IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answer – Topic: Describe a time when you were scared

IELTS SPEAKING PART 2

Describe a time when you were scared
You should say:
– what happened
– where you were
– who you were with
– and explain why you were scared

(what happened) More than 10 years ago, I went through in one of the scariest moments of my life, which is now imprinted on my memory. As a kid, I was told a lot of stories about ghosts and devils, and these stories still obsess me now. This event happened when I participated in a camp that created “challenges” for children.

(where I was) By coincidence, the camp was adjacent to a cemetery, which made the challenges even more intense.

(who you were with) At 2 a.m., a deafening alarm woke everyone up and the game was ordered to start. We were a group of 7- to 8-year-olds, and we had to work with each other under the silence and darkness of the night.

(and explain why you were scared) At one station, the challenge was to solve cryptograms inside the cemetery. We were very focused on the cryptograms, but I freaked out when I felt something fishy behind my back. I turned around and jumped out of my skin when saw a person in an outfit full of blood. I screamed and passed out. Being unconscious, I have no clue what happened after that, but I remember coming round at my house. My friends told me that the “ghost” had to bring me home. This may be an absurd story, but it is a night I will never forget my whole life.

1. To imprint someone’s memory with little/much to remember
Example: The period of time that I did volunteer work in Africa imprinted me with a lot to remember.

2. Adjacent (adj): next to
Example: They lived in a house adjacent to the railway.

3. Flock (n)
Example: A noisy flock of tourists came into the building.

4. Cryptograms (n)
Example: A cryptogram is a type of puzzle that consists of a short piece of encrypted text

5. To freak out (v): anxious
Example: I remember the first time I went on stage. I freaked out completely.

6. Fishy (adj) not completely right, honest, or legal
Example: There’s something fishy going on here.

7. To jump out of my skin (idiom):  suddenly surprised or frightened
Example: The loud noise made me jump out of my skin.

8. To pass out > < to come round: to suddenly become unconscious
Example: He passed out and came round after that just 5 minutes.

 

IELTS SPEAKING PART 3:

How do people usually get frightened?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, people get scared when they encounter situations beyond their comfort zone, or from unexpected frightening, dangerous things. (Explain your reason or reasons) Scientifically, the part of our brain responsible for registering fear is the amygdala, and when a person sees something that frightens them, their amygdala activates other regions of the brain, thus signaling the potential dangers. (Give an example (often a personal example)) Whether you jump at the sight of a spider or work up a sweat at the mere mention of getting on an airplane, fears and phobias abound.

Why is it easy for some people to be scared?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Personally, it all comes down to the individual’s startle response, which means that somebody is just more susceptible to fears than others. (Explain your reason or reasons) In combination with the role of previous life experience, genetic differences between people contribute to the extent to which they will feel anxiety or even post-traumatic stress in response to a frightening experience. (Give an example (often a personal example)) These reasons may partly explain why some people cannot stand the prospect of watching a horror movie while others enjoy this kind of film.

What should people do when they feel scared?
(Give a direct answer to the question) When put in a serious, alarming situation, one should try to remain calm and composed as much as possible, which helps the mind function well and efficiently. (Explain your reason or reasons) Once you can think critically, you can handle the problems and gradually get used to or overcome their fears. (Explain the opposite or alternative) If the person is too intimidated to face the threat himself, he can ask for help from people nearby or family members and trustworthy friends. Besides, some people find that complementary therapies or exercises, such as relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, or tai chi, help them to deal with their anxiety.

Do children like to scare others?
(Give a direct answer to the question) I don’t think so. Actually, older people, especially parents, tend to scare kids more often for different purposes. (Explain your reason or reasons) Kids are more prone to freaking out because their level of emotional control is not fully developed as compared to adults. (Give an example (often a personal example)) Sometimes, to protect kids, older people tend to scare them. When a mother tells her children about the deadly danger of touching a hot vessel, it is because she
wants them to remain unharmed. The moment that fear is instilled within the kids, they try to take their decisions more cautiously.

Is it OK to frighten others?
(Give a direct answer to the question) I think it depends. (Explain your reason or reasons) People usually frighten others to make fun of or surprise them, and the intention of which is quite benign. (Explain the opposite or alternative) In extremely rare cases where people have literally been “scared to death” after a surge of adrenaline and other chemicals causes the heart to malfunction, scaring people is not something for fun.

Vocabulary:

comfort zone [expression]: a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested
Eg: Rock climbing pushes many people beyond their comfort zones.

activate [v]: to cause something to start
Eg: The alarm is activated by the lightest pressure.

abound [v]: to exist in large numbers
Eg: Theories abound about how the universe began.

susceptible to [adj]: easily influenced or harmed by something
Eg: These plants are particularly susceptible to frost.

genetic [adj]: belonging or relating to genes (= parts of the DNA in cells) received by each animal or plant from its parents
Eg: There are tests which can establish a baby’s genetic endowment.

composed [adj]: calm and in control of your emotions
Eg: She looked remarkably composed throughout the funeral.

critically [adv]: in a way that shows criticism of someone or something, or that shows that you have thought seriously about something, considering what is good and what is

intimidate [v]: to frighten or threaten someone, usually in order to persuade them to do something that you want them to do
Eg: They were intimidated into accepting a pay cut by the threat of losing their jobs.

instill [v]: to put a feeling, idea, or principle gradually into someone’s mind, so that it has a strong influence on the way the person lives
Eg: My parents instilled in me a love of reading.