Describe a person who works in a successful company
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 works in a successful company
You should say:
- who this person is
- what this person does in this company
- what this business does
- why you think it's successful
Sample answer
I'd like to describe someone I know who works for a hugely successful company — my cousin, who is employed at a major international technology firm.
My cousin is a few years older than me, and we've always been fairly close. After graduating with a degree in computer science, he landed a job at one of the world's largest and most well-known tech companies, which was a real feather in his cap given how fiercely competitive such positions are.
Within the company, he works as a software engineer. His role involves designing and building features for the company's products, writing and testing code, and collaborating closely with a large team of other engineers and designers. He often fills me in on the exciting and challenging projects he's working on, which sound genuinely cutting-edge.
The company itself is a global technology giant that develops software, digital services and consumer electronics used by billions of people worldwide. It's the kind of household name that almost everyone would instantly recognise, and its products have become deeply woven into modern daily life.
There are several reasons I consider the company such a runaway success. Firstly, it's renowned for its relentless innovation, always staying a step ahead of its rivals by rolling out groundbreaking new technologies. Secondly, it boasts an enormous and fiercely loyal global customer base, and its products are famous for their quality and reliability. On top of that, it's known for treating its staff exceptionally well, offering generous salaries, benefits and a stimulating work environment, which allows it to poach the brightest talent from all over the world.
Personally, I'm thoroughly impressed by my cousin's success and by the company he works for. He seems genuinely happy and fulfilled in his role, and hearing about his experiences has actually sparked my own interest in pursuing a career in technology. To my mind, his company is a shining example of what it takes to build a truly successful business in the modern world.
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.