A cue card or the candidate task card is an important part of the IELTS speaking part 2, where you have to speak for 1-2 minutes. The main purpose of this task is to assess your ability to speak in English at length on a given topic. And one of these topics can be “Describe an Intelligent Person You Know.” Today in our blog, we will be giving you three sample answers on this topic along with a few follow-up questions. This will help you understand how you need to formulate your response in the speaking section of the IELTS and get a Band score of 8+. Read on and discover samples, tips, and follow-up questions!
Table of Contents
In the second part of the IELTS speaking section, you will be given a cue card. In it, you will get a topic or a prompt like “Describe an Intelligent Person You Know,” on which you will have to speak for 1-2 minutes straight. In total, you will get around three minutes for the whole task, where one minute is for you to prepare and understand the prompt.
In addition to the topic, you will also be given a few pointers on the cue card that will help you guide your response. And once you are done answering or once two minutes are up, the examiner will ask you some follow-up questions. These questions will be guided towards assessing your speaking skills in more detail.
Lastly, the topic on the IELTS cue cards can range from things like describing places, people, events, experiences, and things. Today, we will discuss the topic “describe an intelligent person you know” and how you can answer it effectively with the help of our samples. But let’s first see how you should answer the cue card.
Since cue cards are such a big deal in the IELTS speaking section, answering them effectively is very important. So make sure that when you answer the cue card, you take full advantage of the one-minute preparation time. In addition to this, you should also pay extra attention to having a clear flow with high vocabulary and good grammar.
Here are some more ways to help you answer the IELTS cue cards effectively:
1. Read Carefully: Make sure that you understand the topic and what you are expected from the task fully. Also, try to note down key points and phrases that you can use in your response.
2. Stay on Topic: During your response, make sure that you do not talk about things that will divert the topic and have no relation to it.
3. Plan Your Response: Lastly, try to plan your response in the one-minute time frame. You can try to break down your response into different sections and points and try to organise them.
Along with the topic, you will also get four pointers on the cue card that will help you guide your answer and give a better direction to your thought process. Here are some points you can get for the topic “Describe an Intelligent Person You Know” that you can use in your response:
Your IELTS cue card will look something like this:
Now let’s take a look at three sample answers for this topic which include all these pointers that you can use to ace IELTS speaking part 2. Read on!
This sample answer on “Describe an Intelligent Person You Know” will help you understand how you can structure your response and what you need to include in the three key pointers:
Intelligence for me is more than just knowing about a lot of things. I believe it is more about how wisely someone is using their knowledge. And for me, someone who truly reflects this kind of intelligence is my uncle Ramesh.
My uncle Ramesh is a science teacher and someone I have always looked up to. He has a calm, thoughtful personality and a natural curiosity that inspires everyone around him. Whether he is solving a complex problem or explaining a simple idea, he does it with clarity and patience.
I call him intelligent not just because of how much he knows, but because of how he applies that knowledge. He can break down complicated ideas into simple, understandable parts. He often comes up with creative solutions to problems and has a deep understanding of both science and everyday life. What sets him apart is his emotional intelligence; he listens carefully and always offers wise advice.
I have known him all my life, he is my mother’s elder brother. From childhood, I have seen him read books, fix things around the house, and help others with their questions. I often go to him when I need help with my studies or when I just need guidance. Through every conversation with him, I learn something new.
To me, Uncle Ramesh is the perfect example of an intelligent person. His knowledge, curiosity, and kind nature make him someone I admire deeply.
This second sample will help you get an idea of the kind of answer you need to give to increase your score in lexical resources in the IELTS speaking section. Here, we have used a wider range of vocabulary while still keeping it simple.
In my opinion, intelligence is not just about academic performance. But it is also about how they are using it to solve problems and adapt to different situations. And one person who fits into this description is my cousin, Ananya.
Ananya is a software developer and is currently working in a big tech company. But she is not only great at what she does, she even likes learning and going beyond her field and learn about psychology and literature. But what makes her different from others is that she can not only think logically, but can even remain thoughtful and empathetic.
There are multiple reasons why I believe she is intelligent. This includes things like her excellent problem-solving abilities and her ability to look at situations from different angles and solve them. Apart from just the technical intelligence, she also has great emotional intelligence. She is amazing at handling difficult situations calmly and understands how someone is feeling.
She is my cousin, and we’ve spent a lot of time together since childhood. Over the years, I’ve seen her grow into a confident and capable individual. We often talk about things like current events and personal goals, and I always learn something new from our conversations. She has been a great influence in my life, both as a mentor and a friend.
So yes, Ananya is someone I deeply admire for her intelligence, kindness, and curiosity. She not only excels in her career but also inspires others, and especially me through her words and actions. I believe she is a great example of what it truly means to be intelligent in today’s world.
In this sample, we have followed a direct approach to make the response clear and easy to understand. This will help you get a Band score of 8+ in IELTS speaking:
I think in today’s world, which is so fast-moving, being intelligent is more than just having a high IQ. You also have to be creative, a quick thinker, and emotionally aware. And my friend Nikhil is like that; he perfectly fits this description.
Nikhil and I studied together during our undergraduate years. He was our batch’s top performer, but what truly made him remarkable was how he could solve problems and think outside the box. In addition to this, he also had a practical and smart approach towards group projects, technical issues, or real-life situations.
I believe he is intelligent because he has an incredible ability to learn quickly and apply knowledge in meaningful ways. What I mean by this is that he could easily understand difficult concepts in just one reason and then effortlessly explain them to others. In addition to this, he is also very innovative. He once designed a low-cost water filter for a class project that impressed even our professors.
We became close friends in our first year of college and ended up working on several assignments together. The more time I used to spent with him, the more I understood how his mind works and how he always stays curious.
Nikhil is one of the most intelligent individuals I’ve ever met. He’s not only sharp-minded but also wise beyond his years. I’m sure he’ll achieve great things in the future, and I feel lucky to have had the chance to learn from and with him.
In the IELTS speaking part 2, you will also be evaluated on the range and accuracy of the vocabulary for IELTS you use. In the table below, we have listed all the vocabulary words along with their meaning. This will help you understand the kind of words you can use to boost your scores.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Curiosity | A strong desire to learn or know more. |
| Complex | Made of many connected parts; not simple. |
| Emotional Intelligence | Understanding and managing your own and others' emotions. |
| Empathetic | Able to understand and share someone else's feelings. |
| Influence | The power to affect how someone thinks or acts. |
| Excel | To do very well at something. |
| Effortlessly | Done with ease; without difficulty. |
| Innovative | Creative and introducing new ideas. |
| Curious | Wanting to know more about something. |
| Sharp-minded | Quick to think, understand, or learn. |
As we mentioned above, after you are done with your response or once your time is up, the evaluator will ask you a few follow-up questions. This will go on for 4-5 minutes and help him/her to assess your speaking skills more in detail.
For the cue card “Describe an Intelligent Person You Know,” you might get questions about the person's intelligence, their impact on you, and how they compare to others. Here are a few for your reference:
1. Do you think intelligence is always a positive thing? Why or why not?
I think intelligence in general is a positive thing, but this highly depends on how someone is using it. For example, if someone is intelligent but/does not have empathy or humility, then it can create problems. However, if someone is both intelligent and kind, then it helps in solving problems and helps others.
2. Why are some children more intelligent than others?
There are several factors why some children are more intelligent than others. While one of them can be genetic, it also highly depends on the environment. Some children grow up in an environment where they are encouraged to ask questions, learn, and explore. This is a return to help in their mental development.
3. How do you think intelligence is developed?
In my opinion, intelligence is developed through a mix of natural ability and continuous learning. It grows when people are exposed to new ideas, face challenges, and learn from their experiences. Things like reading, problem-solving, interacting with diverse people, and staying curious, all contribute to developing different kinds of intelligence, not just academic, but emotional and practical too.
4. Do you think intelligence is more important in certain fields?
Yes, there are fields like science, medicine, engineering, and technology where intelligence is more important. Even though you need to have a high level of analytical and logical intelligence, emotional and social intelligence are just as important in areas like teaching, counselling, or management.
5. Do you think intelligence is more important than other qualities, such as creativity or hard work?
No, I think all three are equally important and work best when combined. Intelligence might help you understand things quickly, but without hard work and creativity, it’s difficult to achieve something meaningful. For example, a smart person might have good ideas, but without the discipline to work on them or the creativity to present them differently, they may not stand out.
Since cue cards contribute to 50% of the IELTS speaking section, it is really important to ace them. And to help you with that, below are a few tips:
1. During the one-minute preparation time, try to brainstorm ideas, plan how you are going to respond, and note down points that you can use.
2. Also, try to avoid memorizing your answer. If you forget one point, you will end up ruining your whole response. So, try to be natural and go with your thought flow.
3. You can also use linking words or connectors like "firstly," "moreover," "in addition," and "for example". This will help in transitioning smoothly between your ideas.
4. If it is going naturally, incorporate idioms in your response. Using idioms can make your speech more engaging and show a good command of English.
5. Lastly, try not to give a sentence answer. Try to expand and elaborate your points with reasons, examples, and personal opinions.
Getting a band score of 8+ in the IELTS speaking part 2 takes more than just good English speaking ability. You have to focus on clear communication, structured responses, and confident delivery. Besides our tips and sample answers above for the topic “Describe an Intelligent Person You Know,” you can also take online IELTS Classes from our experts at Gradding.com. You will get to practice with sample questions and model answers, and even get tailored feedback on your speaking skills. Get help today!
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