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Describe a skill that is important for your job or the job you would like to do

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 skill that is important for your job or the job you would like to do.

You should say:

  • what the skill is
  • how you developed it
  • how you use it at work or study

and explain why this skill is so important.

Ready

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

The skill that I think is most important in my work is communication, particularly the ability to explain complicated information in a simple and clear way. I work as a junior project coordinator in a software company, so I'm constantly acting as a link between the technical team and our clients.

I didn't have this skill when I started. In my first month, I used a lot of technical language in meetings, and the clients looked confused, which was embarrassing. My manager gave me some very useful advice: she told me to imagine I was explaining the problem to a friend who knew nothing about computers. Since then, I've tried to hone my skills in several ways. I prepare short summaries before meetings, I ask questions to check that people have understood, and I listen carefully to what clients are really asking for rather than what I assume they want. I also took an online course in business writing, which helped me write emails that are shorter and more direct.

I use the skill every day: writing reports, leading weekly calls, and resolving misunderstandings before they become serious problems. I believe it's so important because almost every project failure I've seen was caused by poor communication, not by technical mistakes. People simply didn't understand each other's expectations. It's also a transferable skill, so it would be an asset in any career I choose later, and it is in high demand among employers. Honestly, it has made my working life far less stressful as well.

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
a transferable skilla skill useful in many different jobs
communicate clearlyexpress ideas so others understand
work under pressureperform well when stressed
hone my skillsimprove my skills through practice
an assetsomething valuable or useful
in high demandwanted by many employers

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

  • Communication and listening
  • Time management and organisation
  • Computer or language skills

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat the skill is
  2. 25 show you developed it
  3. 25 show you use it at work or study
  4. 45 sand explain why this skill is so important.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Which skills do employers look for most today?
  2. Are practical skills more important than qualifications?
  3. Do you think schools prepare students well for the world of work?
  4. How can people keep their skills up to date during their careers?
  5. Will computers and robots make some human skills unnecessary?

Frequently asked questions

How should I describe an activity in an IELTS cue card?

Explain what the activity involves and how you got into it, describe a typical time you do it, and finish with what you get from it. Present simple for habits and a short past story for one occasion show range.

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