I’d like to talk about a turning point in my life that happened about a year ago. When I was due to receive the first result of my ACT attempt, I had prepared intensely, often staying up late, sacrificing sleep to study online, which left me physically and mentally exhausted. On the exam day I took a taxi to the test center but heavy traffic brought me to a standstill. I was really anxious and the feeling that our army was pure elation. I mean, sad. Although I briefly thought about running, it was too far. By the time I arrived the doors were closed and I was refused entry for being late. I was devastated and spent days replaying the incident in my mind. However, that setback became a blessing in disguise. I started again, prepared even harder. And when I retook the SAT, I arrived early, stayed calm and did my best. A few weeks later I received a score beyond my expectations. I passed with flying colors and that experience taught me that perseverance and results can turn setbacks into success.
Band 7+: Describe an event which made you sad.
Skyrocket your IELTS band score by 1-2 points in under a month with our premium plan!
Note: Both the topic and the answer were submitted by one of our users.
79%
Accuracy
The overall pronunciation accuracy of your speech, reflecting how well a native speaker can comprehend it.
Polished transcript:
Male
Female
I'd like to talk about a turning point in my life that happened about a year ago. When I was due to receive the first result of my ACT attempt, I had prepared intensely, often staying up late, sacrificing sleep to study online, which left me physically and mentally exhausted. On the exam day I took a taxi to the test center but heavy traffic brought me to a standstill. I was really anxious and the feeling that overcame me was pure devastation. I mean, sad. Although I briefly thought about running, it was too far. By the time I arrived the doors were closed and I was refused entry for being late. I was devastated and spent days replaying the incident in my mind. However, that setback became a blessing in disguise. I started again, prepared even harder. And when I retook the SAT, I arrived early, stayed calm and did my best. A few weeks later I received a score beyond my expectations. I passed with flying colors and that experience taught me that perseverance and results can turn setbacks into success.
Actual audio transcript (What native speakers are likely to hear):
Tips: Click on each word to see feedback.
Speaking Time: 74 seconds