add sensory details: smells, sounds, colours.
- Link the memory to how you think today.
Part 3 follow-up questions
How is childhood today different from the past?
Idea: Children spend more time with screens and less outdoors, but have more educational opportunities.
Do you think children are happier in the countryside?
Idea: They often have more freedom, but cities offer education and activities, so happiness depends on family and community.
What can parents do to create happy memories?
Idea: Spend quality time, plan simple outings and traditions, and be present without distractions.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.