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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 famous scientist or inventor you know about.

You should say:

• who he/she is
• what he/she has worked on or invented
• what are some interesting facts about him/her

and explain whether his/her work or invention is still important.

[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer 1:

Born in the USA during the mid-19th century, Thomas Alva Edison is perhaps the most famous and influential inventor of all time. Prominent inventions like the phonograph, the electric light bulb, the motion picture camera, and the mass communication system are a few of his transcendent works. He is often credited as America's greatest inventor. I'd like to profoundly thank you for letting me talk about this great mind whose inventions and work have shaped the pathway for the modern world.

Thomas Edison was a genius and very inquisitive from his early childhood. He was a prolific inventor, holding more than a thousand patents in his name. Despite suffering from hearing loss, having only 12 weeks of formal education, and experiencing a bumpy ride in early childhood, he invented and developed so many wonderful devices, perhaps due to his extraordinary mental and physical stamina.

The phonograph - a device for the mechanical recording and reproduction of sound was perhaps his greatest invention. He also worked to improve the microphone for the telephone, devised a commercially viable electric bulb, expanded the DC power delivery system, designed the fluoroscope  - a machine that uses X-ray to take radiographs, improved telegraphs, enhanced motion picture cameras and the mass communication system. However, the list of his inventions is simply overwhelming, and their applications are mostly practical in our daily life.

Edison - as a person and a scientist - had so many interesting and intriguing facts, and in fact, I have already mentioned two or three of them. To reciprocate, he didn't learn to talk until almost four years old, had only 12 weeks of schooling, sold newspapers and candy on the railroad, suffered almost a total loss of hearing, had a great number of patents in his name and so on.

Definitely, his inventions and works are still important. He had, in a way, shaped the foundation for scientific development in the modern era. We just have to look at the electric lights and telephones we have in our house to understand how rich his contributions still are in our lives. He literally eliminated darkness around us to give us a luminous world.

Sample Answer 2: 

Having been born in 1879 in a place called “Ulm” in Germany, Einstein was an “average” student in his class but showed some keen interest in science and mathematics. Little did anybody know at that time that he, as the firstborn of a Jewish couple called Hemann and Pauline Einstein, would one day change the course of history in science and physics. 

Einstein worked on many things like Brownian movement theory or the zigzag motion of microscopic particles in suspension, “the quantum theory of light”, and the “theory of relativity” - in which Einstein explained that time and motion are relative to their observers as long as the speed of light remains constant. However, his most famous work, in my opinion, was the invention of the formula E = mc2, relating mass and energy, which later on formed much of the basis for nuclear energy.

Of course, we all already know about these inventions, but what many of us perhaps didn’t know is that Einstein renounced his German citizenship when he was just 16. We also perhaps didn’t know that he married a female student in his physics class at Zürich Polytechnic in Switzerland. By the way, Einstein also spent all his prize money to pay for the divorce of his first wife. The fact that surprises me the most about him is that Einstein was asked to be Israel's second president, but he refused, stating that he had "neither the natural ability nor the experience to deal with human beings". But then I wonder, this is exactly what one of the most prolific scientists of all time would and should do!

His inventions are still important and will remain so for a long, long time as they pretty much changed the idea of energy, motion and light, and how we use them to our advantage. In fact, the global positioning system, which we use today in our mobile applications, wouldn’t function without special and general relativity. Besides, Solar panels (photovoltaic panels) - which convert the sun’s energy into electricity, and the photocell eyes, which are installed on the sides of the automatic doors, rely on the photoelectric effect, explained by Einstein. Finally, the electricity that we use is the result of nuclear energy, derived from his famous formula E = mc2.

Model Answer 3:

In my opinion, Marie Curie is a remarkable female scientist and inventor who has left an indelible mark on history. I am happy to have been given the chance to talk about this scientist, and thank you for that.

Marie Curie was a Polish-born physicist and chemist who became famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity. Her most significant contribution to science was her discovery of the elements polonium and radium. Together with her husband, Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel, Marie conducted groundbreaking experiments that led to the discovery of radioactivity, a term she coined herself.

One of the most interesting facts about Marie Curie is that she was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have received Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields - Physics and Chemistry. In 1903, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel for their research on radioactivity. Later, in 1911, she received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of radium and polonium.

Despite facing significant challenges as a woman in the male-dominated scientific community of her time, Marie Curie's work laid the foundation for modern atomic physics and revolutionised the field of medical science. Her research on radioactivity paved the way for important applications in medicine, including the development of radiation therapy for cancer treatment.

In my opinion, Marie Curie's contributions to science remain highly relevant and important today. Her discoveries continue to influence various scientific disciplines, from physics and chemistry to medicine and technology. Moreover, her groundbreaking achievements have inspired generations of scientists, especially women, to pursue careers in STEM fields and strive for excellence in scientific research.

Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

This cue card topic asks you to talk about a renowned scientist or inventor that you know of. You should explain who this person is, what they have contributed to the world of science or technology, and share some fascinating facts about their life or work. Additionally, it is important to explain how their invention or contribution still has relevance in today’s world. A thoughtful response would include historical background, practical applications of their work, and how their legacy continues. Here are a few well-explained ideas to help you develop your own answer.

1. Albert Einstein:
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist best known for his theory of relativity, especially the equation E=mc². He changed our understanding of time, space, and gravity. An interesting fact is that he won the Nobel Prize not for relativity but for his work on the photoelectric effect. His work laid the foundation for quantum physics and is still vital in GPS technology and nuclear energy.

2. Marie Curie:
Marie Curie was a Polish-French physicist and chemist who discovered the radioactive elements polonium and radium. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences - Physics and Chemistry. Her pioneering research on radioactivity is still crucial in cancer treatment and nuclear medicine.

3. Nikola Tesla:
Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor known for his work on alternating current (AC) electricity. He developed the Tesla coil and contributed to wireless transmission. Though he died in poverty, many of his ideas shaped modern electrical systems. Today, electric cars and energy innovations continue to bear his name and legacy.

4. Thomas Edison:
Edison was an American inventor with over 1,000 patents. He is famous for inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the practical electric light bulb. Despite being controversial for competing with Tesla, his inventions revolutionised daily life and remain significant in modern electrical and entertainment systems.

5. Isaac Newton:
Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathematician and physicist who formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation. He also made major contributions to calculus and optics. His groundbreaking book “Principia Mathematica” is still one of the most influential works in science, laying the foundation for classical mechanics.

6. Alexander Graham Bell:
Bell, originally from Scotland, is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. He also worked on speech and hearing devices. He co-founded AT&T, which still exists today. His invention changed the way people communicate globally and led to the development of the modern telecommunications industry.

7. Ada Lovelace:
Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician who is considered the first computer programmer. She worked on Charles Babbage’s early mechanical computer and developed an algorithm that is regarded as the first of its kind. Today, she is celebrated as a pioneer for women in technology and computing science.

8. Stephen Hawking:
Hawking was a British theoretical physicist who worked on black holes and cosmology. Despite having ALS, he made significant contributions through his book “A Brief History of Time” and research on singularities. His ideas continue to inspire theoretical physics and space science, especially related to the Big Bang and black holes.

9. Galileo Galilei:
Galileo was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer who supported the heliocentric model and made crucial improvements to the telescope. He faced opposition from the Church but is now known as the “father of modern science.” His work still forms the basis of observational astronomy and physics.

10. Tim Berners-Lee:
Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist who invented the World Wide Web. He created the first web browser and server in the late 1980s. His invention is arguably the most impactful in the digital age, shaping the way we access and share information globally.

11. James Dyson:
Dyson is a British inventor known for creating the bagless vacuum cleaner using cyclonic separation. He faced hundreds of failures before success. He went on to develop bladeless fans and innovative hand dryers. His designs revolutionised household technology and remain widely used across the globe.

12. Elon Musk:
Elon Musk, although more of a modern inventor-entrepreneur, has developed technologies across multiple industries. He is the force behind Tesla (electric cars), SpaceX (space travel), and Neuralink (brain-machine interface). His innovations are shaping the future of transportation, energy, and space exploration, making his work highly relevant today.

Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

When describing a famous scientist or inventor, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey their identity, their key contributions, interesting aspects of their life, and the enduring relevance of their work. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate their impact on science and society, making your response both informative and inspiring. Here are some relevant words and phrases:

Pioneer: – A person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area of research.
Example: Marie Curie was a true pioneer in the field of radioactivity.

Visionary: – (Especially of a person in a position of power) thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom.
Example: Nikola Tesla was a visionary inventor whose ideas were ahead of his time.

Groundbreaking: – (Of research or discovery) innovative; new.
Example: His groundbreaking research completely reshaped our understanding of physics.

Revolutionary: – Involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.
Example: Edison's invention of the practical light bulb was truly revolutionary.

Theoretical physicist: – A scientist who uses mathematical models and abstractions to explain and predict natural phenomena.
Example: Albert Einstein, a theoretical physicist, developed the theory of relativity.

Biologist: – A scientist who studies living organisms.
Example: Charles Darwin, a renowned biologist, proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Chemist: – A scientist who studies chemistry, the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter.
Example: Dmitri Mendeleev, a brilliant chemist, created the first version of the periodic table.

Inventor: – A person who invents something, typically a device or process.
Example: Guglielmo Marconi is celebrated as the inventor of radio telegraphy.

Algorithm: – A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.
Example: Alan Turing's work laid the foundation for modern computer algorithms.

Thermodynamics: – The branch of physical science that deals with the relations between heat and other forms of energy (such as mechanical, electrical, or chemical energy), and by extension of the relationships between all forms of energy.
Example: Sadi Carnot made significant contributions to the field of thermodynamics.

Genetics: – The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.
Example: Gregor Mendel's experiments with pea plants were fundamental to the science of genetics.

Eccentric: – (Of a person or their behaviour) unconventional and slightly strange.
Example: Some famous scientists were known for their eccentric habits.

Prolific: – (Of a person, animal, or plant) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring; (of an artist, author, or composer) producing many works.
Example: He was a prolific inventor, holding hundreds of patents.

Posthumously: – After the death of the person in question.
Example: Many of her contributions were only recognised posthumously.

Indispensable: – Absolutely necessary.
Example: Their invention remains indispensable in modern medical diagnostics.

Enduring legacy: – A lasting impact or influence of a person's achievements or contributions after their death.
Example: His theories have left an enduring legacy that continues to influence scientific thought today.

If you prepare for the topic "Describe a famous scientist or inventor you know about", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:

1) Describe a famous scientist or artist from your country.
2) Describe someone whose work you admire.
3) Describe a famous person you know about.
4) Describe an important invention that you know about.
5) Describe a creative person you admire.
 

• IELTS Cue Card
• IELTS Speaking
• Candidate Task Card
• Speaking Part 2

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