IELTS Speaking — Part 2 Cue Card
IELTS Speaking Cue Card: Describe a Person Who Has Inspired You
Model answer and Band 7+ vocabulary for the IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card about an inspiring person. Part 3 questions on role models and influence included.
The Cue Card Prompt
Describe a person who has inspired you. You should say: • who this person is • how you know them or know about them • what they have achieved And explain why you find them inspiring.
How to Structure Your Answer
Cover each bullet point in order. Aim for roughly equal time on each:
- Who this person is (personal acquaintance or public figure)
- How you know them or know about them
- What they have achieved
- Why you find them inspiring
Band 7+ Model Answer
The person I'd like to talk about is my secondary school maths teacher. I'll call her Ms Yildiz, and she taught me from the ages of fourteen to seventeen. I should say upfront that I was not a naturally strong maths student. Numbers did not come easily to me, and for most of secondary school I had convinced myself that I was simply not a "maths person" — which, as it turned out, was a story I'd been telling myself unnecessarily. Ms Yildiz refused to accept that narrative. She stayed behind after school twice a week to work through problems with me individually — not because she was required to, but because she believed that the difficulty I was having was a question of method, not ability. She had a talent for explaining abstract concepts using concrete, real-world examples, which completely changed the way I thought about the subject. What inspires me about her is not any single achievement, but rather her combination of patience, intelligence, and genuine investment in the people she taught. She clearly could have pursued a more financially rewarding career — she had a first-class degree in mathematics — but she chose teaching because she found it meaningful. That choice, and the way she made it without a trace of resentment, has stayed with me. In practical terms, I ended up achieving a high grade in maths, which opened doors that would otherwise have been closed. But more than the result, she changed how I approach things I find difficult.
Key Vocabulary to Use
Examiner Tips for Band 7+
- ✓Don't just say someone is inspiring — show it by describing a specific moment or quality in detail.
- ✓Use present perfect for ongoing impact: "She has changed the way I approach challenges."
- ✓Vary sentence length: mix short punchy statements with longer, more complex ones.
- ✓It's fine to talk about a teacher, family member, or friend — you don't need to name a famous person.
- ✓In Part 3, show critical thinking: "It depends on..." / "That said, I would argue..." / "Research suggests..."
Part 3: Discussion Questions
After the cue card, the examiner will ask abstract questions on the same theme. Here are likely questions with model answers.
Q: Why is it important for young people to have role models?
Role models serve as proof that certain things are possible. When young people can see someone who looks like them — or comes from a similar background — achieving something they aspire to, it shifts what feels attainable. Research in educational psychology shows that representation matters: students perform better when they can identify with successful figures in their field.
Q: Are celebrities good role models for young people?
It depends on the celebrity and on what aspect of them is being modelled. Some public figures demonstrate qualities worth emulating — discipline, resilience, creativity. But celebrity culture also amplifies wealth, appearance, and lifestyle in ways that can distort young people's priorities. I think the most valuable role models tend to be closer to home: teachers, parents, coaches — people whose character you can actually observe over time.
Q: How can schools help students find inspiration?
Schools can do several things: invite speakers from diverse professional backgrounds, expose students to a broad curriculum so they discover unexpected interests, and — perhaps most importantly — hire and retain teachers who genuinely care about the people they're teaching. Institutional structures matter, but ultimately it's individual teachers who most often serve as the source of inspiration students carry into adult life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I talk about a famous person or someone I know personally?▼
Either is acceptable. A personal connection (teacher, parent, mentor) usually produces a more detailed, vivid answer because you have more specific examples to draw on. Famous figures work well if you know enough about them to go beyond surface-level details.
How do I avoid repeating "inspiring" too many times?▼
Use synonyms and related phrases: "admirable", "motivating", "someone I look up to", "someone whose example I try to follow", "a person who changed my perspective", "someone who demonstrated what's possible".
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