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Describe a job that you would like to do in the future

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

Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a job that you would like to do in the future.

You should say:

  • what the job is
  • what skills or qualifications you need for it
  • what you would do in this job

and explain why you would like to do this job.

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

272 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.

In the future, I'd like to work as an architect. I've been interested in buildings and design since I was a teenager, and I'm currently studying civil engineering, which I hope will be a first step towards that career.

To become an architect, you need quite a lot of qualifications. You usually have to complete a university degree in architecture, which takes about five years, then gain practical experience for a couple of years, and pass a professional exam. You also need a combination of skills: creativity to imagine new designs, mathematics and technical knowledge to make sure they are safe, drawing and computer skills to present them, and the ability to communicate with clients and builders. I've been practising by learning design software in my free time and by sketching buildings in my notebook.

In this job, I would design homes, schools and public spaces, meet clients to find out what they need, create plans, and visit construction sites to check that everything is going as planned. Ideally, I'd specialise in sustainable buildings that use less energy.

There are a few reasons why I'd like to do this. Firstly, it's a creative profession, and I love the idea of leaving something permanent behind that people will use for decades. Secondly, I think it's a rewarding job, because you can improve the quality of people's lives through good design. Thirdly, there's variety, since each project is different and combines art with science. It may be demanding, with long hours at times, but I believe that doing something I'm passionate about will outweigh that. It's my main goal for the next ten years.

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.

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Useful vocabulary

PhraseMeaning
pursue a career inwork in a particular profession
a rewarding joba job that gives satisfaction
climb the career ladderadvance to better positions
a good work-life balancea healthy division of time between work and life
job satisfactionhappiness with your work
make a livingearn enough money to live

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

  • Doctor, architect or teacher
  • Working in tourism or journalism
  • Starting your own company

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the job is
  2. 25 swhat skills or qualifications you need for it
  3. 25 swhat you would do in this job
  4. 45 sand explain why you would like to do this job.

Part 3 questions

In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Careers and the world of work. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.

  1. What factors do young people consider when choosing a career?
  2. Is job satisfaction more important than a high salary?
  3. Do you think people will change careers more often in the future?
  4. Which jobs might disappear because of technology?
  5. Should students get work experience before they leave school?

Frequently asked questions

How do I talk about future plans in an IELTS cue card?

Say what you would like to do, why, and how you would go about it. Mix future forms: "I'm planning to", "I'd love to", "if I had the chance, I would". A plan you really have gives you more to say than an invented one.

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