Describe a person you only met once and want to know more about.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who is it?
When did you meet?
Why do you want to know more about him/her?

55 unique answers with expert feedback

What specific qualities do you admire in Narendra Modi?

I admire his leadership qualities, especially his ability to connect with people and his vision for India's development. His focus on education and women's empowerment resonates with me, as these are crucial for a nation's progress.

How do you think his policies have impacted the youth in India?

His policies have significantly impacted the youth by promoting entrepreneurship and skill development. Initiatives like 'Startup India' and 'Skill India' have encouraged young people to pursue their dreams and contribute to the economy.

If you could ask him one question, what would it be?

I would ask him about his vision for India's future in terms of sustainable development. I believe understanding his perspective on balancing economic growth with environmental concerns is vital for the country's progress.

Band 7

00:00

I once met a Deputy Collector of Sikkim. When I was travelling from Sikkim back to my home for vacation, he was actually a person from Tamil Nadu, where I belong. We both speak the same language, but Sikkim is in the north-eastern part of India, where they speak a very different language. He was a very inspiring person. He had no idea about the local language in that place where he was working. Even after that, he tended to contribute a lot of things to his work. As a government employee, he has faced a lot of struggles and he explained a few of them as an example during our journey. I really wanted to follow him up and wanted to know more about the work style. It was also very sad to know that a government official who plays a very major role in the society had to stay far away from his family and had to tackle a different problem.

Follow up questions

What inspired you about the Deputy Collector's work?

His dedication to his work despite the language barrier and personal struggles was truly inspiring. It showed me that passion and commitment can help overcome challenges, and I admire how he contributed positively to the community.

How do you think language affects government work?

Language plays a crucial role in communication and understanding local issues. It can create barriers, but it can also encourage officials to learn and adapt, fostering better relationships with the community they serve.

What challenges do you think government officials face in remote areas?

Government officials in remote areas often face isolation, cultural differences, and limited resources. They must adapt to local customs and languages while addressing the needs of the community, which can be quite challenging.

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Band 7

00:00

In Jan 2025, my company interested me and my colleague to go on a business trip on behalf of the company and to represent our services. When I went there and met the founder of the company that we were looking to consult, I met with Mr. Abhishek Agarwal, who is the founder of Subash Taharis. He is an exceptional man and the two days that we and my colleague got to spend in their facilities and learn from them were truly unmatched. We understood how he runs his business and what are the factors that he incorporates in converting his business into a successful one. If I had the chance to meet him again, I would want to understand how his journey was because he is a self-entrepreneur who started from nothing and he has built himself an empire. I would also like to understand how he invests in businesses, what factors does he evaluate while considering an investment and how does he understand which business or service has a USP that it offers to the public. Through the next conversation that I could possibly have, I would also like to understand how does he face his challenges and solves them in day-to-day life with his company and how he overcomes them and helps the company grow. His company has seen immense growth in the last 20 years from being 1 crore revenue yearly to 4,000 crores revenue and this journey has been truly life-changing and for me to experience such journey in first-hand has created an impact in my brain that I cannot forget. So if I had the opportunity to meet with him again, I would like to understand his journey, his way of investment and his ideology of work.

Follow up questions

What qualities do you admire in Mr. Abhishek Agarwal?

I admire his entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and ability to innovate. His journey from nothing to building a successful empire showcases his determination and strategic thinking, which are qualities I aspire to emulate in my own career.

How do you think his experiences could help you in your career?

Learning from his experiences could provide valuable insights into effective business strategies, investment decisions, and overcoming challenges. His success story could inspire me to take calculated risks and develop a strong work ethic.

What specific questions would you ask him if you met again?

I would ask him about the key challenges he faced while growing his business, his approach to risk management, and how he identifies unique selling propositions in potential investments. These insights could greatly enhance my understanding of entrepreneurship.

Practice other cue cards

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Describe a person who you are happy to know.

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Band 7

00:00

One person I met once and would like to know more about is the marine robotics engineer Dr. Schmidt. I met him at a technological conference while I was traveling to US. He had a great knowledge about autonomous underwater vehicles. We had a brief discussion during the networking sessions and we came across certain aspects of science which correlated with my technological aspects. I would really love to know more about marine robotics as his field dealt with dangerous scenarios. I would love to know more about his journey because the way he came from humble beginnings to becoming the greatest scientist. Having a Nobel Prize is not a small thing. His passion for innovation and problem solving really inspired me. Learning from his experience could give me valuable guidance as I pursue a career in robotics.

Follow up questions

What specific aspects of marine robotics interest you the most?

I am particularly fascinated by the development of autonomous underwater vehicles and their applications in deep-sea exploration. The technology behind these vehicles, including sensors and AI algorithms, intrigues me, as they can operate in environments that are dangerous for humans.

How do you think Dr. Schmidt's journey can inspire others?

Dr. Schmidt's journey from humble beginnings to a Nobel Prize-winning scientist shows that determination and passion can lead to great achievements. His story can motivate others to pursue their dreams, regardless of their starting point, and to innovate in their fields.

What challenges do you think marine robotics engineers face?

Marine robotics engineers face numerous challenges, such as designing vehicles that can withstand extreme underwater conditions, ensuring reliable communication in deep-sea environments, and developing efficient energy sources for long missions. These challenges require innovative solutions and continuous research.

Band 7

00:00

I met a person when I was traveling to Karnataka. She's a very famous personality. Definitely most of the people in India know her. She's our finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. I just got a chance to meet her once but I would like to meet her again. She's a very vibrant personality. The way she handles and communicates with each and every person is really inspiring for me. She handles different situations and the way she communicates in assembly is really influential way to capture that attention of each and everybody person. I would like to know more about her schedules and the way she manages her day-to-day routine. The reason I would like to know more about her is the way she has grown from an unknown person to public figure by his all hard work and dedication she has given to her career. She's not only dedicated

Follow up questions

What qualities do you admire most in Nirmala Sitharaman?

I admire her dedication, resilience, and ability to communicate effectively. Her journey from being relatively unknown to a prominent public figure is truly inspiring. I also appreciate her commitment to her work and how she manages to connect with people from different backgrounds.

How do you think meeting her again would impact you?

Meeting her again would provide me with insights into her experiences and strategies for success. It would be a great opportunity to learn from her directly, and I believe it could motivate me to pursue my own goals with more determination and focus.

What do you think is the most challenging aspect of her job?

I think one of the most challenging aspects of her job is balancing the demands of public service with personal life. Managing crises, making tough decisions, and maintaining public trust while being under constant scrutiny must be incredibly challenging.

Show all 55 answers

Cue 1:Who is it?

Begin by introducing the person briefly, mentioning their name and a key characteristic.
Share the context in which you met them, such as the event or situation.

Example

I want to talk about a woman named Priya, whom I met at a friend's wedding. She was a distant relative of the bride and had a vibrant personality that immediately caught my attention.

Cue 2:When did you meet?

Specify the date or occasion of the meeting to provide a clear timeline.
Describe the atmosphere of the event and your initial impressions of the person.

Example

I met Priya last December during my friend’s wedding reception. The atmosphere was lively, with music playing and people dancing, which made it easy to strike up a conversation with her.

Cue 3:Why do you want to know more about him/her?

Explain what intrigued you about the person and why you feel a desire to learn more.
Mention any specific qualities or stories they shared that left an impression on you.

Example

I want to know more about Priya because she shared fascinating stories about her travels abroad. Her adventurous spirit and the way she described different cultures really inspired me, and I’d love to hear more about her experiences.

Conclusion

Summarize your feelings about the person and your desire to connect with them.
Mention how you plan to find out more about them, if possible.

Example

In conclusion, meeting Priya was a delightful experience, and I hope to connect with her again. I plan to ask my friend for her contact details so I can reach out and perhaps meet her for coffee to learn more about her adventures.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Lack of Detail in Description

Providing vague or minimal information about the person can make your answer uninteresting. It's important to engage the listener with specific details.

Tip

Include descriptive adjectives and anecdotes that highlight the person's characteristics and your impressions during the meeting.

2: Ignoring the Cues

Failing to address the specific cues can lead to an incomplete answer. This may result in a lower score for coherence and relevance.

Tip

Structure your response by clearly answering each cue: who the person is, when you met them, and why you want to know more.

Overly General Statements

Using general statements without personal connection can make your response feel impersonal. This can hinder your ability to connect with the examiner.

Tip

Share personal feelings or thoughts about the encounter to create a more engaging and relatable narrative.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.