Hi, I’m Daniel Hughes, and in this guide we’ll explore how to use past tense and narrative language to sound natural and fluent in IELTS Speaking Part 2.
Many cue card topics — like describing an event, experience, or journey — require you to tell a story. The key is to mix past tenses smoothly and use time expressions that create a clear timeline.
As the British Council’s band descriptors explain, candidates at Band 7 and above can “use a range of structures flexibly.” Let’s look at how to achieve that.
Most IELTS Part 2 topics ask you to talk about something that happened, so past tenses are essential.
But you’ll sound more advanced when you combine them — Past Simple, Past Continuous, and Past Perfect — to tell a full story.
According to IELTS.org, grammatical range is one of the four key marking areas in IELTS Speaking.
Tense | When to Use It | Example |
Past Simple | For completed actions | “I visited Paris last year.” |
Past Continuous | To set the scene or background | “I was walking home when it started to rain.” |
Past Perfect | To show something happened before another event | “I had already finished dinner when my friend called.” |
💡 Tip: In a two-minute talk, try to include at least one example of each tense to show range.
Purpose | Phrases |
Starting the story | One day…, A few years ago…, When I was younger…, I remember clearly… |
Sequencing events | First…, Then…, After that…, Later on…, Eventually… |
Background / Setting | At that time…, Back then…, It was during my holidays… |
Ending / Reflection | In the end…, Looking back…, That experience taught me… |
These markers help you build a timeline that’s easy for the examiner to follow.
Beyond grammar, Band 8–9 answers show emotional engagement — this is what makes stories memorable.
Use descriptive verbs and adjectives to paint a picture.
Category | Examples |
Emotion | thrilled, nervous, relieved, amazed, overwhelmed |
Action Verbs | rushed, grabbed, glanced, realised, whispered |
Sensory Detail | bright lights, gentle breeze, loud applause, delicious smell |
Reflection | reminded me of…, made me realise…, taught me that… |
💬 Example:
“I was really nervous at first, but when the audience started clapping, I felt relieved and proud of myself.”
That emotional progression adds realism and fluency.
Cue Card: Describe a memorable journey you had.
Model Answer (≈ 1 min 45 sec)
I’d like to talk about a train journey I took from London to Edinburgh last summer. I was travelling with two friends, and we had planned the trip for months. At first, everything went smoothly — we found our seats, and the view from the window was incredible. But halfway through, the train stopped unexpectedly because of a technical issue. We had to wait for over an hour! At first, we were frustrated, but then we started chatting with other passengers and even played cards together. By the time we arrived, it felt like a fun adventure. Looking back, it taught me that sometimes delays can lead to great memories.
Why It Works:
When telling a story, use intonation and pauses to keep the listener engaged.
Practise with short storytelling clips on BBC Learning English:
Mistake | Correction Tip |
Using only Past Simple | Mix tenses for clarity and variety. |
Forgetting time markers | Add connectors like then, after that, finally. |
Overusing “was” or “were” | Replace with action verbs for stronger narrative. |
Speaking too quickly | Pause after each event to let ideas settle. |
Ending abruptly | Always add a short reflection or lesson learned. |
1️⃣ Choose a past event — a trip, achievement, or celebration.
2️⃣ Write five bullet points (using “First…”, “Then…”, “Finally…”).
3️⃣ Record a 2-minute talk using all three past tenses.
4️⃣ Play it back and underline where you used time markers.
5️⃣ Try again — add one emotional adjective each time.
For reference, listen to authentic storytelling examples on IDP IELTS Speaking test videos.
After your storytelling practice, ask yourself:
1️⃣ Which tense is most common in Part 2?
The Past Simple — but combining it with other tenses makes your story richer.
2️⃣ What if I forget a verb form?
Keep speaking — paraphrase using another structure: “I was… I did…” instead of freezing.
3️⃣ Can I mix past and present tenses?
Yes, if the reflection or opinion is still true: “It was amazing, and it still inspires me.”
4️⃣ How can I practise narrative fluency?
Tell short daily stories about your day using “first,” “then,” and “finally.”
5️⃣ Where can I find official examples?
See IELTS.org sample questions or the British Council’s Speaking videos
Using past tense and narrative language makes your Part 2 answer sound complete and natural — like real communication, not an exam.
Focus on variety, time markers, and reflection to create a vivid short story.
Next, move on to Fluency Practice Techniques to learn how to control pacing, pauses, and delivery under pressure.
Or revisit the IELTS Speaking Overview to connect grammar range with band criteria.
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