Describe a person who did something to help you solve a problem
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card with a full sample answer, a Band 9 model of the two-minute long turn.
The cue card
Describe a person who did something to help you solve a problem
You should say:
- what the problem was
- when and where you faced it
- how this person solved it
- how you felt about the experience
Sample answer
I'd like to describe someone who helped me out of a tight spot — my older cousin, who came to my rescue during a particularly trying time.
The problem I faced was that I was completely snowed under while gearing up for a crucial set of university entrance exams. I was struggling to get my head around some of the tougher subjects, mathematics especially, and I was falling behind despite putting in hours of study. As the exams drew closer, I grew increasingly anxious and started losing faith in my own ability to pull through.
This took place a few years back, during my final year of high school, mostly at home, where I was trying, and failing, to make headway on my own. It was one of the most stressful stretches I've ever been through.
Fortunately, my cousin, who had already sat the same exams and sailed through them, stepped in to lend a hand. When he noticed how frazzled I was, he generously offered to tutor me in his spare time. He would come over several evenings a week and patiently walk me through the concepts I was grappling with, breaking them down until they finally clicked. Beyond the academic side, he also passed on his own study techniques, helped me draw up a realistic revision timetable, and constantly reassured me that I had it in me to do well.
His help made a world of difference. Not only did my grades and understanding shoot up dramatically, but my confidence was restored too, which was perhaps even more important.
As for how I felt about the whole experience, I was, and still am, deeply grateful to him. I was genuinely touched that he sacrificed so much of his own free time simply to help me, expecting nothing whatsoever in return. It really cemented the bond between us. His kindness taught me the true value of looking out for others, and I've since tried to pay it forward with younger relatives whenever they need a hand.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 2 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How long should I speak for in Part 2?
Between one and two minutes. The examiner stops you at two, so aim to still be talking at the ninety-second mark rather than finishing early — running out at forty seconds is the most common problem in this part.
What do I do with the one minute of preparation time?
You get one minute and a pencil and paper. Most candidates waste it writing full sentences they then read aloud, which sounds flat. Note a few keywords against each bullet instead, so you have four things to talk about rather than a script.
Do I have to cover all four bullet points?
They are prompts, not a checklist, and you are not penalised for skipping one. In practice they are the easiest way to fill two minutes, so covering them is usually the simplest way to keep going.
Does it matter if the story is not true?
No. You are assessed on your English, not on whether the events happened. Inventing detail is fine and often easier than recalling a real memory under pressure.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.