Describe a Person You Admire – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answers

Common versions of this cue card:

Version 1: Describe a person you admire a lot. Version 2: Describe someone who has influenced you greatly. Version 3: Describe a famous person you find interesting. Version 4: Describe a family member who is important to you.

You should say: • Who this person is • How you know/knew them • What they are like / what they do • And explain why you admire or are influenced by them

You have 1 minute to prepare. Speak for 1–2 minutes.

I'd like to talk about my secondary school English teacher, Mrs. Sharma. She was one of those rare educators who could make even the most uninterested students fall in love with literature.

I first met her when I was about fourteen. What immediately struck me was her infectious enthusiasm — she would come into class bursting with energy, as if she genuinely couldn't wait to share what she knew.

She was a tall, elegant woman in her early forties, with a sharp wit and an extraordinary ability to explain complex texts in simple terms. What set her apart was how she encouraged critical thinking rather than rote learning. She would pose thought-provoking questions and patiently wait for each student to form their own opinion.

The reason I admire her so deeply is that she changed my relationship with reading. Before her class, I saw books as a chore. Under her guidance, I discovered that literature is essentially a mirror of the human condition. She also went out of her way to support students who were struggling, staying after school to give extra help without ever making them feel inadequate.

To this day, whenever I face a difficult decision, I ask myself what she would do. I genuinely believe that her influence shaped not just my academic journey but my character as a whole.

The person I admire most is my grandfather, who is now in his late seventies but still one of the sharpest minds I've ever encountered.

He grew up in a small village with very limited resources. Despite this, he put himself through night school while working during the day, eventually becoming a civil engineer. He built roads and bridges in rural areas for over three decades.

Physically, he is a wiry, energetic man with silver hair and eyes that light up whenever he talks about engineering or history — his two greatest passions. He has a quiet, steady confidence about him; he never raises his voice, yet when he speaks, everyone listens.

What I find truly inspiring about him is his resilience. He faced enormous hardships — poverty, illness, and personal losses — yet he never adopted a victim mentality. Instead, he used adversity as fuel. He also taught me the importance of lifelong learning; even at his age, he reads two newspapers a day and regularly explores online courses.

I admire him because he demonstrated through actions, not words, that humble origins are not a limitation. He is living proof that hard work, curiosity, and integrity can take a person very far.

I'd like to describe Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, who is commonly known as the Missile Man of India.

I first learned about him in primary school, but it was only in my teenage years, when I read his autobiography 'Wings of Fire,' that I truly understood the remarkable journey of his life.

Dr. Kalam came from an extremely modest background in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. Despite limited means, he pursued his passion for aeronautical engineering and went on to lead India's missile development and space programmes. He later became the 11th President of India, a position he held with extraordinary humility.

What distinguished him from many public figures was his genuine connection with young people. He spent much of his later life visiting schools and universities, urging students to dream big and to work for the nation. He was known for his accessibility — staying back for hours to answer students' questions — and for his personal austerity despite holding the highest office in the land.

I admire Dr. Kalam because he embodied the belief that greatness is not reserved for the privileged. His life is a testament to the power of curiosity, dedication, and selflessness. Even years after his passing in 2015, his words — 'Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts, and thoughts result in action' — continue to inspire millions.

Q1: What qualities make a person admirable in your culture? Sample: In Indian culture, people tend to admire those who combine professional excellence with moral integrity. Family values, humility, and a service-oriented mindset are particularly respected. There's also a strong reverence for those who overcome hardship through perseverance rather than privilege.

Q2: Do you think famous people have a responsibility to be role models? Sample: Absolutely — though perhaps not by choice. When someone enters the public sphere, they inevitably become a reference point for younger generations. Athletes, actors, and politicians shape aspirations and norms whether they intend to or not. That said, expecting perfection is unrealistic; what matters is that they acknowledge their mistakes and show accountability.

Q3: Has the internet changed the way we view public figures? Sample: Dramatically so. Social media has dismantled the carefully curated image that celebrities used to project. We now get unfiltered glimpses into their private lives, which can be both humanising and disillusioning. On the positive side, social media has also enabled lesser-known individuals — grassroots activists, independent scientists, local teachers — to gain recognition they previously never could have.

Q4: Are role models as important for adults as for children? Sample: I believe so, though in a different way. Children look for role models to understand what they want to become. Adults, on the other hand, seek validation and direction. Seeing someone navigate the same challenges you're facing — career transitions, parenthood, ageing — provides a kind of roadmap that pure information cannot.

Describing appearance:

• distinguished-looking, wiry, elegant, sharp-eyed

Describing personality:

• infectious enthusiasm, sharp wit, quiet confidence
• resilient, humble, principled, compassionate
• thought-provoking, selfless, austerity

Describing influence:

• shaped my perspective, transformed my outlook
• served as a constant source of inspiration
• profoundly influenced the way I approach

Useful phrases:

• 'What immediately struck me was…'
• 'What set them apart was…'
• 'To this day, whenever I…'
• 'They are living proof that…'
• 'I genuinely believe that…'

Band 8+ connectors:

• Nevertheless / Nonetheless
• In retrospect / With hindsight
• Testament to / Embodiment of
• By contrast / Conversely

Recommended structure for 2 minutes: • 15 seconds: Introduction (who the person is) • 25 seconds: Physical/personality description • 40 seconds: Key story or example showing why you admire them • 30 seconds: Impact on your life / why they matter • 10 seconds: Conclusion

Do: ✓ Speak from genuine experience (authentic answers score higher) ✓ Use specific examples, not vague generalizations ✓ Vary your vocabulary — don't repeat 'nice' or 'good' ✓ Show range of tenses: past for background, present for ongoing influence

Avoid: ✗ Reading directly from notes ✗ Describing only physical appearance ✗ Stopping before 1.5 minutes ✗ Hesitating excessively — pause briefly but confidently