Describe a challenge you faced that you thought was rather difficult
You should say:

I’m going to describe a challenge I faced that I found quite difficult. It was when I had to organize a major school event during my final year of high school.
The event was our school’s annual charity fundraiser, which involved a series of activities, including a talent show, a bake sale, and a charity auction. This was a significant event for our school, and as a member of the organizing committee, I was tasked with coordinating the entire schedule and managing volunteers.
This challenge came up about a year ago, during the middle of our school year. The event was to be held at our school’s auditorium, and it was crucial for raising funds for a local charity. Balancing the responsibilities of organizing the event with my regular schoolwork was particularly challenging. I had to juggle meetings, handle logistics, and ensure that everything was on track, all while keeping up with my academic responsibilities.
I thought it was a difficult challenge because it required a lot of planning and organization, and I was also dealing with the pressure of ensuring everything went smoothly. There were unexpected problems that arose, such as last-minute changes in the schedule and issues with volunteers not showing up as planned. Managing these problems while keeping everyone motivated and on track was quite stressful.
At the time, I felt overwhelmed and stressed out. The pressure to make sure everything went perfectly was intense, and there were moments when I doubted if we would be able to pull it off. However, the experience taught me a lot about time management, problem-solving, and leadership. In the end, the event was a success, and the feeling of accomplishment and relief when it was over was immensely satisfying.
When children face a challenge, I think they usually try to figure it out on their own first, but if it gets too difficult, they’ll ask for help from adults like their parents or teachers. Some kids might feel frustrated or upset and might even give up if they don’t know how to handle the situation. Others might keep trying, especially if they’re encouraged by someone they trust. It really depends on the child’s personality and whether they have support from people around them.
face a challenge /feɪs ə ˈʧælɪndʒ/: đối mặt với thử thách
figure it out /ˈfɪɡjʊr ɪt aʊt/: giải quyết vấn đề
ask for help /æsk fɔːr hɛlp/: yêu cầu sự giúp đỡ
frustrated or upset /ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd ɔːr ʌpˈsɛt/: cảm thấy thất vọng hoặc buồn bã
give up /ɡɪv ʌp/: từ bỏ
encouraged by someone /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒd baɪ ˈsʌmwʌn/: được khuyến khích bởi ai đó
depends on the child’s personality /dɪˈpɛndz ɒn ðə ʧaɪldz pɜːsəˈnælɪti/: phụ thuộc vào tính cách của đứa trẻ
I don’t think it’s always easy for children to overcome a challenge, especially if it’s something they’ve never dealt with before. For example, learning a new skill, like riding a bike, can be really hard at first. But with practice and encouragement, most children can overcome the challenge eventually. It’s also important that they have someone to guide them and cheer them on, which can make a big difference in how they handle challenges.
overcome a challenge /ˌoʊvərˈkʌm ə ˈʧælɪndʒ/: vượt qua thử thách
learning a new skill /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ ə njuː skɪl/: học một kỹ năng mới
practice and encouragement /ˈpræktɪs ænd ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/: thực hành và khuyến khích
guide them and cheer them on /ɡaɪd ðɛm ænd ʧɪər ðɛm ɒn/: hướng dẫn và cổ vũ họ
make a big difference /meɪk ə bɪɡ ˈdɪfərəns/: tạo ra sự khác biệt lớn
Well, it depends on the person and the type of challenge. Some people prefer to face challenges alone because they like to figure things out by themselves or they don’t want to rely on others. But I think most people, especially when it’s a big or difficult challenge, would rather face it with others. Having support from friends or family can make the challenge feel less scary and more manageable. It also helps to have someone to share ideas with or just to encourage you when things get tough.
depends on the person /dɪˈpɛndz ɒn ðə ˈpɜːsən/: phụ thuộc vào từng người
figure things out by themselves /ˈfɪɡjʊr θɪŋz aʊt baɪ ðəmˈsɛlvz/: tự giải quyết vấn đề
rely on others /rɪˈlaɪ ɒn ˈʌðəz/: dựa vào người khác
support from friends or family /səˈpɔːrt frəm frɛndz ɔːr ˈfæmɪli/: sự hỗ trợ từ bạn bè hoặc gia đình
less scary and more manageable /lɛs ˈskɛri ænd mɔːr ˈmænɪdʒəbl/: ít đáng sợ hơn và dễ quản lý hơn
I think people who enjoy extreme sports do it because they like the thrill and excitement. These sports, like skydiving or rock climbing, give them a big adrenaline rush, and that makes them feel alive and happy. Some people also like the sense of achievement that comes from overcoming a really difficult or scary situation. It’s like proving to themselves that they can do something really challenging. But not everyone enjoys that kind of thing; some people prefer safer, more relaxed activities.
thrill and excitement /θrɪl ænd ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/: cảm giác hồi hộp và phấn khích
adrenaline rush /əˈdrɛnəlɪn rʌʃ/: cảm giác hưng phấn do adrenaline
sense of achievement /sɛns ʌv əˈʧiːvmənt/: cảm giác thành tựu
proving to themselves /ˈpruːvɪŋ tuː ðəmˈsɛlvz/: chứng minh cho bản thân
safer, more relaxed activities /ˈseɪfər, mɔːr rɪˈlækst ækˈtɪvɪtiz/: hoạt động an toàn và thư giãn hơn
When learning a new sport, people might face several challenges. First, there’s the physical challenge, like getting your body to move in a new way, which can be tiring and sometimes frustrating. Then, there’s the mental challenge of learning the rules and strategies, which can be confusing at first. Also, if someone is not confident, they might feel nervous about trying something new, especially if they’re doing it in front of others. Overcoming these challenges takes time, practice, and a positive attitude.
physical challenge /ˈfɪzɪkl ˈʧælɪndʒ/: thử thách về thể chất
mental challenge /ˈmɛntl ˈʧælɪndʒ/: thử thách về tinh thần
nervous about trying something new /ˈnɜːrvəs əˈbaʊt ˈtraɪɪŋ ˈsʌmθɪŋ njuː/: lo lắng khi thử điều mới
positive attitude /ˈpɒzɪtɪv ˈætɪtjuːd/: thái độ tích cực
I think activities that require problem-solving, like puzzles or games that involve strategy, can be challenging for children because they need to think critically and plan ahead. Physical activities like learning a new sport or dance routine can also be challenging because they require coordination and practice. These activities are challenging because they push children to go beyond what they’re used to, and they need to focus and put in effort to succeed. But with the right support, these challenges can also be fun and rewarding.
problem-solving /ˈprɒbləm ˈsɒlvɪŋ/: giải quyết vấn đề
puzzles or games that involve strategy /ˈpʌzəlz ɔːr ɡeɪmz ðæt ɪnˈvɒlv ˈstrætədʒi/: câu đố hoặc trò chơi liên quan đến chiến lược
coordination and practice /kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən ænd ˈpræktɪs/: phối hợp và thực hành
push children to go beyond what they’re used to /pʊʃ ˈʧɪldrən tuː ɡoʊ bɪˈjɔːnd wɒt ðeɪr juːzd tuː/: đẩy trẻ em vượt ra ngoài những gì chúng quen thuộc
focus and put in effort /ˈfəʊkəs ænd pʊt ɪn ˈɛfərt/: tập trung và nỗ lực
When children face a challenge, their reactions can vary. Some might try to solve the problem by themselves first, especially if it’s something they’ve encountered before. If it’s too difficult, they might ask for help from adults like their parents or teachers. Others might feel frustrated or upset and could give up if they find it too overwhelming. But there are also children who see challenges as a game or a puzzle to solve, and they keep trying different ways to overcome it. It really depends on their personality and how much support they get from people around them.
feel frustrated or upset /fiːl ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd ɔːr ʌpˈsɛt/: cảm thấy thất vọng hoặc buồn bã
overwhelming /ˌəʊvərˈwɛlmɪŋ/: quá tải
see challenges as a game or puzzle /siː ˈʧælɪndʒɪz æz ə ɡeɪm ɔːr ˈpʌzl/: xem thử thách như một trò chơi hoặc câu đố
Trên đây là những gợi ý của SOL IELTS để giúp các bạn trả lời IELTS Speaking part 2, IELTS Speaking part 3 topic Describe a challenge you faced that you thought was rather difficult. Chúc các bạn luyện thi IELTS thật tốt và gặt hái band điểm cao.
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4 mẹo giúp bạn trả lời IELTS Speaking part 3 hiệu quả hơn
Các cấu trúc câu thông dụng trong IELTS Speaking part 3
Bí quyết công phá IELTS Speaking part 2 giúp bạn ẵm điểm cao
