Describe a child you know well
Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.
Practice it like the exam
Describe a child you know well.
You should say:
- who the child is
- how you know them
- what the child is like
and explain how you feel about spending time with this child.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
Recordings stay in this tab and are never uploaded.
Band 8 sample answer
254 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to talk about my niece, Amina, who is six years old. She's my older sister's daughter, and as my sister works long hours, I often look after Amina after school a few times a week.
She's an incredibly lively child. She's full of energy, constantly running around the flat, singing, or making up stories about her toys. At the same time, she's very curious. She asks me questions about everything: why the sky is blue, where the moon goes in the daytime, whether fish ever get thirsty. Sometimes I have to admit I don't know the answer, and then we look it up together, which I quite enjoy.
She can also be a little cheeky. For instance, last week she hid my phone charger and then pretended to help me find it, with a huge smile on her face. It's impossible to stay cross with her for more than a few seconds.
I really enjoy spending time with her, for a few reasons. First of all, children see the world in such a fresh way that being around them makes you notice things you've stopped paying attention to. A puddle is an adventure for her, whereas for me it's just an annoyance. Secondly, it's rewarding to see her learning. Recently she began reading simple words, and she proudly read me a whole page of a picture book, which honestly melted my heart.
Of course, it can be tiring, but at the end of the day, I always leave feeling happier than before.
What to notice
- It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
- Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
- The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.
We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.
Getting ready for IELTS?
Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| full of energy | very active and lively |
| an inquisitive mind | a strong desire to ask questions and learn |
| a bundle of joy | a happy, lovable person |
| cheeky | playfully rude or disrespectful |
| look after | take care of |
| melt your heart | make you feel great affection |
Plan it in one minute
Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.
Who or what you could talk about
- A nephew or niece you babysit or visit often
- The child of a neighbour or a friend
- A younger cousin you teach or play games with
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swho the child is
- 25 show you know them
- 25 swhat the child is like
- 45 sand explain how you feel about spending time with this child.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Children and growing up. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- What do children today enjoy doing in their free time?
- Do you think children spend too much time on screens?
- At what age should children start taking responsibility for themselves?
- How can parents help children to become independent?
- Is it better for children to grow up in a city or in the countryside?
- What can adults learn from children?
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe a person in an IELTS cue card?
Pick someone you know well enough to tell a story about: that is easier to stretch to two minutes than a famous name. Say who they are and how you know them in a few sentences, spend most of your time on one or two specific moments, and finish with why they matter to you.
Getting ready for IELTS?
More free IELTS tools
All free toolsWriting topic generator
Write to Task 1 and Task 2 prompts with a timer and a word counter.
IELTS band score calculator
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
IELTS score converter
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
University IELTS requirements
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.