Skip to the tool

Describe a person you know who has a healthy lifestyle

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 person you know who has a healthy lifestyle.

You should say:

  • who this person is
  • what they do to stay healthy
  • how you know about their lifestyle

and explain what you think about their way of living.

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

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

The person I'm going to describe is my friend Sardor, who has been my neighbour and gym partner for the past three years. He's twenty-eight and works as an IT specialist, which is normally a rather inactive job, but you would never guess that from looking at him.

He follows a very consistent routine. He wakes up at six, drinks a large glass of water, and goes for a run or a swim before work. In the evening he lifts weights three times a week. As for food, he prepares his lunch at home and keeps it simple: grilled chicken or fish, vegetables, rice, and plenty of fruit. He avoids fizzy drinks and sweets, although he allows himself pizza on Saturdays. He also goes to bed at about ten thirty so that he gets enough sleep.

I know all this because we share a lift to the gym, and sometimes I join him for his morning run when I'm feeling motivated. He's also taught me a lot about nutrition.

I admire his way of living, though I think it works partly because he's very disciplined. I'm not sure everyone could keep up such strict habits. What I like is that he doesn't make a show of it or criticise others for eating differently. He says it's about feeling good, not about looking perfect.

He has certainly encouraged me to be more active, and I've lost a few kilos and feel much more energetic since I started training with him.

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?

Get your study plan

Useful vocabulary

PhraseMeaning
stay in shapekeep physically fit
a balanced dieteating a variety of healthy foods
work outexercise
cut down onreduce the amount of
get a good night's sleepsleep well
in good physical conditionhealthy and fit

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 grandparent who walks and eats simply
  • A friend who trains or follows a sports routine
  • A colleague who cooks healthy meals and avoids junk food

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swho this person is
  2. 25 swhat they do to stay healthy
  3. 25 show you know about their lifestyle
  4. 45 sand explain what you think about their way of living.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why do some people find it hard to follow a healthy lifestyle?
  2. Is it more important to eat well or to exercise regularly?
  3. Should the government do more to encourage people to live healthily?
  4. How has people's attitude to health changed in recent years?
  5. Do you think fitness apps and trackers really help people?

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?

All free tools

Writing 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.