IELTS Speaking · Part 2 Cue Card
Describe a person who has had a significant influence on your life
A complete preparation guide: the cue card itself, a 60-second prep framework, a band 7.5 sample answer, topic vocabulary, and likely Part 3 follow-up questions.
Cue card
Describe a person who has had a significant influence on your life.
You should say:
- •Who they are and how you know them
- •What kind of person they are
- •What they have done that influenced you
- •And explain why their influence has been important
How to use your 1 minute of prep time
Specific to this cue card — not generic advice.
- 1Pick someone whose influence you can describe with one concrete story, not a list of virtues.
- 2Decide the single trait you want to highlight (e.g. resilience, curiosity) — your story should illustrate that trait.
- 3Note two or three time markers so the timeline is clear (when you met, when the moment happened, where you are now).
- 4Plan to spend the last 30 seconds on the 'why important' bullet — that is what the examiner is grading hardest.
Sample answer (band 7.5)
Read it once for shape, then aloud for rhythm. Don't memorise it — examiners can tell.
I'd like to talk about my aunt, who is essentially the reason I went into engineering. She's my mother's older sister, and although she lives in a different city, we've always been close — partly because she used to send me popular-science magazines when I was about ten. She's an electrical engineer by training, and what really stands out about her is how patient she is when she explains things. She never makes you feel stupid for asking. The moment that genuinely changed my life was the summer before I chose my university course. I was leaning towards business because everyone in my family said it was safer, but she sat me down and walked me through what an engineer actually does day-to-day. She didn't push me; she just gave me a realistic picture. By the end of that conversation, I'd basically made up my mind. Looking back, I think her influence has mattered because she modelled something I hadn't seen before — a woman who was technical, calm, and successful without being intimidating. Without that example, I don't think I'd have had the confidence to pick a male-dominated field.
Topic vocabulary & collocations
Phrases used in the sample answer that lift fluency naturally.
essentially the reason
the main cause of something
lean towards
to start to prefer one option
model something
to demonstrate a behaviour for others
realistic picture
an honest, accurate description
make up my mind
to reach a final decision
stands out
is especially noticeable
male-dominated field
an industry mostly made up of men
Likely Part 3 follow-up questions
The examiner will move from your story (Part 2) to broader, abstract questions (Part 3). Prepare answers for these.
- Who has more influence on children today, parents or teachers? Why?
- Has the kind of person young people admire changed in recent decades?
- Do you think celebrities should be considered role models?
- How does growing up in a big family affect a child's personality?
- Can a stranger have a real influence on someone's life?
Common pitfalls on this card
- ⚠Listing virtues ('she is kind, smart, hardworking…') instead of telling one specific story.
- ⚠Choosing a famous person you've never met — examiners want lived experience.
- ⚠Forgetting to answer the 'why' bullet, which is where Band 7+ language usually appears.