The Last Word
Speaking skill

Difficulty

Talking about what's hard for you is one of the most common threads in IELTS Speaking, and it's easy to let it flatten into a single word. Here's how to make "difficult" actually mean something.

This is the quick-fix version — see the full guide →
Common mistake

Giving Difficulty a Degree, Not Just a Label

"Why isn't 'Yes, it's difficult' a good enough answer when I'm asked if something is hard?"

It answers the question, but it's flat - pick a degree adverb that matches how hard it really is, then say specifically what makes it hard.

Why this works
— Use a degree adverb instead of a bare adjective The degree scale runs from mild ('quite', 'fairly', 'relatively') up to strong ('extremely', 'incredibly') - putting one before 'difficult' or 'hard' shows exactly how hard it is, not just that it is.
— Say what exactly makes it hard Pin down one concrete reason - the grammar, the timing, an unfamiliar tool - instead of leaving 'difficult' unexplained. This is the same 'add a reason' habit that fixes most flat answers.
Weak
Yes, it's difficult.
Upgraded
Learning English is really difficult for me - the grammar rules still feel pretty unfamiliar, and spelling trips me up constantly.
Weak
It's hard.
Upgraded
I think learning an instrument is incredibly hard for most people - the finger positions feel completely unfamiliar when you've never played anything before.
Weak
Yes, some parts of my job are difficult.
Upgraded
The reporting side of my job is pretty difficult, if I'm honest - the software is still a bit unfamiliar even after using it for months.
Common mistake

Showing How Difficulty Changes Over Time

"How do I answer 'Is it difficult to learn a new skill?' so it doesn't just sound like a flat complaint?"

Native speakers almost always give a before-and-after when they talk about difficulty - say how hard it felt at first, then say what changed once you got used to it.

Why this works
— Open with a time phrase for the beginning Phrases like 'at first', 'when you start', or 'in the beginning' signal that what follows describes only the early, hardest stage - not the whole story.
— Use 'get used to / get the hang of / get to grips with' to show the shift These phrasal verbs mark the exact moment something goes from hard to manageable, turning a flat 'it's difficult' into a mini before-and-after story.
Weak
Learning English is difficult.
Upgraded
At first, learning English felt incredibly difficult - I couldn't follow the grammar at all. But after a while I started getting to grips with it, and now it feels a lot more manageable.
Weak
Playing the piano is hard.
Upgraded
At first, playing the piano was pretty hard for me, but after a few months I got the hang of it, and now I can play simple songs quite comfortably.
Weak
Using this app is difficult.
Upgraded
This app was really awkward to use in the beginning, but I picked it up pretty quickly, and now I barely think about it.
Common mistake

Naming the Struggle and the Outcome

"How do I answer 'Describe something you found difficult' without just saying 'it was hard' and stopping there?"

Naming it "hard" isn't enough on its own - say specifically what part was difficult, then say how you dealt with it or what you learned.

Why this works
— Point to the exact part that was hard 'It was hard' could mean anything - naming the specific obstacle (an unfamiliar tool, a tight deadline, an unfamiliar skill) gives the examiner something concrete to picture.
— End with how it turned out or what you learned A short outcome, such as 'I eventually got used to it' or 'now I'm pretty proficient at it', shows the difficulty was resolved, closing the story instead of leaving it hanging.
Weak
My job was really difficult when I started.
Upgraded
The first few months in my job were really difficult - the reporting software was completely unfamiliar to me, but I eventually got used to it, and now I'm pretty proficient with it.
Weak
That exam was very difficult.
Upgraded
The final exam for that subject was extremely difficult - there were so many unfamiliar terms I hadn't studied, but I managed to get through it, and I felt proud afterwards.
Weak
Learning to swim was hard.
Upgraded
Learning to swim properly was pretty hard for me at first - I felt really awkward in the water, but after a few lessons I picked it up, and now I'm a fairly confident swimmer.
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