Describe a person who is always on time
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 person who is always on time.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know them
- how you know that they are always on time
and explain how you feel about people who are punctual.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
241 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
The most punctual person I know is my uncle Bakhtiyor, who is a pilot. I've known him all my life, of course, since he's my mother's brother, and I've never seen him arrive late for anything.
I know this from many occasions. When we're going to family events, he is always standing outside the door ten minutes before we're supposed to leave, usually looking at his watch with a polite smile. If he says he'll pick me up at seven, I can set my clock by it. Once, we were catching a train, and he insisted on arriving an hour early. I thought it was ridiculous at the time, but there was a traffic accident on the road, and we were the only ones in our group who made it.
I think his punctuality comes from his job. In aviation, being a few minutes late can disturb dozens of other flights, so he's learned to plan with a buffer for the unexpected. He also lives in a very organised way, with a clear schedule for every day.
As for how I feel about punctual people, I generally admire them. Being on time shows respect for others, and it makes everything calmer. I do admit that I'm not always perfect myself, but I try to follow his example. Now I check the traffic the night before, and I leave earlier than I think I need. It has reduced my stress a lot.
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
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| punctual | arriving at the agreed time |
| keep to a schedule | follow a plan with times |
| cut it fine | arrive just in time |
| run late | be behind schedule |
| respect other people's time | show consideration by being on time |
| like clockwork | very regularly and predictably |
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 parent or grandparent with strict habits
- A colleague or teacher who starts meetings exactly on time
- A friend who is almost always early
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swho this person is
- 25 show you know them
- 25 show you know that they are always on time
- 45 sand explain how you feel about people who are punctual.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Punctuality. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why are some people always late?
- Is punctuality equally important in every country?
- Is it acceptable to arrive late for social events?
- What problems can lateness cause at work?
- Do you think people today are more or less punctual than in the past?
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.
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