Speaking Part 2 · ExperiencesIn the May–Aug 2026 forecast
Describe Your First Day at School or Work
In short
“Describe Your First Day at School or Work” is a common IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card. You get 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1–2 minutes, covering all four points below. This page gives you a Band 9 model answer, an idea map so you can make it your own, the Part 3 follow-up questions with answers, and the vocabulary examiners reward.
The task card
Describe Your First Day at School or Work. You should say:
- •When and where it was
- •How you felt before it
- •What happened on the day
- •And explain why you remember it well
Band 9 model answer
Okay, so the first day I'd like to talk about is my first day at work — I'd just been hired as a junior copywriter at a small marketing agency, and it must be about three years ago now. I remember it really vividly, partly because I'd been so nervous the night before that I'd barely slept, and partly because the day turned out completely differently from what I'd imagined it would be.
To set the scene, I'd spent the whole previous week picturing this intimidating, ultra-professional office where everyone would be far cleverer than me. So I turned up a good half-hour early, wearing a shirt that was frankly way too formal, clutching a brand-new notebook like it was some kind of shield. The reality was that the office was this cosy, slightly chaotic space with plants everywhere and someone's dog wandering between the desks, and my manager greeted me in jeans and a hoodie. I felt hopelessly overdressed, to be honest, but that little mismatch actually broke the ice straight away and we both had a laugh about it.
The morning itself was a complete whirlwind. I was shown to my desk, handed a laptop that took absolutely ages to set up, and introduced to about fifteen people whose names I forgot within seconds. My first proper task was surprisingly small — they just asked me to proofread a client's email newsletter — but I obsessed over every single comma because I was so desperate to make a good impression. By mid-morning my head was absolutely spinning with new information — passwords, procedures, who did what — and I was quietly convinced I'd never get to grips with how the place actually ran.
But the real reason that day has stayed with me isn't the work itself; it's one particular moment over lunch. A senior writer, who I'd assumed would be far too important to bother with me, invited me out for a sandwich and spent a whole hour just chatting and reassuring me that everyone had felt completely lost on their first day. That one small act of kindness genuinely changed how I saw the whole place. It taught me that a workplace is really about the people rather than the job title, and honestly, I think it's the reason I ended up staying there for three very happy years. Looking back now, that lunch is the exact moment I started to relax and feel like I might actually belong.
So yeah, whenever I'm asked about a memorable first day, that's the one that immediately springs to mind — nerve-racking and awkward at the start, but genuinely warm by the end, and a really valuable lesson in not judging a situation before you've actually lived through it.
Make it your own: three angles
First day at a new job
Rich for emotions and workplace vocabulary, and easy to build towards a clear lesson learned.
First day at a new school
Great for childhood memories and past tenses, and instantly relatable to any examiner.
First day at university
Lets you talk about newfound independence and the mix of excitement and fear that comes with it.
What the examiner is listening for
Anchor your talk in one specific first day and narrate it in sequence — before, during, after — so the examiner hears clear past-tense storytelling. Spend most of your time on the final bullet, using evaluative language to explain why it stuck with you, and weave in feelings ('nerve-racking', 'out of place') rather than just listing events.
Part 1 warm-up questions
- Do you remember your first day at primary school?
- How do you usually feel when you start something new?
- Do you prefer familiar routines or new experiences?
- What advice would you give someone starting a new job?
Part 3 follow-up questions & answers
Why do many people feel nervous when they start something new, like a job or a course?
I think it mainly comes down to a fear of the unknown — you don't know the people, the expectations, or whether you'll fit in, and that uncertainty naturally makes people anxious. There's also a lot of pressure to prove yourself quickly. On my own first day I was terrified of looking incompetent, even though realistically nobody expected me to know everything yet.
How can schools help children feel more comfortable on their first day?
The most effective thing is probably a proper induction — things like buddy systems, where an older child shows a newcomer around, can make a huge difference. Teachers being warm and a bit playful rather than strict on day one also helps enormously. When children feel they've got at least one friendly face to turn to, that initial fear tends to melt away pretty fast.
Do you think first impressions are important?
Absolutely, though perhaps more than they should be. People form judgements within seconds, and those first impressions can be surprisingly hard to shift afterwards. That said, I do think they can be misleading — the colleague I found intimidating on day one turned out to be the kindest person in the office, so I've learned to hold my initial judgements a bit more loosely.
What can companies do to make new employees feel welcome?
Small, human gestures tend to matter far more than formal policies. Having someone take you to lunch, setting up your desk before you arrive, or just checking in at the end of the day signals that you're genuinely valued. In my experience, a structured first week where you're not just thrown in at the deep end makes people far more loyal in the long run.
Is it better to give new employees lots of guidance or to let them work things out for themselves?
I'd say it depends on the person, but a balance usually works best. Too much hand-holding can be stifling and stop people developing confidence, whereas no support at all just leaves them overwhelmed. Ideally you'd give clear guidance at the start and then gradually step back as they begin to find their feet.
Do you think people remember their first days for a long time?
Yes, I think first days are unusually memorable precisely because the emotions are so heightened. When you're nervous and everything is unfamiliar, your brain seems to record the details far more vividly. I can barely remember my second or third day at that job, but the first one is still crystal clear years later.
How have workplaces changed in the way they welcome new staff compared to the past?
They've become much more thoughtful about it, I'd say. In the past you were often just handed a manual and left to sink or swim, whereas now there's a real emphasis on onboarding, mentoring and company culture. A lot of that is because employers have realised that people who feel welcomed early are far less likely to leave.
Useful vocabulary
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to break the ice | to ease the tension in a new or awkward social situation |
| nerve-racking | causing a lot of anxiety or stress |
| to make a good impression | to cause people to see you in a positive way |
| to find your feet | to become comfortable and confident in a new situation |
| a whirlwind | a very fast, busy and chaotic series of events |
| to hit it off | to like someone and get along with them straight away |
| overdressed | wearing clothes that are too formal for the occasion |
| to feel out of place | to feel that you don't belong somewhere |
| to be thrown in at the deep end | to be given a difficult task with little or no preparation |
| to settle in | to gradually grow comfortable in a new place or role |
More cue cards
Describe a Time You Were Late
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