IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a person you really enjoy studying/working with: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 274 words
  • A person
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a person you really enjoy studying/working with

You should say:

  • →Who this person is
  • →When you often study/work together
  • →What you study/Work together
  • →And explain why you enjoy Studying/working with him/her

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

A person

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Identify a specific person to make your narrative feel authentic and grounded.

  2. 2

    Use the bullet points to create a linear timeline for your story.

  3. 3

    Focus on one or two specific character traits to explain why you enjoy the collaboration.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8274 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I’d like to talk about my colleague, Sarah, who is a senior graphic designer at the marketing agency where I work. We have been working together for about two years now, and we are usually paired up whenever a high-stakes rebranding project lands on our desks. Our collaboration typically kicks off at the start of the working week during our morning brainstorms, where we often retreat to a quiet corner of the office to map out our creative strategy over far too many cups of black coffee. We primarily work on visual identity projects, which involve creating logos, colour palettes, and typography for various corporate clients. It’s a demanding process that requires constant back-and-forth communication, as we have to align our creative visions before presenting them to the directors. I honestly enjoy working with her because she possesses an incredibly infectious energy and a level of professional rigour that I find quite inspiring. While some people can be quite territorial about their creative ideas, Sarah is the complete opposite; she is remarkably open to critique and always encourages me to challenge her suggestions. Her approach is never about ego, but rather about refining the work until it is polished and impactful. She has this knack for breaking down complex design problems into manageable steps, which keeps our stress levels low even during the most frantic deadlines. Beyond that, she’s just great company, and our shared sense of humour helps us navigate the inevitable pressures of the industry. Working with her feels less like a chore and more like a genuine partnership where we both end up producing better work than we ever could alone.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • high-stakes

    involving serious risks if things go wrong

  • rebranding

    changing the image or design of a company

  • infectious

    easily spread to others in a positive way

  • professional rigour

    the quality of being extremely thorough and accurate

  • territorial

    possessive or defensive about one's own space

  • knack

    a natural skill or talent for something

  • frantic

    conducted in a hurried and chaotic way

  • polished

    refined, elegant, and of a very high quality

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1Should children be encouraged to learn from their peers?
  2. 2What difficulties or problems would introverted people face in work or study?
  3. 3What makes a good employee?
  4. 4How can a person be a good co-worker?
  5. 5How can people improve their collaboration skills?
  6. 6Do you think it is more important for an employee to keep good relationships with colleagues than just focus on the work?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a person you really enjoy studying/working with"?+

Identify a specific person to make your narrative feel authentic and grounded.

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: a person

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