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IELTSTM CUE CARD

Describe a Famous Person That You Are Interested In: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Updated on Nov 12, 2024, 11:11

Overview

Describe a famous person that you are interested in’ is a popular IELTS cue card topic. The total duration of the Individual Long turn task is 3-4 mins. Followed by part 2, in two-way discussion round the examiner will ask you questions related to the topic given to you in cue-card section.

 

Cue Card/Topic: Describe a famous person that you are interested in

You should say

  • Who this person is?
  • How do you know about the person?
  • What sort of life did they have before they became famous?
  • How did this person become famous, and explain why you like this person?
Sample Answer 1 on SUNIL CHHETRI (Football Player)

Introduction

 

  • There are several famous people, and I have a huge interest in Sunil Chhetri. Today, I would like to discuss a celebrity who has inspired the young generation to pursue their aspirations. 
  • Sunil Chhetri is the most dominant football player in the Indian football team. 

 

Describe the person you are interested in
 

  • I learned about him by watching videos from his matches. According to an interview, before he became famous, he saw his twin sisters playing football. Since childhood, he participated in a lot of football competitions.
     

Mention the reasons why you are interested in
 

  • He played in the Indian Super League club Bengaluru and the Indian national team as a striker. Chhetri is a player who scored the most international goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Chhetri is the only Indian to make it to the world's top 10 goalscorers in football.

 

  • I admire Sunil Chetri because of his link-up play, goal-scoring abilities, and leadership. And these words suit him the best since his journey for Indian football has been nothing less than extraordinary.
     

Conclusion

  • Observing his success and his life story motivates me to turn my weaknesses into strengths. If I had the chance to meet him, I would talk about how he stays humble and his strategy for dealing with failures and accepting victory.
Tip: You should avoid making general statements in the answer. You should give specific details and examples to support your answer.
Sample Answer 2 on GAURAV TANEJA (The Flying Beast)

Introduction
 

  • Everyone idolises their role models and is inspired to be like them. Celebrities also encourage everyone else to work hard and show their worth to the world. There are many people I like and would like to meet. Gaurav Taneja, popularly known as the flying beast, is one of them.
     
  • There are a lot of people who are not involved in one career but are also involved in other businesses. One of them is Gaurav Taneja, who was initially a pilot and a YouTuber but is a full-time content creator today. 
     

Describe the person you are interested in
 

  • Before gaining recognition, Gaurav Taneja was an ordinary middle-class person from Kanpur. Gaurav Taneja's journey to fame began when he decided to share his interest and enthusiasm for fitness through vlogging and YouTube production. 
     
  • His YouTube channel has become immensely popular, with millions of subscribers and followers. Gaurav Taneja's dedication to his fitness and YouTube career is truly inspiring. He never gave up on his dreams despite facing many challenges and obstacles. 
     

Mention the reasons why you are interested in
 

  • I truly admire him because of his bravery, outspoken nature, yet humble personality. He provides engaging health and fitness advice and produces heart-touching family videos.
     
  • I am drawn towards his personality because of how he carries himself and his ability to connect with his audience on a personal level through his content. 
     

Conclusion
 

  • To summarise, I admire Gaurav Taneja because of his journey from a middle-class family to a famous YouTuber and content creator. He personalises his content based on his audience.
Sample Answer 3 on ELON MUSK (Businessman and Investor)

Introduction
 

  • The person I find fascinating is Elon Musk, a visionary entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
  • I got to know about him through news articles and social media, and I was immediately captivated by his innovative approach to technology and space exploration.
     

Describe the person you are interested in
 

  • Elon Musk possesses a unique combination of qualities that sets him apart. His relentless determination and risk-taking attitude are evident in his ventures like Tesla's electric cars and SpaceX's ambitious missions.
  • Musk demonstrated exceptional intelligence and a knack for entrepreneurship even before fame, co-founding Zip2 and PayPal.
     

Mention the reasons why you are interested in
 

  • Elon Musk became famous for revolutionising the automotive industry with electric cars, challenging traditional space exploration with reusable rockets, and advocating for renewable energy. 
  • I admire his audacity to tackle complex global issues. Musk's commitment to a sustainable future and his ability to turn ambitious ideas into reality are truly inspiring.
     

Conclusion
 

  • In summary, Elon Musk's journey from a young entrepreneur to a globally recognised figure showcases his extraordinary qualities. 
  • His impact on technology and space exploration aligns with my interest in innovative solutions to global challenges. Musk's ability to turn visionary ideas into practical achievements is truly admirable.

A good answer for the IELTS cue card section should include a strong introduction, some context to the topic, reasons to support your answer, and how you relate to the topic.
 

The examiner will assess your answer based on your ability to communicate in English. 

 

We have broken down the answer for the topic, ‘Describe a Famous Person That You Are Interested In,’ into 4 parts.

 

Introduction:

 

  • Name the person.
  • Describe how you got to know about the person.
  • Set the context by describing the person and your thoughts on the person.

 

Describe the person you are interested in:

 

  • Explain the qualities of the person.
  • Support your claim with relevant views. For example, talk about What were qualities they had before getting famous.
     

Mention the reasons why you are interested in the person:

 

  • Describe how he become famous.
  • Explain why you like the person.

 

Conclusion:

 

  • Summarise your context.
  • End your speech on a positive note. 

Follow-up Questions

Part 3 of the IELTS speaking section is the two-way discussion round. The examiner will ask you related questions to the topic given to you in individual long-turn tasks. 

In this section, you will discuss the topic in general, showcasing to the examiner that you can justify your opinions and your ability to discuss the topic in depth. The discussion round's duration, part 3, will be 4-5 mins. 

Q1. Which kind of people are famous in your country?

Answer 1: In my country, people from various industries, such as film, business, sports, and politics, are famous. They have made their identity worthy and are living icons of the country.
 

Answer 2: People like Akshay Kumar in Bollywood, Mukesh Ambani as an entrepreneur, Virat Kohli in cricket, and Narendra Modi as a prime minister are famous people in the country.

Q2. How do people easily get famous nowadays?

Answer 1: The key to getting famous nowadays is thinking and doing something unique. Many people get famous through social media by creating quirky content like relatable reels and entertaining content like music videos.
 

Answer 2: One of the ways that people are easily famous is through controversies. Being involved in an incident or drama can lead to controversies. This can either be positive or negative.

Q3. What is the difference between the people who were famous earlier and those who are famous now?

Answer 1: In the past, famous people became known through TV and newspapers. Now, with the internet, anyone can get famous using social media. Fame today is more diverse, and you don't need traditional talents – just something interesting to share online.
 

Answer 2: Earlier fame was limited to the industries like politics, entertainment, sports and business. But now, anybody can get fame with the combination of the presence of social media and individual talent.
 

Q4. What are the qualities that famous people have in common?

Answer 1: Some qualities that famous people have in common are a high level of skill and talent, a high level of work ethic, and the ability to communicate effectively through speeches, interviews, or social media.

 

Answer 2: Famous people often share qualities such as passion, determination, creativity, effective communication skills, adaptability, and a strong work principles. These attributes contribute to their achievements and ability to influence and inspire others.
 

FAQs

Q. What is the difference between IELTS speaking parts 2 and 3?

Ans. The IELTS speaking parts 2 and 3 are distinctly different. IELTS part 2 is also known as the Cue card section, and part 3 is the discussion round. In part 2, a topic is given by the examiner, and you are given 1 minute to prepare the answer. After the time is completed, you are asked to speak about the topic for a duration of 3-4 minutes. In part 3, the examiner asks questions related to the topic given to you in part 2.

Q. What if I fail my IELTS speaking test?

Ans. The IELTS speaking test can be retaken if you have failed by taking One skill retake in India. You will need to repay the fees and then sit for the exam. Most university’s minimum band score requirement is 5.5, therefore scoring below 5 can be considered as fail by various universities. So, before you blindly plan to retake the exam multiple times until you don’t reach the score, you need to analyse your mistake and understand what went wrong in the exam.

Q. What vital language elements should I remember while attempting the cue card section?

Ans. The vital language elements you should remember while attempting the cue card section are:

  1. Punctuation
  2. Fluency
  3. Language
  4. Pronunciation.
Q. Is there any dress code for speaking in IELTS?

Ans. There is no specific dress code for the speaking test in IELTS. As such, you can wear comfortable and casual clothes to the test. There is no need to wear a suit or tie. However, it is important to dress appropriately and ensure you are well-groomed for the test.

Q. Can I use informal language during my cue card task?

Ans. While there are no strict rules against using informal language or slang during the cue card task, sticking to a more formal language and tone is advisable. This is because the IELTS is designed to evaluate your proficiency in using English in formal and academic contexts. You should maintain a balance between formality and clarity while you’re speaking. Therefore, excessive use of casual language may not be suitable for the test.

Q. What are some of the common cue card topics?

Ans. Some of the common cue card topics are:
 

  1. Describe a Famous Person that you are interested in: IELTS Cue Card
  2. Describe an activity that you do after school/work IELTS Cue Card
  3. Describe a person who impressed you in primary school IELTS Cue Card
  4. Describe an invention that changed people's life IELTS Cue Card
  5. Describe a person who you believe dresses well IELTS Cue Card


 

Q. How can I get 8.5 in IELTS speaking?

Ans. You can get an 8.5 band score in IELTS speaking with the following tips:

  1. Build up your accent. 
  2. Maintain eye contact while answering the questions.
  3. Practice previous topics that are likely to come in the IELTS exam.
  4. Practice speaking by talking to the mirror; it will build confidence.
Q. Does IELTS Cue Card repeat?

Ans. The IELTS cue cards are updated every 4 months in April, September, and December. 50% of the topics are changed; thus, the topics might be repeated. You should keep practising the previous topics given in IELTS speaking to understand the pattern of the question and strategies for answering the question.

Q. Are speaking tests for Academic and General the same?

Ans. Both academic and general are the same for speaking tests. In both academic and general, there are three parts: the introduction round, the Individual long turn round and the two-way discussion round. While both formats are similar, the topics may vary based on the specific focus of Academic and General training. However, reading and writing are different for the academic and general tests.

Q. What is the duration of Part 2 speaking IELTS?

Ans. The total duration of Part 2 IELTS speaking is 3-4 mins. The breakdown of the total duration is as follows:

  1. Preparation time: 1 min
  2. Speaking time: 3-4 mins.
Q. Can I exceed the time limit during the speaking test?

Ans. No, you can’t exceed the time limit during the speaking test. It is crucial to remember that the speaking test has a strict time limit, and if your answer exceeds the time limit, the examiner may interrupt you and move on to the next question. However, this is a normal exam, and your scores won't be affected.

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