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Describe a person you would like to work with 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 person you would like to work with in the future.

You should say:

  • who this person is
  • how you know this person
  • what kind of work you would do together

and explain why you would like to work with 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

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

The person I'd like to work with in the future is my friend Kamila, whom I've known since secondary school. She is studying computer science, while I'm studying business, and we've often talked about starting something together after graduation.

Our idea is to create a language-learning app aimed at students who are preparing for exams like IELTS. She would be in charge of the technical side, including designing the software, and I would handle the marketing, finances and communication with users. We have already built a rough prototype and tested it with about twenty classmates.

There are several reasons why I want to work with her. Firstly, we have complementary skills. She's very logical and enjoys solving technical problems, whereas I'm better at talking to people and organising. This means we don't compete with each other, and each of us can focus on what we do best.

Secondly, I trust her completely. In the past, we've been through disagreements and busy periods, and she has always been honest and responsible. In business, trust is essential, especially when money is involved.

Finally, she is ambitious and hard-working without being arrogant. She is always willing to learn, and she doesn't give up easily. When our prototype crashed during a demonstration, she stayed up all night to fix it.

I think that a good partnership needs shared goals and mutual respect, and we have both. I'm optimistic that, if we manage to launch the app, we'll make a strong team.

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
share a common goalwant to achieve the same thing
complementary skillsdifferent abilities that support each other
collaborate on a projectwork together on something
learn from someone's expertisegain knowledge from an expert
set up a businessstart a company
mutual respectrespect felt in both directions

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 friend with whom you dream of starting a business
  • A former teacher or mentor in your field
  • A colleague whose professionalism impressed you

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swho this person is
  2. 25 show you know this person
  3. 25 swhat kind of work you would do together
  4. 45 sand explain why you would like to work with this person.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Is it important to like the people you work with?
  2. What makes a good boss?
  3. Do you think working with friends or family is a good idea?
  4. How does teamwork benefit companies?
  5. Do you think working with people from different backgrounds is an advantage?

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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