Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Person who has once helped you in your work or studies - Cue Card # 552
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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe a person who has once helped you in your work or studies.
You should say:
- who this person is
- what this person has done for you
- how this person has helped you
and explain how you felt about it.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
His name is George Henley, and he was my coworker for almost 2 years when I was working at my previous company. George Henley is one of the most helpful people I have ever met, and today, I'd tell you how he has helped me with my work as a good colleague.
Even though I am calling George my coworker in a more general sense, he was more like a mentor to me, as he was way more senior to me - not only in terms of age but also considering his experience. But neither his age nor his experience prevented him from taking me under his assuring wings to train me as a future Lead Business Development Strategist of my company.
Now, please understand that being a successful Business Developer in a very competitive industry like “travel and tourism” is not an easy thing by any stretch of the imagination. However, George taught me all the tricks to become one within a rather short period of time. He taught me many things at work, including the tricks to identifying rising business opportunities and building long-term business relationships with prospective clients and existing customers. But what has helped me the most, in the long run, was his tips on becoming a good and confident communicator under any circumstances. In fact, it is because of communication and presentation skills that I was offered the role of a Senior Communication Specialist at my current company, where I am enjoying each and every minute of my responsibilities as the “face” of my company.
Well, I feel like, with the help of George Henley, I have managed to rediscover my skills and abilities as a communication specialist. Besides, the confidence, which I received from George, has made me become a better and more efficient person, not only in my professional life but also in my personal life. I mean, for an introverted person like me, managing to talk confidently with some of the finest and brilliant business minds in the industry of my country is no small feat by any means.
Sample Answer 2:
Thank you so much for giving me this interesting topic to talk about. Here, I’d like to talk about Mr David, a professor of history at my university, who played an incredible role in helping me complete my thesis on the ancient history of Europe.
When I was in my final year, I faced a huge problem - I couldn’t find a supervisor for my thesis. All the professors in my department were already busy guiding other students, and I started to panic because without a supervisor, I wouldn’t even be allowed to submit my work. That’s when Mr David stepped in. He kindly offered to be my supervisor, even though his schedule was already packed, and that simple gesture changed everything for me.
From the very first meeting, he made me feel at ease. I had chosen “The Old History of the European Continent” as my topic because history has always fascinated me, but I quickly realised how challenging it was to find the right sources and structure my research. Mr David not only guided me academically but also taught me how to approach the work methodically. He shared rare books from his personal collection, connected me with other researchers, and reviewed my drafts in great detail. His feedback was always constructive, and he had this amazing way of pointing out mistakes without making me feel discouraged.
What made him truly special was his warmth and dedication. He wasn’t just a professor; he was also a mentor who genuinely cared about his students’ success. He would often check in to see how I was coping, and if I was stressed, he’d share stories from his own student days to lighten the mood. Under his guidance, I not only completed my thesis on time but also received top marks for it. Honestly, I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked under someone like Mr David.
Model Answer 3:
Oh, I’m really glad that you’ve given me this topic because it instantly takes me back to a time when I was under a lot of pressure with my university project. I overcame the pressure with the help of a person. The person I want to talk about for this topic, who helped me a lot at that time, is my friend and classmate, Samira.
Samira is one of those people who always has an organised desk, colour-coded notes, and a calm, reassuring way of explaining things - which was exactly what I needed back then. It happened during my final semester when I had to prepare a research presentation for one of my most challenging courses. I was running behind schedule because I had underestimated how much data analysis was involved. The night before the submission, I was completely overwhelmed, staring at a pile of statistics and not knowing how to make them meaningful for my presentation.
Samira noticed my panic and offered to help. She didn’t just give me quick answers; instead, she patiently walked me through the statistical software, showed me how to interpret the results, and even helped me create clean, easy-to-read graphs. She stayed with me for almost five hours that evening, making sure I understood the logic rather than just copying her work. Her help wasn’t just technical; it was also emotional support. She kept reminding me that I was capable and that I’d done enough research to make my presentation strong. The next day, I delivered it confidently, and I ended up getting one of the highest grades in the class.
I felt incredibly grateful, and it was because she helped me meet the deadline. It reminded me how important it is to have people in your life who lift you up when you feel like you’re sinking.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe someone who once helped you in work or studies. Mention who the person was in relation to you, what exactly they did, how their actions supported your progress, and how you felt about it. Here are several detailed ideas you can adapt:
1. A senior student who shared exam strategies:
This person was Alfred, and he had taken the same course a year earlier and noticed I was struggling with dense reading lists. He gave me a clear study roadmap - topic priorities, past-paper patterns, and weekly mini-deadlines. He also explained how to annotate articles efficiently and practice timed summaries. His guidance cut my study time in half and boosted my confidence. I felt grateful and a bit relieved, like someone finally turned on the classroom lights.
2. A colleague who reviewed my first client report:
Before submitting an important report, I asked a more experienced teammate - Paula - to take a quick look. She didn’t just correct typos; she reorganised the structure, added a one-page executive summary, and showed me how to present data with clearer charts. She explained the “so what?” behind each section so I could justify every recommendation. The feedback improved the report and taught me a repeatable template. I felt supported and much more professional afterwards.
3. A teaching assistant who ran extra problem sessions:
In a tough quantitative course, the TA, whose name was Nima, noticed many of us were stuck on the same concepts. She organised short evening sessions focused on common mistakes, walked through proofs step-by-step, and shared a bank of graduated practice questions. She also showed us how to check answers logically without a solution key. My scores climbed steadily, and I felt a new sense of control over the subject rather than dread.
4. A lab partner who documented procedures meticulously:
During a series of experiments, my partner Henry kept detailed logs - timestamps, conditions, deviations - and created a tidy spreadsheet for results. When an assay failed, their notes made it easy to trace exactly where things went wrong and correct the protocol. He also taught me to prepare backup reagents and label everything consistently. I felt reassured working with someone so reliable, and our final lab report was rock-solid.
5. A manager who coached me before a presentation:
Knowing I was nervous, my manager - Mr Abir - scheduled two short rehearsals. He helped trim jargon, tightened the opening hook, and suggested a simple three-part flow with one message per slide. He also ran a mock Q&A with tough but fair questions. On the day, I delivered smoothly and handled questions with less panic. I felt proud, and it changed how I approach public speaking.
6. A librarian who unlocked better research sources:
While preparing a literature review, a reference librarian showed me advanced database filters, citation chaining, and subject headings I didn’t know existed. She helped me set up alerts for new papers and taught me quick citation-manager tricks. My bibliography became sharper and more current, and I avoided duplicate reading. I felt amazed at how much time smart searching can save.
7. An online tutor who fixed my essay structure:
I shared a draft essay that rambled. The tutor introduced a simple outline: claim, evidence, analysis, link - repeat. He demonstrated how to craft topic sentences and transition logically between paragraphs. After applying the framework, my argument felt coherent instead of chaotic. I felt encouraged because writing finally felt like a skill I could practice, not a mystery.
8. A project teammate who built an automation script:
Our team was drowning in repetitive data cleaning. One teammate, whose name was Erin, wrote a small script that standardised formats, flagged missing values, and exported clean tables in minutes. She documented how to run it and created a checklist for edge cases. The time saved allowed us to focus on insights rather than grunt work. I felt impressed and inspired to learn basic scripting myself.
9. A mentor who helped set realistic goals:
When I felt overwhelmed by competing deadlines, a mentor asked me to list everything, then helped categorise tasks by impact and effort. We created a weekly plan with buffer time and clear “stop” points to avoid perfectionism. He checked in once mid-week to keep things honest. My stress dropped, output improved, and I felt calmer and more in control.
10. A peer from a study group who explained concepts visually:
During revision sessions, one peer used quick sketches and analogies to explain complex systems - turning abstract terms into simple diagrams. They shared a folder of hand-drawn summaries that made revision faster and more memorable. Those visuals stuck with me through the exam. I felt thankful and started creating my own sketch notes for other subjects.
11. An internship supervisor who gave actionable feedback:
After my first draft of a market analysis, the supervisor sat with me to define the core question, identify unnecessary sections, and tie insights to metrics. She showed how to build a persuasive conclusion with downside risks and next steps. The second draft finally “clicked” with stakeholders. I felt I’d levelled up from gathering facts to telling a coherent business story.
12. A coursemate who shared spaced-repetition decks:
Memorising definitions and formulas was my weak spot. One of my coursemates - Lee - shared his flashcard decks and taught me spaced-repetition intervals and active recall techniques. We reviewed together for 15 minutes after each lecture. Retention improved dramatically, and revision took less time. I felt relieved and a bit surprised that small, consistent habits could beat last-minute cramming.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a person who helped you in your work or study, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey their identity, the nature of their assistance, the impact of their help, and your emotional response. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate their contribution, your gratitude, and the positive outcomes of their support, making your response both personal and appreciative. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Mentor: – An experienced and trusted adviser.
Example: My professor acted as a mentor, guiding me through my final year project.
Colleague: – A person with whom one works, especially in a profession or business.
Example: A senior colleague was instrumental in helping me navigate the new software.
Tutor: – A private teacher, typically one who teaches a single student or a very small group.
Example: I had a tutor who helped me immensely with my advanced mathematics course.
Sound advice: – Guidance or suggestions that are sensible and reliable.
Example: She offered me sound advice on how to approach the research paper.
Invaluable assistance: – Help that is extremely useful or precious.
Example: His invaluable assistance saved me from making a critical mistake in my work.
Guidance: – The action or process of guiding someone or something over a period of time.
Example: I am grateful for his guidance, which helped me develop my professional skills.
Instrumental: – Serving as an important means of accomplishing something.
Example: He was instrumental in the success of my first big project at the company.
Support system: – A network of people who provide practical or emotional support.
Example: She became a crucial part of my support system during a very challenging semester.
Encouragement: – The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
Example: His constant encouragement motivated me to keep going when I felt like giving up.
Perspective: – A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
Example: She gave me a fresh perspective on the problem, which led to a breakthrough.
Grateful: – Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.
Example: I am so grateful for all the time and effort he invested in helping me.
Relieved: – No longer feeling distressed or anxious; reassured.
Example: I felt incredibly relieved after she helped me find a solution.
Inspired: – Of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse.
Example: Her work ethic and dedication inspired me to push my own limits.
Indebted: – Owing gratitude for a service or favour.
Example: I feel truly indebted to her for her generosity and time.
Felt at ease: – To feel comfortable and not anxious or worried.
Example: His calm demeanour made me feel at ease, even when facing a difficult task.
Invaluable contribution: – A highly valuable and essential input or role in something.
Example: Her help was an invaluable contribution to the successful completion of my thesis.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe a person who has once helped you in your work or study", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a person with whom you like to work or study.
2) Describe a person you would like to study or work with.
3) Describe a time when you helped someone.
4) Describe a person who has influenced you to do better in your life.
5) Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education.
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