CONTENTS

Sample answers

Sample questions and answers  from speaking part 1, 2 and  3

Key vocabulary

Words and terms frequently used  when talking about work

Word formation

Learn how to use  wide variety of parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives

Collocations

Find out groups of words that usually used together by native speakers

Useful resources

References to teaching and authentic materials related to this topic: IELTS blogs, podcasts, videos and articles

Downloads

Download this article in PDF.

 
 

 


 

DESCRIBE A PERSON: Sample questions and answers for IELTS speaking exam

 

Part 1

  1. Describe yourself physically.

Basically, I am a young green-eyed girl with white skin and brown hair with the typical Russian look. I do seem younger than my age.

  1. Describe yourself emotionally

At the first glance, I am an emotionally balanced person. What peeves me most is, in fact, dishonesty: I just can’t stand people lying through their teeth. Thankfully, there are not many people like that around.

 

  1. In which ways are you similar to your friends?

-Well, we’ve been through thick and thin together. That’s probably why we are those easy-going and trustworthy friends, sharing common goals and beliefs that have helped us foster cohesion and empathy.

  1. Are you similar or different to your brother(s)/sister(s)?

-Well, people have often said that I have many striking resemblances with my younger sisters. I’d say we all are caring, empathetic, loving and hard-working.

  1. What do you think a true friend should be like?

-In my opinion, friends are always there for each other. They support, listen, and sometimes even work for each other. There should be nothing impossible for people who claim to be friends.

IELTS Speaking part 1 tips


Part 2

Describe someone you like in your family. You should say:

    • what type of website it is

    • What personality he/she has
    • Why do you like this person

and why you find it useful.

We all have our favorite personalities who we respect and love from the bottom of our hearts. Personally, I’m going to talk about my father as he has been a major influence in my life.

Physically, he is a good-looking man with a youthful appearance, quite tall with an average body build and his pointed nose compliments his dark hair. He’s hard-working and seems to get on well with everybody.

Furthermore, he is a truly patient person, especially in dealing with obstacles in our family, although occasionally he may be strict. Undeniably, he is a glass-half-full person, which inspires me the most no matter how hard are situations we are facing. Lastly, he is my happy pill with a good sense of humor and self-assurance, making me smile despite certain challenges I encounter. Hopefully, I’ve inherited some of these traits.

Definitely, he is the best father in the world, and I do love him for a great number of reasons. To start with, he is my life inspiration, for I have witnessed how he stood still in the midst of the storm for our family. Secondly, he is my role model, since he is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for our own sake. So, if I was here to choose between my father and what this world has to offer, I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to pick my dad.

IELTS Speaking part 2 tips

Part 3

  1. What do you think are the most important qualities for friends to have?

Well, I quite am picky on choosing my friends. Personally, I believe they tend to have common interests and possess similar personalities (idea). A great proof to this idea is the saying that goes “birds with the same feathers, flock together”. Empathy and openness are the first two steps to grow the friendship and it matures once friends start forgiving each other’s faults. Moreover, trustworthiness is a core of a long-lasting and faithful friendship. No-one wants a friend they think might stab them in the back someday (explain).

  1. Which personality types do you think are less likely to suffer from stress or anxiety?

Based on my personal experience, I would rather say being an optimist is vital, since
stress and anxiety both result from negative thinking (idea). Thus, having a generally positive attitude, one is more likely to live a stress-free life (explain). Moreover, it is crucial to develop resistance and resilience to all the inevitable struggles we face throughout our lifetime.

  1. Is attractiveness a quality worthwhile aiming for?

I would disagree with this (idea). Although an attractive appearance might give one a head start over others in some ways, it’s still the inner beauty that really sets a person apart. Unfortunately, it seems that many people pay much more attention to how they look than actually needed (explain). It is not rare to see a poor male or female starving themselves to death on a crash diet so that they can lose as much weight as possible. I am not convinced this can be any good for health or consciousness (example).



IELTS Speaking part 3 tips

Key vocabulary: Definitions and examples

 

 WORD

 

DEFINITION

 

EXAMPLE

GENERAL APPEARANCE

 

striking resemblance

when two people or things are very similar especially in the way they look

 

In fact we have a striking resemblance.

 

attractiveness

someone who is attractive is good looking

 

It is a must for us to not only focus on attractiveness.

 

youthful appearance

used when saying about someone who looks young

 

He is a good-looking man and has a youthful appearance.

 

good-looking

attractive

 

Our neighbour has a good-looking wife.

 

body build

the distinctive physical makeup of a human being

 

I have noticed that almost all of the athletes have strong body build.

 

in his/her teens/early twenties / mid-thirties

meaning person who is aged from 13 to 19 (teenager), from 20 to 25 (in early twenties), from 34 to 36

 

According to research released last week, one in six Indian workers are already unhappy at work by the time they reach their mid-thirties.

 

well-dressed

wearing smart clothes of good quality

 

He was quite a dashing figure, tall, handsome, well-dressed, extremely charming.

 

untidy looking

having or showing a lack of care in grooming

 

A very untidy looking man entered the room.

 

 

handsome

good-looking

 

She was a tall blonde woman, slightly overweight but still handsome.

 

first impression

is what a person thinks of you when they first meet you

 

It is true that first impression matters but if efforts taken then it would definitely never be the last.

 

HEIGHT AND BUILT

 

plump

slightly fat in a fairly pleasant way – used especially about women or children, often to avoid saying the word ‘fat

 

She was a charming-looking woman, middle-aged and comfortably plump.

 

slightly overweight

having a bit above a weight considered normal or desirable

 

She was a tall blonde woman, slightly overweight but still handsome.

 

slim woman

gracefully thin

 

She was said to be ‘tall, slim and strikingly handsome woman’.

 

obese person

grossly fat or overweight

 

What is your first thought or emotion when you see an obese person?

 

chubby

a stocky person is short and heavy and looks strong

 

The illustrations feature chubby , cheerful babies and toddlers.

 

well-built

having a big strong body

 

Do women love well built men?

 

muscular

having very big strong muscles

 

In person he appears taller and more muscular than he does on the pitch.

 

HAIR, FACE, SKIN AND COMPLEXION

 

pointed nose

with a point at the end

 

His pointed nose compliments his black hair.

 

curly hair

hairs that made, growing, or arranged in curls or curves

 

He had a girlfriend with curly blond hair.

 

to go bald

to lose hair

 

They are fat and ugly and going bald.

 

fair complexion

complexion refers to the color of a person’s skin, especially the face. If you have light skin, for example, you might be said to have a fair or pale complexion

 

He is tall with an average body build and has a fair complexion.

 

bald

without hair

 

He was a man who went bald at a very young age.

 

freckles

a small patch of light brown color on the skin

 

While some people think that freckles are especially attractive, there are others who are irritated by their freckles.

 

beard

a growth of hair on the chin and lower cheeks of a man’s face

 

Tom was nearly sixty and had a long brown beard.

 

moustache

a line of facial hair above the top lip

 

He was handsome and had a moustache which suited him.

 

 

wrinkles

a slight lines or folds in something, especially the skin of the face

 

This lady came to me to remove the facial wrinkles around her face.

 

CLOTH, OUTFIT

 

dark brown
jacket

a short coat, reaching the waist or hips and fastening at the front

 

The first time I met my wife , I was wearing a dark brown jacket.

 

single / two tone / stripped tie

narrow strip of fabric tied round the neck for smart wear with a shirt and collar

 

Mel bought this stripped tie for me, yesterday.

 

a flowery dress

a one-piece garment for a woman or girl that covers the body and extends down over the legs and has flower prints or patterns on it

 

Carren has a beautiful flowery dress for her performance , she looks lovely in it , of course !

 

a plain shirt

a garment for the upper body made of cotton or a similar fabric, with a collar, sleeves, and buttons down the front

 

We bought him a new plain shirt for £20 and borrowed a flashy waistcoat.

 

glasses

a pair of lenses set in a frame resting on the nose and ears, used to correct or assist defective eyesight or protect the eyes

 

She had small pair of silver glasses resting on her nose.

 

jewelry

ornamental worn items

 

I like handcrafted jewelry.

 

skinny jeans

hard-wearing trousers made of denim or other cotton fabric, for informal wear; tight-fitting , with very narrow legs

 

She was wearing blue skinny jeans and a jacket, a long jumper and a small yellow metal ring decorated with bows.

 

formal suit

a set of outer clothes made of the same fabric and designed to be worn together

 

These formal suits for men are branded and quite expensive because of the popularity the product provides.

 

sporty shoes

footwear such as sneakers, primarily designed for sports

 

He was wearing black sporty shoes, white socks, and a loud checked jacket.

 

sneakers

a soft shoe with a rubber sole worn for sports or casual occasions

 

I wear my sneakers without socks just for the simple reason that it is comfortable that way.

 

wristwatch

watch worn on a strap around the wrist

 

The first modern wristwatch was deigned by Cartier to help out his friend.

 

casual

informal

 

Whether you choose business or casual dress , the most important factor is to look approachable to a prospective client.

 

hooded sweatshirt

a loose, heavy shirt with a hood, typically made of cotton, worn when exercising or as leisurewear

 

My nice red hooded sweatshirt kept me warm on the home journey.

 

pull-over

a knitted garment that covers the top half of your body, which you pull on over your head

 

He was wearing a light pullover and trousers.

 

polo

casual short-sleeved shirt with a collar

 

Sweatshirts and polo shirts are available from the school office.

 

t-shirt

a short-sleeved casual top, generally made of cotton

 

Some print on demand websites have an online tool to design t-shirts online.

 

trendy men’s clothes

very fashionable or up to date in style or influence clothing for men

 

It has become very common to shop online for trendy men’s clothes at affordable prices.

 

PERSONALITY WORDS and POSITIVE ADJECTIVES

 

good-hearted

having a kindly generous disposition

 

She is one of the good-hearted persons who helped the victims

 

glass-half full person

person views the situation optimistically or hopefully

 

He is a glass-half full person, which inspires me the most no matter how hard the situation we are facing.

 

good sense of humor

causing lighthearted laughter and amusement; comic

 

A good sense of humor requires being observant, paying keen attention to what is going on.

 

humorous

causing lighthearted laughter and amusement; comic

 

The most humorous people I know tend to be so not because of “jokes” they tell.

 

role model

a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated

 

Being polite is a good role model to children.

 

to lose temper

become angry, especially when under pressure

 

He kept losing his temper with his children.

 

trustworthy

that can be trusted; reliable

 

He is trustworthy, keeps his word, does what is right.

 

easy-going

relaxed and tolerant in approach or manner

 

I have been told that I’m very ‘easy going’.

 

extrovert

somebody who is confident and outgoing

 

Her sister-in-law, has been more of an extrovert.

 

introvert

a shy, reticent, and typically self-centered person

 

He was an introvert, who quickly learned to be independent and self-sufficient.

 

practical

making choices or decisions that are sensible in the circumstances; pragmatic

 

He was very practical and helped the parties move forward. He had a good grasp of the issues.

 

emotional

emotional having strong feelings and showing them to other people

 

Some people are too sensitive and some are highly emotional.

 

rational

able to think sensibly and logically

 

A normal, rational person can believe the evidence of their senses.

 

impulsive

tending to act as a result of sudden feelings or desires, without thinking about consequences

 

At least for the next few days , allow yourself to be more impulsive.

 

perseverance

the quality of persevering, of not giving up trying to do something difficult

 

Despite the prediction, he recovered because of his perseverance and determination.

 

goal oriented

concerned with or focused on achieving a particular aim or result

 

He had a reason to full fill his goal he was goal oriented and no one was able to distract him from his goal.

 

flexible

able to change or adapt to new situations

 

You must be able to collaborate with other artists and be flexible in the hours you can work.

 

energetic

people who have a lot of energy, enthusiastic and determined

 

Exercise daily. Exercise helps you to be energetic.

 

life and soul of

someone who is energetic and funny and at the centre of activity during social occasions

 

We were at the same dinner party last night and he was the life and soul of it.

 

talkative

tending to talk a lot

 

She is a lively talkative girl who is doing well in school.

 

friendly

behaving in a pleasant and helpful way towards others

 

It was really great as I found the classes excellent and everyone was really friendly towards me.

 

honest

straightforward, truthful and sincere

 

He was also honest, loyal and modest; his word was his bond.

 

shy

being reserved or having or showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people

 

Most shy guys find it very difficult to talk to you in person.

 

perfectionist

somebody who wants everything to be perfect

 

Johnny and Gordon are  perfectionists.

 

generous

showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected

 

He was a generous man who treated his friends well.

 

optimistic

person confident that the future will be positive

 

Always so upbeat and optimistic, Carmel, for once, failed to come up with reasons to be cheerful.

 

loyal

giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person

 

A woman can be utterly loyal.

 

PERSONALITY NEGATIVE ADJECTIVES

 

picky

fussy or choosy

 

I am very picky when it comes to music but I really like your mix.

 

stubborn

unwilling to change one’s ideas even when there are good reasons to do so

 

He accused her of being a silly, stubborn old woman.

 

mean

unkind, cruel, nasty

 

Jack was a mean and bitter person.

 

aggressive

behaving in an angry, violent way

 

They soon became aggressive, punching him in the face and demanding his wallet and phone.

 

pessimistic

tending to believe that a bad outcome is the most likely, or interpreting something in the most negative way

 

I, for one, am pessimistic about any change in legislation in the foreseeable future.

 

arrogant

having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities

 

To me he will always be a selfish, arrogant bully who believes the only good advice is advice he gives.

 

egoistic

having a very high opinion of yourself and interest only in yourself

 

Humans are egoistic of nature, this is because the will to be alive drives us all.

 

possessive

demanding someone’s total attention and love

 

My husband was very jealous and possessive, and he couldn’t bear the fact that I wanted to pursue a career.

 

selfish

thinking only of oneself, or showing this

 

I think Zuckerberg is selfish. Let me explain you.

 

 

Word Formation

 


WORD

PART OF SPEECH

EXAMPLE

 

sense

noun

A little bit of praise and appreciation can give people a real sense of well-being.

to sense

verb

I think she must have sensed there was something wrong.

sensitive

adjective

The new method of protein detection was more sensitive than earlier ones.


 

achievement

noun

To reach this stage is a great achievement.

achiever

noun

These children are achievers destined to follow an exacting academic route.


reaction

noun

Carrie’s immediate reaction was one of relief” react.

to react

verb

How did your husband react when you told him you were pregnant?


 

compliment

noun

She paid me an enormous compliment.

complimentary

adjective

Jennie was very complimentary about Kathy’s riding.


 

muscles

noun

Relax all the muscles of your body and try to be aware of your breathing”.

muscular

adjective

In person he appears taller and more muscular than he does on the pitch.


 

curls

noun

Ruth and Walter had lovely , long , blond curls.

curly

adjective

He had a girlfriend with curly blond hair.

to curl

verb

Her hair curled naturally.


 

humour

noun

Find the humour in the situation and make light of it.

humorous

adjective

The most humorous people I know tend to be so not because of “jokes” they tell.


Collocations

 


bubbly
extrovert
sparkling
vibrant
charming
attractive

adjective+

personality

 

overwhelming
strong
deep
mixed
conflicting

adjective+

emotion

 

attractive
youthful
strange
outward
odd
handsome

adjective+

appearance

 

to look young for your

phrase+

age

 

to be

verb+

well-built
well-turned out
overweight
the life and soul of the party

 

 

to hide

verb+

one’s light under a bushel

 

 

to loose good

verb+

sense of humor

 

 

Useful resources

 

 

IELTS Websites

 

Podcasts

 

Articles

 

Videos

Hey, check out this video from  Daria, a real IELT test taker from Russia. She got  more than 7.0 in Speaking  from her first attempt and she prepared at home. Impressive? I also highly recommend to visit her youtube channel. She also has telegram chat and channel, and Facebook page where she shares her own experience and free IELTS materials.  Check description  in the video for links. There’s nothing more helpful than  following a  real IELTS test taker who got such a great result:

Daria’s first attempt in IELTS:

9.0 – Reading

9.0 – Listening

7.0 – Writing

7.5 – Speaking

 

More videos:

 

 

Downloads

 

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