Describe a person who has helped you: cue card and sample answer

Cue card

Describe a person who has helped you achieve something important.

You should say:

who this person is
what you wanted to achieve
how this person helped you

and explain how you felt about the help you received.

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 233 words, or roughly two minutes of speaking.

I'd like to talk about my older cousin, Sara, who helped me get into university. She's about six years older than me and works as a pharmacist, and she's always been someone I look up to in our family.

When I was in my final year of school, I wanted to study engineering at a fairly competitive university, but to be honest, my maths wasn't strong enough. My grades had slipped, and I was starting to lose confidence.

Sara noticed that I was struggling, and instead of lecturing me, she offered to study with me every Saturday morning. She didn't just give me the answers; she made me explain my thinking out loud, which really helped me see where I was going wrong. She also helped me put together a revision timetable, because I'd been trying to cram everything at the last minute. And whenever I felt like giving up, she'd remind me how far I'd already come.

In the end, I got the grades I needed and was offered a place. Looking back, I feel incredibly grateful, not only because of the extra lessons, but because she gave up her free time when she had a demanding job of her own. It also taught me that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, and now I try to do the same for my younger brother when he's stuck on his homework.

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

look up to someone: to admire and respect someone
my grades had slipped: my marks had become worse
cram: to study a lot in a short time just before an exam
give up your free time: to use your own time to help others
a sign of weakness: something that shows you are not strong
be stuck on something: to be unable to continue or solve a problem

Rounding-off question

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

Do you often ask other people for help?

Part 3 questions: Helping others and teachers

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

Why do some people find it difficult to ask for help?

I think pride is a big part of it. Many people, especially men in some cultures, feel that asking for help makes them look incapable. There's also a fear of being a burden, so people prefer to struggle on their own rather than trouble someone else, even when help would be freely given.

Do you think people help their neighbours less than they did in the past?

Generally, yes, particularly in big cities. People move house more often and work longer hours, so they simply don't get to know their neighbours. That said, I think neighbours still come together in a crisis. During floods in my city, for example, people who'd never spoken before were sharing food and shelter.

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 hometown and music, 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.