Describe a person who is good at their job
The full IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card, a band-8 model answer you can learn from, the Part 3 questions that follow, and examiner strategy. Free, no sign-up.
Describe a person who is good at their job.
You should say:
- Who this person is
- What their job involves
- How you know them
- And explain why you think they are good at their job
You will have one minute to prepare and should then speak for one to two minutes.
Band-8 model answer
I'd like to talk about my former manager, Priya, who runs the physiotherapy clinic where I used to go for a shoulder injury a couple of years ago. She's been a physiotherapist for about fifteen years now, and her job basically involves assessing patients, designing rehabilitation plans, and helping people recover from anything from sports injuries to post-surgery stiffness. I got to know her properly during the three months I was being treated there, so I saw her in action almost twice a week. What really sets her apart is that she never treats you like just another appointment slot. Before she even touches your shoulder or knee, she asks about your daily routine, your job, even your sleeping habits, so the plan she comes up with actually fits your life rather than some generic textbook programme. She's also remarkably patient; when I got frustrated because progress felt painfully slow, she'd calmly explain exactly what was happening inside the joint and why healing takes time, which honestly kept me motivated. On top of that, she keeps upgrading her skills, attending workshops on new techniques most other clinics in town haven't even heard of. I think that combination, genuine empathy, sharp technical knowledge, and a constant willingness to learn, is exactly why her clinic is always fully booked and why patients like me still recommend her to friends years later.
Why this answer scores band 8
- ✓Wide range of tenses used naturally: present simple for facts, past continuous for the treatment period, and present perfect for ongoing habits
- ✓Idiomatic and precise phrasing such as 'sets her apart', 'in action', and 'fully booked' that sounds spontaneous rather than memorised
- ✓Clear coherence through discourse markers like 'what really sets her apart', 'on top of that', and 'I think that combination' which link ideas smoothly
Part 3 follow-up questions
After the cue card, the examiner discusses the topic in more depth. Practise these aloud too — Part 3 is where the highest bands are won or lost.
Examiner strategy for this cue card
Practise this answer out loud in a real Speaking test
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Describe a person who is good at their job — FAQ
How do you answer the 'Describe a person who is good at their job' IELTS cue card?
Spend your one minute of preparation noting a few keywords for each prompt (Who this person is; What their job involves; How you know them; And explain why you think they are good at their job), then speak for the full two minutes. Cover each point briefly but give most of your time to the final 'explain why' prompt, where the marks are. A full band-8 model answer is shown on this page.
How long should the IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?
You should talk for up to two minutes without stopping. It is better to keep going and cover the topic in depth than to finish early — the examiner will stop you when the time is up.
What Part 3 questions follow 'Describe a person who is good at their job'?
Part 3 broadens the topic into a discussion. For this cue card, expect questions such as: What qualities do you think are most important for someone to succeed in their career? Do you believe good employees are born talented or made through training and experience? How has the definition of 'a good worker' changed in your country over the past few decades?