Describe a sportsperson/athlete that you admire: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who is the person?
What he is like in real life
What is his/her achievement
Why do you admire him?

10 unique answers with expert feedback

What specific qualities of David Goggins do you admire the most?

I admire his mental toughness and resilience. He has faced numerous challenges and has always pushed through, which inspires me to overcome my own obstacles. His ability to maintain a strong mindset, especially during tough times, is something I strive to emulate.

How has David Goggins influenced your approach to fitness?

His story has motivated me to adopt a more disciplined approach to fitness. I now set higher goals for myself and push my limits, just like he did. His quote about being only 40% done when you feel like giving up reminds me to keep going even when it gets tough.

Can you share a personal experience where you applied Goggins' mindset?

Yes, during a recent marathon training, I felt like quitting halfway through. Remembering Goggins' mentality, I pushed through the pain and completed the run. It taught me that mental strength is just as important as physical endurance in achieving my goals.

Band 6-7

00:00

I'm not a kind of a sporty person but Sanya Mirza has been a role model for me when I was really young. For instance during my sixth standard was when I got too much attached or wanted to play badminton, tennis and it became my favorite go-to sports. So that is why I like Sanya Mirza. In real life I am not sure who she is in a real life and I haven't watched many many you know interviews with her but I think she is a great woman because she has been handling her personal life along with the sports which many other women find it really difficult. So about her achievements, she has won a numerous games and the reason why I admire her is that I think she is the first woman badminton player who has really won many hearts due to the fact that she is hard-working and she achieved all this through while handling the babies and other household chores. As a woman it's not easy to do both.

Follow up questions

What qualities do you think make Sanya Mirza a role model for young athletes?

I believe Sanya Mirza's determination, resilience, and ability to balance her personal and professional life make her an inspiring role model. Her success in sports while managing family responsibilities shows that women can excel in both areas, which is encouraging for young athletes.

How do you think sports can empower women in society?

Sports can empower women by providing them with opportunities to showcase their talents, build confidence, and gain recognition. It also helps challenge stereotypes and encourages more women to participate in various fields, promoting gender equality and inspiring future generations.

Have you ever played any sports yourself? If so, which ones?

Yes, I have played badminton and tennis, inspired by Sanya Mirza. Although I'm not very sporty, I enjoyed playing these games during school. They helped me stay active and develop teamwork skills, even if I didn't pursue them seriously.

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.

Band 6-7

00:00

so the sports person the athlete I know is Neeraj Chopra who admires me the most Neeraj Chopra is a javelin thrower in real life I don't know him but he is an Olympic gold medalist he won gold medal in Olympics few years back and in 2024 he won the silver medal in javelin throw so and I admire him the most because he he is India's pride and he makes our India proud he is hard worker he do a lot of practice and respect our nation a lot he made proud our nation so that's why I admire him the most

Follow up questions

What qualities do you think make Neeraj Chopra a role model for young athletes?

Neeraj Chopra embodies dedication, hard work, and resilience. His commitment to training and his ability to overcome challenges inspire young athletes to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence in sports.

How do you think sports can impact a country's reputation on the global stage?

Sports can significantly enhance a country's reputation by showcasing talent and fostering national pride. Achievements in international competitions, like the Olympics, can unite people and promote a positive image of the nation worldwide.

What other sports do you think are gaining popularity in India?

Apart from javelin throw, sports like cricket, badminton, and kabaddi are gaining immense popularity in India. The success of athletes in these sports has inspired many young people to take up sports seriously and pursue them professionally.

Band 6-7

00:00

The person, the sportsman which I admire the most is Cristiano Ronaldo. While I was reading or looking from his autobiography or from his internet, from internet, from social media, what I have learned, which videos which I have watched of him is that the pinnacle of height what he has reached now is purely because of all the hard work that he has put into. I remember in one interview, in one podcast, he said that the interviewer asked him how many cars does his father have. His answer was he doesn't have any cars. And the interviewer again asked him how many cars do you have? And his reply was I don't know. He has at one point, he didn't have anything. But now he has achieved so much that he doesn't even know how many cars does he have. It is such a, it's such an inspiring to me to learn from him that the amount of hard work that he does, even some videos on social media, I have seen that the way he trains his son, Junior Cristiano Junior. I mean, it's really inspiring. And in same way that I am also influenced by his hard work, by his dedications that he has put into. And it is truly inspiring for me as well that to work hard. Initially, it helped me in my weight loss journey as well. Personally, it affected me. And also, I am also I am very influenced by the way he talks, the way he presents himself. It's truly admirable.

Follow up questions

What qualities do you think make Cristiano Ronaldo a great athlete?

I believe Cristiano Ronaldo's dedication, discipline, and work ethic are key qualities that make him a great athlete. His ability to constantly improve and push his limits, along with his resilience in the face of challenges, sets him apart from others in the sports world.

How has Ronaldo's story influenced your personal goals?

Ronaldo's story has motivated me to set higher personal goals and work diligently towards them. His journey from humble beginnings to global stardom inspires me to believe that with hard work and perseverance, I can achieve my own aspirations, especially in my fitness journey.

Do you think athletes have a responsibility to be role models?

Yes, I believe athletes like Ronaldo have a responsibility to be role models. Their influence can inspire young people to pursue their dreams and adopt healthy lifestyles. It's important for them to demonstrate positive values, such as hard work, humility, and respect for others.

Band 6-7

00:00

Throughout my life, I have never been fascinated about any of the sportsperson or for regard, for example, even actors. But the athlete which really comes to my mind when talking about a sportsperson is MS Dhoni. So he's a very famous Indian cricketer and very admired and inspirational Indian cricketer, which has inspired various generations of children. So the one thing which I really like about MS Dhoni is that the quality of being calm and composed. I think we have witnessed that through various tournaments. And he has always been focused and calm and composed in even dreadful situations wherein people tend to shaken up and not and lose their focus. But he has always been preserved about his emotions and never let fear and other emotions overrule his confidence in his skills. He has achieved a lot of trophies, a lot of tournaments and has been captain of India cricket team for many years. The other thing which I really would like to have it in me is being able to focus on what is important rather than what results could be. So there are so many times where we so much focus on result that we forget that we have to work first and then we can think about results. But that is something which MS Dhoni has really worked out. He never let overrule the other difficult emotions in his life and he is content with what he does and that is something which I really want to take from him.

Follow up questions

What qualities do you think are essential for a successful athlete?

I believe qualities like determination, resilience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure are essential. Athletes face numerous challenges, and those who can maintain focus and composure, like MS Dhoni, often succeed. Additionally, having a strong work ethic and a positive mindset is crucial.

How do you think sports can influence young people's lives?

Sports can teach young people valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. They also provide a platform for personal development and can inspire them to pursue their dreams. Athletes like MS Dhoni serve as role models, showing that hard work and dedication can lead to success.

Do you think being calm is more important than being aggressive in sports?

Yes, I think being calm is often more important than being aggressive. While aggression can be beneficial in certain situations, maintaining composure allows athletes to make better decisions and perform consistently under pressure. MS Dhoni exemplifies this balance, which is why he is so admired.

Show all 10 answers

Cue 1:Who is the person?

Start by introducing the sportsperson, including their name and the sport they play.
Mention any personal connection you have to their achievements or background.

Example

The sportsperson I admire the most is Sachin Tendulkar, a legendary cricketer from India. He is often referred to as the 'God of Cricket' and has inspired millions with his incredible talent and dedication to the game.

Cue 2:What he is like in real life?

Describe his personality traits, such as humility, perseverance, or sportsmanship.
Share any anecdotes or stories that highlight his character off the field.

Example

In real life, Sachin Tendulkar is known for his humility and down-to-earth nature. Despite his fame, he remains approachable and often engages with fans. I remember reading about how he always respects his opponents and encourages young players, which shows his true sportsmanship.

Cue 3:What is his/her achievement?

List some of his major accomplishments in the sport, like records or awards.
Explain why these achievements are significant in the context of the sport.

Example

Sachin has numerous records to his name, including being the highest run-scorer in both Test and One Day Internationals. He was the first player to score 100 international centuries, a feat that remains unmatched. His achievements have not only set benchmarks in cricket but have also elevated the status of Indian cricket on the global stage.

Cue 4:Why do you admire him?

Discuss the qualities that make him admirable, such as his work ethic or influence on others.
Relate his journey to your own aspirations or values.

Example

I admire Sachin Tendulkar for his relentless work ethic and passion for cricket. His journey from a young boy with dreams to a global icon inspires me to pursue my own goals with dedication. He has taught me the importance of perseverance and humility, which I strive to embody in my life.

Conclusion

Summarize your admiration for the sportsperson and their impact on you.
Mention how they have influenced the sport and society.

Example

In conclusion, Sachin Tendulkar is not just a remarkable cricketer but also a role model for many. His contributions to cricket and his philanthropic efforts have made a lasting impact on society. I hope to carry forward his legacy of hard work and humility in my own life.

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