IELTS Speaking Practice | Describe a Bad Weather Experience

This IELTS Speaking Practice question asks you to describe a time when you had an experience with bad weather.

IELTS Speaking Practice Part 2

Describe an experience you had with bad weather

You should say:
  • what sort of bad weather it was
  • when it happened
  • where you were when it happened
and explain how it affected you and what you did.
IELTS speaking topics: bad weather

Describe a Bad Weather Experience Answer

I recall one time about five years ago when we experienced some bad weather. The weather had been very bad all week, especially the heavy rain. It was the end of the week, maybe Thursday evening, while we were in English class, and a terrible storm was happening outside. There was thunder and lightning and torrential rain.

As we were sitting there in class, some water started to drip through the ceiling into the classroom. At first, it didn't seem very serious, and the teacher called for someone to come and clean it up while we continued with the lesson. But within about 10 minutes, we had to evacuate the classroom because the slow drip became much worse.

We were waiting outside in the corridor because our teacher had gone to try and find an alternative classroom so we could continue without any more problems. Then, suddenly, we all heard a loud crash from inside the classroom. When we looked inside we couldn't believe our eyes - a large part of the ceiling had fallen into the classroom - and there was debris everywhere.

When the teacher returned a few minutes later, we told her what had happened. She looked in the room and then started to laugh. Then we all started laughing and saying how lucky we were to have left the room before it happened.

Then, the school manager appeared to see what was going on and when he saw the big hole in the roof, he had a look of amazement on his face.

After a few minutes, we relocated to another classroom to continue our lesson. Some of the school staff tried to clear up the mess and collect the water coming in through the big hole in the roof.

Luckily, the next few days were dry, the storm had passed, and the school had to close off that section so that they could repair the roof outside.

But we'll never forget what happened - we could have been sitting there in the room when it happened if we hadn't decided to try and find another room.

Follow up question: Have you told anybody else about this experience, such as your classmates or friends?

Of course, I had to tell my parents all about it and some of my other friends too - they thought I was very lucky.


IELTS Speaking Practice: Similar Questions


IELTS Speaking Practice FAQs

Can you describe a type of weather that you really dislike?

I really hate when it's hot and humid outside. It feels like I can't breathe and my clothes stick to me. Ugh, it's the worst! Trying to do anything in that weather is a struggle. The only way to stay cool is to be in air conditioning, but that's not always possible. I just hope for a nice, cool breeze to come along and make it bearable.

Have you ever been in a very bad storm what happened?

Yes, I have been in a handful of bad storms. The most recent one was Hurricane Irma last year. It was a scary experience, but thankfully my family and I made it through okay. We lost power for a few days and had some damage to our property, but nothing too major.

Can you describe an outdoor event ruined by bad weather?

I went to an outdoor concert once that was supposed to be really fun, but it ended up being a total disaster because of the weather. It rained the whole time and everyone was soaked and cold and miserable. It was so unpleasant that I actually left early and didn't even stay for the headliner. From then on, I've always been very careful to check the forecast before attending any sort of outdoor event.

What is the worst weather you have ever experienced?

A few years back, I went through a hurricane, and let me tell you, it was both amazing and scary because of how powerful nature can be. As the warnings got more serious, we all started to buckle down, securing our homes and putting together emergency kits. When the hurricane hit, it was wild—crazy winds and pouring rain. It really showed me how vulnerable we are but also how strong we can be when we all come together to help each other out. That whole experience taught me a lot about being resilient, always being ready, and just how awe-inspiring nature is.

How to write a paragraph about a time when you experienced extreme weather

Bad weather can be hard to write about. It's tough to evoke the feeling of being cold, wet, and miserable. But here are a few tips to make your writing more effective:

  1. Start by giving a general description of the weather conditions. For example, "It was raining cats and dogs."
  2. Describe how the weather affected you physically. For example, "My clothes were drenched within minutes, and I was freezing."
  3. Explain how the weather made you feel - emotionally. For example, "I was so cold and miserable that I wanted to go home."

By describing the bad weather in detail, you can help your readers feel as though they are right there with you experiencing it all.

Example

I remember one time when I experienced extreme weather conditions. It was so hot that I thought my skin was going to melt off my bones. The sun was beating down like a million tiny lasers. And the heat was being trapped by the concrete jungle all around me. I felt like a rat in a cage.

On the plus side, it didn't take long for me to start sweating. And I mean profusely sweating; buckets of it poured off my body, drenching my clothes and making them stick to my skin like a second layer of skin. It was disgusting, but at least I wasn't cold.

Example

One night, when I was a kid, we had a terrible snowstorm, and the power went out. My parents had to light some candles and put me in bed beside them because it was so dark and cold in the house. It was a scary experience for a young kid, but I was lucky that my parents were there to take care of me.

Write a short paragraph about a bad experience you had

I was in the middle of a huge project at work, and I was feeling the pressure. I was up against a deadline, and I knew that if I didn't deliver, there would be serious consequences. I was working long hours, and I was starting to feel burnt out. One night, I was working late, and I made a mistake. I accidentally deleted an important file. I felt like everything was crashing down on me. I was devastated. I thought about quitting my job, but I knew that I couldn't give up. I had to find a way to fix the mistake and move on. It wasn't easy, but I managed to fix the mistake and finish the project. It was a close call, but I learned my lesson. I'm now more careful when I'm working under pressure, and I make sure to take breaks. I don't want to ever experience that feeling again.


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