The main part of the IELTS speaking part 2 is the Cue Card, where you have to speak on topics like “Describe A Person Who Contributes To Society” for 1-2 minutes. This will help the evaluator to assess your ability to speak English fluently and coherently. But if you are someone who does not speak English daily, then answering a cue card can get a little difficult. Especially when you will only have a few minutes to prepare. Below, we have mentioned sample answers on this topic along with some follow-up questions and tips that can help you ace the IELTS cue card section.
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In the IELTS speaking section, you will be given a cue card with a topic written on it, along with a few pointers. Based on the four pointers in the cue card, you will have to talk about the topic for 1-2 minutes.
You will also get an additional minute to think about what you are going to say and prepare, and after you are done talking, there will be a two-way discussion. In the discussion, the evaluator will ask you some follow-up questions regarding the topic for a more analytical and in-depth analysis of your language skills.
The topics for IELTS cue cards can range from personal experience and opinions to descriptions of objects, places, people, and events. And one of these topics is “Describe A Person Who Contributes To Society.” To answer this topic fluently and coherently, you can take help from our three samples below.
You can effectively answer the IELTS cue card by understanding the topic, speaking clearly, and using the one-minute preparation time to brainstorm ideas. In addition to this, also try to avoid memorising and instead pay more attention to developing your ideas naturally and spontaneously.
Here are some more things you should keep in mind to answer the cue card in the IELTS speaking section effectively:
1. Read Carefully: When reading the cue card, make sure that you pay extra attention to understand the topic and other specific information on the card carefully.
2. Plan Your Response: Use 1 minute to prepare efficiently, try to note down ideas and keywords that you can use while answering. Also, try to organise your response in a structured format of introduction, body, and conclusion.
3. Stay on Topic: Lastly, avoid diverging from the topic and speaking too quickly. Make sure that your response directly answers your topic and does not include unnecessary things.
In the IELTS cue card, you will also get four pointers that can help in guiding your response and even articulate your thought process. Let’s take a look at the few pointers you can get for the topic “Describe A Person Who Contributes to Society.” You can use these to guide your response:
Here is an image of how your IELTS Cue card might look in the IELTS speaking part 2. Check it out!
Now that we understand everything about what a cue card is in the IELTS speaking section, let’s take a look at three sample answers based on these four pointers on the topic “Describe A Person Who Contributes To Society.” Read below!
In this sample, we have taken an example of a doctor who is contributing to society. You can take this as a reference and formulate your answers similarly to get a Band score of 8 in Part 2 of IELTS.
There are many people in my life who have played a significant role in making society better, but the one person who truly stands out to me is Dr. Renu Sharma. She is a community doctor and social activist in my hometown. The reason I admire her and believe she is contributing to society is because of her dedication and commitment to helping others.
I first met or came to know about Dr. Sharma when she organised a free health camp in our neighbourhood a couple of years ago. And ever since then, I have seen her actively get involved in several social initiatives and community programs.
Dr. Sharma is a general physician by profession, but she does more than just her medical duties. She provides free treatment to underprivileged families, organises vaccination drives, and regularly holds awareness programs on hygiene, nutrition, and women's health. In addition to this, she also collaborates with various NGOs to improve rural healthcare infrastructure.
I believe she is contributing to society because all her efforts are directly impacting the lives of underprivileged people who generally get neglected by authorities. She also does not just provide treatment, but she also spreads awareness. She has been working her whole life to bridge the gap between quality healthcare and those who cannot afford it.
In my opinion, people like Dr. Sharma are the ones we can call true heroes of our society. This is because they are not only improving people’s lives but are also building a stronger, healthier, and more informed community. I feel lucky to have met her and believe her contribution will have a lasting positive impact for generations to come.
In this next sample for “Describe A Person Who Contributes To Society” cue card, we have put extra attention to good vocabulary. So if you want to improve your score in the Lexical resources of the IELTS speaking section, you can take help from this:
The one person I think who truly exemplifies the spirit of social responsibility is Mr. Arvind Mehra. He is a retired school principal who is now spending all of his time educating underprivileged children. And because of this, he has made a long-lasting impact on children from various communities.
I met Mr. Mehra about two years ago when I volunteered for community service at a community centre. He was leading a group of volunteers who were teaching basic literacy and numeracy to children from low-income families. There, I got a chance to talk to him and ever since then, I am in awe of his calm demeanour and unwavering commitment to helping others.
Even after retiring from a long career in education, Mr. Mehra is dedicating the rest of his life to providing education to underprivileged children. He has also launched a local initiative called "Education for All", which provides free tutoring, school supplies, and mentorship to children who might not get it otherwise. He even organises weekend workshops to raise awareness about the importance of education, hygiene, and civic sense.
I think he is greatly contributing to society by helping the underprivileged receive the basic education they so well deserve. It is also indirectly impacting the root cause of poverty, which is a lack of education. I think by empowering young minds, he is not only improving their lives but also uplifting families and other communities.
To me, Mr. Mehra is a shining example of how one person’s passion and persistence can drive meaningful change. His contribution goes beyond teaching; he is nurturing future generations and building a stronger, more informed society.
In this last sample, we have used a more direct approach to answering the question that will help you avoid diverging from the topic and answer the cue card effectively:
A person I admire the most for their contribution to society is Ms. Priya Verma. She is a local environmentalist in my city who actively works to improve our surroundings and promote eco-friendly habits.
I first met Ms. Verma at a tree-planting drive that was organised by a local NGO I volunteer for regularly. She was leading the event and gave a short but powerful talk about how important it is for the community to be involved in protecting the environment.
Ms. Verma runs a small organisation that focuses on urban sustainability. Her work includes organising clean-up drives, planting trees, and holding workshops in schools about waste reduction and recycling. She also helps residents set up composting systems and rooftop gardens. In addition, she’s been pushing the city council to adopt greener policies.
I believe she contributes a lot because she takes direct action to solve real problems. Pollution and climate change are serious issues, and people like her are trying to tackle them at the local level. What makes her work even more impactful is that she gets others involved, especially young people.
In short, I think Ms. Verma is someone who is truly making a positive difference. Her dedication, leadership, and hands-on approach are helping to create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.
In the IELTS speaking section, you also get scores for Lexical resources, which account for a total of 25% of your overall score. Lexical resources are used to evaluate your vocabulary for IELTS. More importantly, how well you use a wide range of words while giving your answer.
In the table below, we have listed out all the IELTS vocabulary words we used in all three samples above, along with their meaning. Check these out so that you understand what can help you boost your marks in IELTS:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Social activist | A person who works to bring social or political change. |
| Initiatives | New plans or actions to solve a problem or improve something. |
| General physician | A doctor who treats common medical conditions. |
| Underprivileged | Lacking basic needs like education, money, or healthcare. |
| Infrastructure | Basic physical systems like roads, schools, or hospitals. |
| Impacting | Affecting or influencing something strongly. |
| Informed | Having knowledge or awareness about something. |
| Exemplifies | Clearly shows or represents a good example of something. |
| Social responsibility | A duty to help and care for others in society. |
| Community service | Voluntary work done to help people or the local area. |
| Volunteers | People who work without pay to help a cause. |
| Literacy | The ability to read and write. |
| Numeracy | The ability to use numbers and do basic math. |
| Demeanor | A person's appearance or behavior. |
| Unwavering | Strong and steady; not changing. |
| Dedicating | Giving time or effort to a cause or task. |
| Tutoring | Teaching one-on-one or in small groups. |
| Civic sense | Awareness of one's duties and responsibilities as a citizen. |
| Empowering | Giving someone power, confidence, or control over their life. |
| Persistence | The ability to keep going despite difficulties. |
| Nurturing | Helping someone or something grow and develop. |
| Environmentalist | A person who works to protect the environment. |
| Volunteer | Someone who offers to help without being paid. |
| Urban sustainability | Creating cities that can support people and nature in the long term. |
| Composting systems | Methods for turning food and garden waste into natural fertilizer. |
Once you are done with your cue card response, the evaluator will ask you some follow-up questions for a more detailed discussion. This will go on for 4-5 minutes, and it will help him/her assess your English speaking ability better.
Below are a few follow-up questions along with their ideal answers for the topic Describe A Person Who Contributes To Society- IELTS cue card:
1. Why do some people dedicate their lives to helping others?
I think some people dedicate their whole lives to helping others because they have a strong sense of empathy and compassion. And I think they genuinely care about improving the lives of others and that it is their moral duty to give back to society. In addition to this, many of them also find personal satisfaction and purpose through acts of service.
2. What qualities do you think are essential for someone to contribute to society?
I think the main qualities that are essential for someone to contribute to society are compassion, patience, and dedication. Compassion can help them understand and care about the struggles of others, while dedication can help them stay committed to whatever their goal is. Lastly, patience is extremely important because, for social change, there has to be sustained growth for a long period.
3. Do you think people are less willing to help others these days compared to the past?
I think the answer to this mainly depends on the context. While some might argue that modern life’s fast pace and digital distractions have reduced face-to-face social interactions. However, there are many people today who are very active in social causes, especially through online platforms. It’s just that the way people contribute to society has evolved and taken a different shape.
4. How can individuals encourage others to join them to help those in need?
Individuals can encourage others to join them by leading by example and showing how positively their work is impacting society. They can also share personal stories, which can inspire people emotionally. In addition to this, organising community events or social media campaigns can also help raise awareness and motivate others to participate.
5. What challenges might individuals face when trying to help others regularly?
One major challenge most individuals might face when trying to help others is time management. This is especially true when balancing personal and professional responsibilities. Another difficulty is dealing with limited resources, like funding or support from authorities. Sometimes, volunteers can also face emotional exhaustion or frustration if progress is slow or if the people they help are resistant to change.
Since IELTS speaking part 2 contributes to 25% of your total speaking band score, it is really important to effectively demonstrate your English speaking ability. But this can be a little difficult for some; however, below are some tips that can help:
While it can get a little overwhelming to answer the IELTS speaking part 2, you can easily ace it with practice and taking up as many IELTS mock tests as you can. Above, we gave you three samples for the Describe A Person Who Contributes To Society - IELTS Cue Card, along with a few follow-up questions. This will help you in practising for your IELTS exam effectively; however, if you are still struggling or want online IELTS Classes. Then you can get help from Gradding.com, our experts will provide you with tailored assistance to help you get your dream IELTS band score.
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