IELTS cue card: describe a place you would like to visit
Answer plan for the IELTS Part 2 topic about a place you would like to visit, using future and conditional forms to describe where it is, what you would do and why it appeals.
Speech10 cardsAbout 2 min to speakIntermediateAnyone
IELTS cue card: describe a person you admire
An answer plan for the IELTS Speaking Part 2 task about a person you admire, with prompts for who they are, what they did, and why they matter to you, plus follow-up practice.
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The cards
- 1
The task
Describe a person you admire.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know them
- what they have done
- and explain why you admire them.
Original practice topic, written in the Part 2 style. One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
- 2
One-minute plan
Jot four key words, one per bullet:
- Who: [name / relationship]
- Know: [where you met / how long]
- Did: [one clear achievement or habit]
- Why: [the quality you want for yourself]
Pick a real person you can picture. Detail is easier to invent around a face you know.
- 3
Opening (15 seconds)
"I'd like to talk about [name], who is my [aunt / former teacher / neighbour / coach]. [He / She] is someone I've looked up to for about [number] years."
Go straight in. No need to repeat the whole question.
- 4
Who they are
- Age range, job or role: "[She's in her fifties and runs a small bakery.]"
- One physical or personality detail: "[always laughing, very calm under pressure]"
- Where they live or work now
Useful phrase: "What stands out about [her] is..."
- 5
How you know them
"I first met [him] when [I was eleven and joined the football club he coached]."
"These days we [meet up every few months / message each other / see each other at family events]."
Use past simple for the first meeting and present simple for now. Examiners notice clear tense control.
- 6
What they have done
Tell one short story with a beginning, middle and end:
- The situation: "[When the factory closed, she lost her job.]"
- The action: "[Instead of giving up, she trained as a nurse at forty-five.]"
- The result: "[Now she works in the children's ward.]"
Present perfect works well here: "[She has helped hundreds of families.]"
- 7
Why you admire them
- Name the quality: [determination / kindness / honesty / patience]
- Link it to you: "It made me realise that [it's never too late to change direction]."
- Show impact: "Whenever I [feel like quitting], I think about [her]."
Phrases: "I really respect the way...", "What I find inspiring is..."
- 8
Close (10 seconds)
"So, that's why [name] is someone I genuinely admire. I hope I can be [as brave / as generous] as [her] one day."
If the examiner has not stopped you, add one more detail rather than ending early.
- 9
Useful language
- look up to someone
- a role model
- set a good example
- down-to-earth, open-minded, hard-working
- overcome difficulties
- have a big influence on
Use two or three naturally. Do not force them all in.
- 10
Part 3 practice questions
- What qualities make someone a good role model?
- Do young people today admire different people than their grandparents did?
- Should famous people be responsible for setting an example?
- Is it better to admire people you know or people in the public eye?
Answer with a view, a reason and an example.
How to use this template
Use this set to rehearse one of the most common types of IELTS Speaking Part 2 topic: describing a person. In Part 2 you get a task card, one minute to prepare notes, and then one to two minutes to speak without interruption. These cards follow the four prompts in order, so you always know what comes next and never run out of things to say. The first two cards are the task and a quick planning grid; the middle cards give model sentences to adapt; the last two cards hold useful vocabulary and Part 3 discussion questions that the examiner might ask afterwards. This is an original practice topic written in the exam style, not a real past paper question.
Tips
- Time yourself. Aim for about 30 seconds per bullet so you reach close to two minutes without rushing the final reason.
- During the minute of preparation write only key words, not sentences. You will speak more naturally from short notes.
- Choose someone you actually know. A neighbour or relative gives you real details, which sound more fluent than a celebrity biography.
- Mix tenses deliberately: past simple for the story, present perfect for achievements, present simple for what they are like now.
- If you make a small mistake, correct it quickly and keep going. Fluency matters more than one perfect sentence.
- Record yourself on your phone and listen for long pauses or repeated words such as 'very' and 'good'.
Make it fit
- The same plan works for related topics: a family member you are proud of, a teacher who influenced you, or a friend who helped you.
- For a famous person, replace 'how you know them' with 'how you first heard about them' and keep the story card.
- If you are aiming for a higher band, add one idiom and one complex sentence to the 'why' card, such as a conditional: 'If I hadn't met her, I might never have...'.
- Print the Part 3 card on its own and practise answering with a partner who asks follow-up questions.
Updated October 28, 2026