Describe a job you would like to have: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe a job you would like to have in the future.

You should say:

what the job is
what skills it needs
how you could get this job

and explain why you would like to do it.

You have one minute to prepare and should speak for one to two minutes.

Try it before you read the sample. Answer this card out loud with our AI examiner and get an estimated band.

Practise with the AI examiner

Sample answer

About 246 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

The job I'd most like to have is working as a physiotherapist, ideally in a hospital or a sports clinic. For anyone who isn't familiar with it, a physiotherapist helps people recover movement after an injury or an operation, mostly through exercise and hands-on treatment.

It needs quite a mixture of skills. Obviously you need a solid knowledge of how the body works, so there's a lot of science involved. But I think the people skills are just as important. Patients are often in pain or frustrated by slow progress, so you have to be patient and encouraging, and good at explaining things in simple language.

In terms of how I'd get there, I'd need to complete a degree in physiotherapy, which takes four years in my country, and then register with the professional body. I've already applied to two universities, and I've been volunteering at a care home at weekends to gain some experience.

The reason I want to do it goes back to my own experience. I broke my leg badly playing football when I was sixteen, and I honestly thought I'd never play again. The physiotherapist who treated me was brilliant. She set small goals every week, and within six months I was back on the pitch. I'd love to make that kind of difference to someone else. It's also a job where you're on your feet and dealing with people, which suits me far better than sitting at a desk all day.

Why this works: it covers every point on the card in order, gives specific details and a short story rather than general statements, and ends by explaining the feeling or reason, which the last line of the card asks for.

Useful vocabulary

recover: to get better after an illness or injury
hands-on: involving practical work, done directly with your hands
people skills: the ability to deal with people well
gain experience: to get knowledge or skill by doing something
set goals: to decide what you want to achieve
be on your feet: to be standing or walking, not sitting

Rounding-off question

After you finish, the examiner may ask one short question, such as:

Is this a common job in your country?

Part 3 questions: Work and careers

In Part 3, the examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the cue card topic. Give an opinion, explain why, and add an example.

Is a high salary more important than job satisfaction?

For me, satisfaction matters more, but only once the salary covers a decent standard of living. If you can't pay your rent, enjoying your work is not much comfort. Above that level, though, extra money doesn't make up for forty hours a week of boredom or stress. I think people who choose purely for money often regret it later.

Why do some people change careers later in life?

There are a few common reasons. Some people chose their first career at eighteen, under pressure from their parents, and only discover later what they really enjoy. Others are forced to change because their industry is shrinking. And as people live and work longer, forty years in one profession can seem too long, so a second career becomes attractive.

Now say it out loud

Reading a good answer helps, but speaking is what improves your band. This set includes this cue card, Part 1 questions on your childhood and numbers, and a Part 3 discussion.

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This sample answer was written by TestWise Prep to show language that scores well. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas, not to memorise, because examiners mark rehearsed answers down.