Describe someone who helped you when you had a problem
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 someone who helped you when you had a problem.
You should say:
- who this person is
- what the problem was
- how this person helped you
and explain how you felt about the help you received.
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
254 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to talk about my classmate, Bekzod, who helped me during my final year at university. We'd been in the same group for three years, but we weren't especially close before that incident.
The problem was that I had fallen seriously behind on my graduation project. I'd been ill for nearly three weeks in the middle of the semester, and when I returned, I found that I had missed all the key lectures on statistics, which my research depended on. The deadline was only a month away, and I honestly thought I might fail.
Bekzod noticed that I looked worried and asked what was wrong. When I explained, he immediately offered to help. He gave me his complete notes, which were far neater than mine would have been, and every evening for two weeks he stayed after class to explain the difficult parts. He even went through my draft and pointed out several mistakes in my calculations, without making me feel stupid.
I felt incredibly relieved and grateful. It was like a weight off my shoulders, because I suddenly had a clear plan again and someone I could rely on. What touched me most was that he did all this when he was busy with his own work and had nothing to gain from it.
In the end, I submitted the project on time and received a good mark. I made sure to thank him properly, and we've been close friends ever since. It taught me that asking for help isn't a weakness.
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?
Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| come to the rescue | help someone in a difficult situation |
| lend a helping hand | give assistance |
| be in a tight spot | be in a difficult situation |
| go out of one's way | make a special effort |
| a weight off my shoulders | a great relief |
| be deeply grateful | feel strong thanks |
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 classmate who helped you catch up after illness
- A colleague who solved a technical issue for you
- A stranger who helped you when you were lost or stuck while travelling
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swho this person is
- 25 swhat the problem was
- 25 show this person helped you
- 45 sand explain how you felt about the help you received.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Helping others. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do some people find it hard to ask for help?
- Who do people usually ask for help first: family, friends or professionals?
- Do you think people are more willing to help others today than in the past?
- Should children be taught to help others at school?
- Is it right to expect something in return when you help someone?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: People
- Describe a person who is full of energy and enthusiasm
- Describe a creative person you know
- Describe a person you know who has a healthy lifestyle
- Describe a person you know who speaks a foreign language very well
- Describe a person you know who is very patient
- Describe a person you know who always dresses well
Part 1 topics on the same subject
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?
More free IELTS tools
All free toolsWriting 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, with the source.