The cue card
Describe a person who has inspired you. You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know them
- what they have done
- and explain why they inspire you
You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1 to 2 minutes.
🎙 Practise this card with the examiner
Notes you could make in 1 minute
Write key words only, one line per bullet point:
- my aunt Leila, nurse
- night shifts + study
- opened a clinic
- never gave up
Band 7+ sample answer
The person I'd like to talk about is my aunt, Meera, who lives in Brisbane. I've known her all my life, of course, but we became really close when I moved to Australia, because I stayed with her for my first three months here.
What she's done is quite remarkable. She arrived in Australia in her thirties with very little English and two young children. She worked in a supermarket during the day and studied at night, and eventually she qualified as a registered nurse. Now she manages a ward at a big hospital.
The reason she inspires me is that she never complains. Whenever I feel that studying for my exams is too hard, I remember that she did all of this while raising a family. She also has a very practical attitude: she always says, 'Just do the next small thing.' That advice has helped me a lot, especially when I'm feeling overwhelmed. So I suppose she's shown me that persistence matters more than talent.
About 167 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
- a role model
- against all odds
- to juggle work and study
- to give back to the community
- down-to-earth
- to look up to someone
Why this answer works: it covers every bullet point, tells a short story with specific details (names, places, numbers), uses a range of tenses, and finishes with the "explain" point, which is where you show your best vocabulary.
Follow-up and Part 3 questions
Examiner's follow-up (Part 2): Do you think this person knows they inspired you?
Part 3 discussion questions:
- What qualities make someone a good role model?
- Do famous people have a responsibility to set a good example?
- Are role models more important for children or adults?
- How has social media changed who young people look up to?
Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.
More cue cards
Frequently asked questions
How long should my answer to 'Describe a person who has inspired you' be?
Speak for up to 2 minutes; the examiner will stop you. That's roughly 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The sample answer on this page is about 167 words.
Can I memorise this sample answer?
No. Examiners are trained to recognise memorised answers, and it can lower your score. Use the sample to see the structure and borrow a few phrases, then talk about your own experience.