Of course! Describing a person is a very common topic in IELTS Speaking Part 2. The key to a high score is not just describing their appearance, but also telling a short, interesting story that reveals their personality and your relationship with them.

Here’s a complete guide to help you ace this topic, including a structure, sample answers, and vocabulary.

Part 2: The Cue Card

You will have 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1-2 minutes on the following topic:

Describe a person you admire.

You should say:

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• Who this person is
• What kind of person they are
• What they have done to achieve your admiration
• And explain why you admire this person.

(Note: The cue card might ask you to describe "a friend," "a family member," or "a famous person." The structure remains very similar.)

Step 1: The 1-Minute Preparation (Your Notes)

Don't try to write a full script. Use keywords and short phrases to organize your thoughts. This is much more natural.

Example for "Describe a person you admire."

• Who: My grandfather. (or, a friend named Alex, a teacher named Ms. Wang)
• What kind of person:
  • Keywords: Kind, patient, wise, resilient, optimistic, hard-working.
  • Story idea: His attitude after retiring. He didn't stop. He started a new hobby.
• What he did to achieve my admiration:
  • Keywords: Retired, started a small garden, failed at first, learned online, patient, now successful.
  • Details: Started with seeds, failed many times, didn't give up, researched, asked for advice.
• Why I admire him:
  • Keywords: Life lesson, passion, never too old to learn, positive attitude, inspires me.
  • Connection: Teaches me that age is just a number, passion is key.

Step 2: Structuring Your Answer

A good answer has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

1. Introduction (Who & Brief Overview): Start by clearly stating who the person is and give a brief, positive summary of them.
2. Body Paragraph 1 (What they are like & A story): Describe their personality. Crucially, back up your description with a specific story or example. This is where you show, not just tell.
3. Body Paragraph 2 (Their achievement & Impact): Explain what they did that you admire. Connect this action to their personality. Explain how this action has had an impact on you or others.
4. Conclusion (Why you admire them): Summarize your feelings and explain the deeper reason for your admiration. This is your "elevator pitch" for why this person is great.

Sample Answer 1: Admiring a Grandfather

(Cue Card: Describe a person you admire.)

"I'd like to talk about my grandfather, who I've always looked up to. He's in his late seventies now, but he's one of the most vibrant and inspiring people I know.

In terms of his personality, he's incredibly resilient and optimistic. He has this calm, steady way of looking at life's challenges that I find truly admirable. A perfect example of this was when he retired. Instead of slowing down, he decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of starting his own vegetable garden. At first, it was a complete disaster! He planted all sorts of seeds, but most of them just didn't sprout. He faced pests, bad weather, and countless failures. But he never once got discouraged. Instead, he spent hours watching online tutorials, reading books, and even got advice from a neighbour who's a professional gardener. His patience was just incredible.

What he achieved through this process was remarkable. After about a year of trial and error, his small patch of land was transformed into a thriving, beautiful garden. He grows tomatoes, chillies, and all kinds of herbs, and he even gives the surplus away to our neighbours. It’s become a real community hub.

The main reason I admire him so much is the life lesson he taught me without even saying a word. He showed me that it's never too late to learn something new or pursue a passion. His story is a powerful reminder that success isn't about avoiding failure, but about having the courage to try again after you fail. He inspires me to be more patient and to approach my own goals with a positive, persistent attitude. For that, I will always be grateful to him."

Sample Answer 2: Admiring a Friend

(Cue Card: Describe a friend who you think is a good leader.)

"I'd like to describe my close friend, Alex, who I believe is a natural-born leader. We've been in the same university study group for two years, and his ability to guide and motivate us is truly exceptional.

Alex is the kind of person who is both decisive and incredibly empathetic. He has a clear vision, but he never forces his opinions on others. A great example of his leadership skills was during our final year project last semester. Our group was completely disorganised and arguing about which direction to take. We were all stressed and on the verge of giving up. Alex didn't just take charge; he facilitated a discussion. He listened to everyone's ideas, found the common ground, and then proposed a clear plan with assigned roles for each person. He made sure everyone felt heard and valued, which completely changed the group's dynamic.

What he achieved was that he turned a chaotic group into a highly efficient and successful team. Under his guidance, we not only completed the project on time but also received one of the highest marks in the class. He created an environment where everyone felt comfortable contributing their best work.

I admire him because he redefined what leadership means to me. He proved that a great leader isn't just the loudest or most dominant person in the room. A true leader is someone who can empower others, build consensus, and bring out the best in people around them. He's selfless and always puts the team's success before his own. I've learned so much from him about communication and responsibility, and I hope I can be half the leader he is one day."

Essential Vocabulary & Phrases

To get a higher band score (7+), you need to use less common vocabulary and more complex sentence structures.

Personality Traits (Instead of just "kind" or "nice")

• Positive:
  • Resilient / tenacious: able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
  • Empathetic / compassionate: able to understand and share the feelings of another.
  • Wise / sagacious: having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
  • Charismatic: able to inspire and influence people.
  • Meticulous: showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
  • Altruistic: showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others.
• Negative (if needed for contrast):
  • Short-tempered: gets angry quickly.
  • Pessimistic: expecting the worst.
  • Aloof: not friendly or enthusiastic; distant and cool.

Action Verbs

• To look up to: to admire and respect someone.
• To inspire: to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
• To motivate: to provide with a reason for doing something.
• To persevere: to continue doing something despite difficulty.
• To exemplify: to be a typical example of something.
• To facilitate: to make an action or process easy.

Useful Idioms & Phrases

• A pillar of strength: someone you can rely on for support in difficult times.
• The salt of the earth: a very good and honest person.
• To go the extra mile: to make a special effort to do something.
• A jack of all trades: someone who has many skills.
• Larger than life: someone who seems exciting and impressive.
• He/She has a heart of gold: they are a very kind and generous person.

Key Tips for Success

1. Tell a Mini-Story: The best answers are not just lists of adjectives. They have a narrative. "He is kind... for example, once he helped me..."
2. Show, Don't Tell: Instead of saying "He is patient," describe a situation where his patience was clear. "He spent hours explaining the same concept to me without ever getting annoyed."
3. Connect to Yourself: Always explain the "why." How has this person influenced you? This shows reflection and depth.
4. Be Natural: Use linking words naturally (e.g., however, furthermore, as a result, for instance). Don't force them.
5. Practice: Time yourself. You need to be able to speak for 1.5-2 minutes without long pauses. Record yourself to check your fluency and pronunciation.

Good luck with your IELTS preparation!