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Describe a popular/well known person in your country: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • Who is this person?
  • What has this person done?
  • Why is this person well-known?
  • Explain why you admire this person.
Show all 104 answers

Cue 1:Who is this person?

  • Introduce the person by name and their profession or role in society.
  • Provide a brief background about their origins or early life.

Example

The person I want to talk about is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was a renowned scientist and the 11th President of India. He was born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and came from a humble background, which makes his achievements even more inspiring.


Cue 2:What has this person done?

  • Highlight key achievements or contributions of the person.
  • Mention any significant projects or initiatives they were involved in.

Example

Dr. Kalam played a pivotal role in India's space and missile programs, particularly in the development of the Agni and Prithvi missiles. He also contributed to the Indian satellite launch vehicle program, which helped India become a significant player in space technology.


Cue 3:Why is this person well-known?

  • Explain the impact of their work on society or the country.
  • Discuss any awards or recognitions they have received.

Example

He is well-known not just for his scientific contributions but also for his inspirational speeches and writings. He received several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, which solidified his status as a national icon.


Cue 4:Explain why you admire this person.

  • Share personal feelings about the person's character or values.
  • Connect their achievements to your own aspirations or values.

Example

I admire Dr. Kalam for his humility and dedication to education. He believed in empowering the youth and often encouraged students to dream big. His life story motivates me to work hard and contribute positively to society, just as he did.


Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is not only a celebrated scientist but also a beacon of hope for many in India. His legacy continues to inspire countless individuals to pursue their dreams and serve their country with integrity and passion.


    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: Avoid Vague Descriptions

    Using vague language can make your answer unclear and unengaging. It's important to provide specific details about the person to make your response more interesting.

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    Tip

    Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate who the person is and what they have done.


    2: Don't Overlook Personal Connection

    Failing to explain why you admire the person can make your answer feel incomplete. Personal connections add depth to your response.

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    Tip

    Share a personal story or reason that highlights your admiration for the person to make your answer more relatable.


    Avoid Repetition of Information

    Repeating the same information can make your answer sound monotonous and unstructured. It's important to keep your response varied and engaging.

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    Tip

    Organize your thoughts and ensure each part of your answer addresses a different cue without redundancy.


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    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

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    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    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
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    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

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    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
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    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.

    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 7

    I really admire late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam who was a great scientist and researcher. He was also the President of India. He started his journey from small town Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu with a newspaper seller at childhood. He then gained a great knowledge when he became young and contributed towards science and space with ISRO in his young days. His speeches and sessions inspires me a lot even today. Whenever I hear words of him, I am really filled with enthusiasm and great motivation that such great leaders have been born in my country India. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had really magnificent personality with great and impeccable mindset. I really love watching him and listening his kind words. The most famous quote that he said once was, if you want to shine like a sun, then burn like a sun and that created a huge impact on me when I was just a 10 year old child. He is really one of the most inspiring person not just for me but for the whole country. His achievements will always make India proud and his greatness will always make me feel so much grounded to earth and a lot of things to get to learn from him.

    Band 7

    I'd say that one of the most famous personalities in my country has to be Shahrukh Khan. To begin with, he is a really famous and well-established actor. He has performed in a lot of Bollywood movies and moreover, his fan following is not only in the entire country but also he is a global icon. A lot of people are his fan because due to his impressive personality and stage capturing essence, he is very charismatic in nature. Moreover, what I admire about him is that he was not someone from a well-known or established family. Still, he went through all the hardship in his life and acquired several awards and memorable skills under his belt. He is not only a famous personality because of his screen presence but also because he has contributed a lot to the society. Recently, for instance, I know that he has an NGO mainly focusing on acid attack victim women. That was very kind of him and generous of him to help the society back. I've seen his movies and admire his acting skills and dialogue delivery a lot. He is also indulged in cricket.

    Band 7

    I would like to talk about Dr. Devi Shetty, a well-known cardiothoracic surgeon who is currently practicing in Bangalore. He has extensive training in cardiac surgery from the U.S. or the United States and he has come back to India and he has set up multiple hospitals where he offers heart surgeries for the poor at a very nominal cost. Growing up he has always been an inspiration and he is one of the main reasons why I decided to be a cardiac surgeon myself. He has recently set up an insurance trust where for a very minimal fee you can get yourself insured against heart diseases and so in a country like India that will go a long way in ensuring that everyone has access to the health care that they deserve. He is a surgeon par excellence and he has inspired very many surgeons in their pursuit to be a cardiac surgeon.

    Band 7

    One very famous and well-known person in my country is Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He was a scientist and served as a President of India from 2002 to 2007. He is known as Missile Man of India because he played a key role in developing India's missile and space programs. What makes him even more special is that he came from a very simple background but achieved more through his hard work and dedication. Apart from being a brilliant scientist, he always loved to interact with the students and young people. I admire him a lot because he always believed in dreaming big and achieving without giving up. Even though he was a very famous leader and a scientist, he lived simply and always focused on education and youth empowerment. I think he is a perfect role model and a great example of how one person can make a difference.

    Band 7

    One popular and well-known person in my country is Virat Kohli. He is a renowned cricketer and a former captain of Indian National Cricket Team. Born in 1988, he started playing cricket at a very young age and quickly rose through the ranks because of his talent, dedication and aggressive style of play. He is widely known for his exceptional batting skills consistently across all formats of game, Test 1 Day, Internationals and T20s. As a person, Virat Kohli seems passionate, determined and high competitive. He is also quite expressive and emotional on the field which sometimes sparks debates but many people appreciate his authenticity. Of the field, he is actively involved in charity through the Virat Kohli Foundation which supports underprivileged children and athletes. He is extremely popular in India not just because of his cricket achievement but also due to his influence on youth culture. He has millions of followers on social media, endorses many top brands and is seen as a role model for aspiring athletes. His marriage to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma also made him a regular figure in the entertainment news which added to his fame. Overall, Virat Kohli represents a blend of sportsmanship, modern values and charisma making him one of the most recognized and respected figures in India.

    Band 7

    I am very happy to talk about Dr. A.P.G. Abdul Kalam. He was the President of India and he has done a lot to our country. He was born in Rameshwaran, Tamil Nadu. While he was in school, one of his teachers encouraged him and he took that teacher as a role model and he learned many things from him. After his schooling, he did a degree in physics and then he did aeronautical engineering. Through that, he helped in aeronautical technologies and also he served as the President of India. He was the one who believed youngsters. He was the one who we can approach and share our ideas. He was very down to earth. He always

    Band 7

    Ok well, this is a good topic for me to speak as I am talking about the person Sunil Chetri. He is one of the football players, a legend you can say, a legend football player in the Indian football team. He has done a lot of things to this nation and he has brought a name to the football in the world wide. I admire him because he has distinct characters, various nature, discipline and a hard work guy who still plays for a football team in the international level. He has done a lot of things to this nation. One such thing I actually like about him is his kindness. He is very kind to his teammates and he is very polite with his friends and family members. I truly admire him because he posts in social media, he is a very active person in social media, supporting each and every child who wants to become a future star in football. He made a big difference by scoring each and every goal in the tournament. So thank you.

    Band 7

    I would like to talk about Mr. Mohanlal. He is an actor in the Malayalam film industry. He is renowned as the superstar in the Malayalam industry. He began his journey in the movies almost three decades back. Even now he has retained his position in the film industry. One of the major reasons is the versatility of his acting. He can carry out any role with ease and nobody will feel any strain in acting in his movies. I started watching his movies when I was a child and even now if I see his movies I get goosebumps. A noteworthy film of his is Tanmatra wherein he is portrayed as a father of two children who goes on to develop an alzheimer's disease. Watching the movie made me fill into tears. In fact not only me, everyone who watched the movie would have felt the same. In between there were many criticisms that the era of Mohanlal has ended and it's time for him to quit movies. But he made a comeback over the last one year. You can see back to back films which have crossed the 100 crores group of films and to mention Todaram as well as the latest ones Todaram movie is one of the best examples for the same. He in fact gives his all heart and he is completely dedicated to his work more than just an actor.

    Band 7

    I want to talk about Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He was a famous scientist and the 11th president of India. People called him the missile man because of his work in space and defense. He was very humble and loved by students. He inspired many young people to work hard and serve the country. Thank you for watching.

    Band 7

    So, the person I have chosen is Priyanka Chopra. She is an Indian actress and also a film producer. The reason why I chose her is because she is a very confident and a strong independent woman who encourages a lot of people by what she does. I like how confident she is and how she speaks and how she makes her point stand out. Also she was the winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant which shows how creative and extrovert of a person she is.
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