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Describe a person who is good at managing money

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 who is good at managing money.

You should say:

  • who this person is
  • how you know them
  • how they manage their money

and explain what you have learned from this person.

Ready

1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.

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Band 8 sample answer

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

The person who is best at managing money in my life is my grandmother, Halima. She's seventy-five years old, and she raised four children on a modest salary as a school librarian. I've known her all my life, and I often stay at her flat during the holidays.

She manages money in a very organised way. At the start of each month, she writes down all her fixed costs, like utilities and food, in a notebook, and puts the rest into small envelopes labelled for different purposes: gifts, medicine, emergencies and treats. She keeps track of every expense, even small ones, and she checks the notebook each Sunday. She also has a rule of saving at least ten percent of any income, which she has followed since she was a young woman. Whenever she buys something expensive, she waits a week to make sure she really needs it.

From her, I have learned quite a few lessons. First, spending less than you earn is the basis of stability. Second, small amounts add up; she once showed me how her tiny regular savings grew over the decades. Third, planning isn't meant to restrict you but to give you the freedom to enjoy life without worry. In fact, she is not stingy at all; she buys wonderful presents for her grandchildren.

Since I started university, I've tried to use her methods. I now record my spending on a phone app and keep a small emergency fund. It has made me feel much more confident about my finances, and I'm grateful to her for the guidance.

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
stick to a budgetspend only within a plan
save for a rainy daykeep money for emergencies
live within one's meansspend no more than you earn
splash outspend a lot of money on something
track expensesrecord what you spend
make ends meethave enough money to live on

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 who always planned household finances
  • A friend who saves and invests wisely
  • A colleague who is known for avoiding debt

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swho this person is
  2. 25 show you know them
  3. 25 show they manage their money
  4. 45 sand explain what you have learned from this person.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Why do some people find it hard to save money?
  2. Should children be given pocket money?
  3. Is it a good idea to borrow money from friends or family?
  4. Should schools teach students about personal finance?
  5. How has online shopping changed the way people spend?

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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