Describe an ad with a famous person in it
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 an ad with a famous person in it
You should say:
- who the person is
- what the ad is about
- where you can see it
- how you feel about it
Sample answer
I'd like to describe an advertisement featuring a famous face that has really lodged itself in my memory — a well-known perfume commercial starring a globally recognised Hollywood actor.
The famous person in the advertisement is a hugely popular film star, admired the world over for both his acting chops and his charismatic, polished image. He's the kind of celebrity whose face is instantly recognisable to almost everyone on the planet.
The advertisement itself is for a luxury men's fragrance from a famous designer brand. Rather than simply showcasing the product, the ad spins a short, cinematic tale: the actor is shown strolling through a glamorous, dimly lit city at night, dressed to the nines in a sharp suit, oozing confidence and sophistication. The whole thing is beautifully shot, with sweeping music, and the product only makes a fleeting appearance right at the end. It's clearly designed to link the perfume with a sense of luxury, success and masculine allure.
As for where you'd come across it, this advertisement is absolutely everywhere. It's aired frequently on television, especially around the holiday season, and it also crops up as glossy posters in shopping malls, in glossy magazines, and as short clips before videos online. It's virtually impossible to escape.
In terms of how I feel about it, I have to admit my feelings are rather mixed. On the one hand, I can appreciate that it's extremely slickly made and visually stunning, and roping in such a famous star certainly makes it memorable and eye-catching. On the other hand, I'm a little wary of this kind of celebrity endorsement, because deep down I know the actor is simply being paid a fortune and probably doesn't even use the product himself. It's clever marketing that sells an image and a lifestyle rather than the fragrance itself. So while I admire the craftsmanship behind it, I try not to let it sway my actual purchasing decisions.
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.