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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 you wanted to be similar to when you were growing up.

You should say:

• who he/she was
• how you met him/her
• what qualities/attributes of this person inspired you

and explain why you wanted to be like him/her.

[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:

I have always wanted to become my “own person” without ever worrying too much about becoming like “another person” when I was growing up as a child. Of course, I would never mind sharing some of their good qualities and characteristics if they really were to help me become a better person in life. So, from that point of view, if I ever wanted to become similar to another person, it had to be “Warren Buffett”, often being referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha”. Some even like to call him the “Business Guru” while others prefer to call him the “Investment Guru”.

I never met Warren Buffett before, nor would he have the time to meet a growing young boy like me without any valid reasons. But, what I had learnt after reading so much about him in newspapers and journals, I was pretty sure that I already knew him, way, way better than what could have been possible after meeting him in person for a few hours or even for a few months.

I wanted to become like Warren Buffett because he had some qualities and attributes that had always inspired me as a young boy as well as a young man. Having learnt so much about him, who got into the “money-making business” at the age of 6, by selling gum sticks in his neighbourhood, and then becoming a billionaire at the age of 50 while still earning a humble $50,000 yearly salary from Berkshire Hathaway (a multinational holding company owned and operated by Warren Buffett), I was pretty certain that this “money-making machine” was into “achieving” his wealth rather than “acquiring” them at any cost, unlike many other businessmen around the world.  

Besides, learning how this great businessman used to wake up at around 4:30 am in the morning at the tender age of 13 in order to deliver the copies of the Washington Post newspaper, I just wished that I could become like a young Warren Buffett so that I could also make some fortune for myself. Finally, when I came to know during my university final year about 3 years ago that Warren Buffett, with a net worth of about $95 billion back then, had donated more than 25% of his wealth to charities while leaving only a tiny fraction for his children, I was pretty sure that the world could use a few more people like him.  

Of course, the only problem was that people like Warren Buffett didn’t exactly come in “dime a dozen” kind of deals every once in a while. But, still, my young heart never really hesitated to expect to become a person like him when I was growing up in order to learn about the world of “money” around me.

Model Answer 2:

Introduction:
Thank you a lot for this topic. It would allow me to think back about some of the memories from my childhood and describe a person whom I wanted to be like. 

Who he/she was:
Well, when I was growing up, there was one person I looked up to and wanted to emulate: my younger uncle, Alex.

How you met him/her:
I first met him during family gatherings and holidays, where he would often regale us with stories of his adventures as an athlete and traveller. I was around just 5 or 6 years old back then.

What qualities/attributes of this person inspired you:
What inspired me most about my uncle Alex were his qualities of determination, resilience, and fearlessness. As an athlete, he excelled in various sports and always pushed himself to achieve his personal best. His dedication to training and his unwavering commitment to his goals served as a constant source of inspiration for me. Moreover, he was a loving person and I can still recall the time when he affectionately took my hand and went out to the market to buy me chocolates and some interesting toys.

Moreover, my uncle's passion for travel and exploration ignited my own sense of wanderlust and curiosity about the world. He would recount his experiences trekking through remote mountain ranges, diving in exotic coral reefs, and immersing himself in different cultures with boundless enthusiasm. His adventurous spirit and thirst for new experiences showed me that life was meant to be lived to the fullest and that there was a whole world out there waiting to be discovered.

And explain why you wanted to be like him/her:
I wanted to be like my "uncle" Alex because he embodied the qualities and values that I admired: courage, perseverance, and an adventurous spirit. His zest for life and his willingness to embrace challenges head-on inspired me to push beyond my comfort zone, pursue my passions with determination, and never be afraid to dream big. Moreover, he was a mysterious man with interesting stories when I was just a child. It seemed like the places he had travelled to and the adventures that he had embarked on were from another world and another time. Naturally, my young and inquisitive mind wanted to explore them as well, and one way to do so was to be like my uncle! So I always wished to be like him and take on the journeys and adventures that I heard about.

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

This Candidate Task Card question asks you to describe a person you wanted to be like when you were growing up, i.e when you were young. To answer it properly, you need to mention who this person was, how you knew or met him/her, the traits or qualities of this person that inspired you, and why you wanted to like this person back then. A good answer would include an introduction of this person, some specific personality traits of him/her, actions or achievements that had a lasting impact on you during your formative years, and reasons why you wanted to be like this person. You should also give a short detail of your childhood and how you were back then as a young person. To help you brainstorm with ideas, here we will list a few ideas that you can read, pick up and elaborate to develop your own answer.

1. My elder brother – Arman:
When I was a child, I looked up to my elder brother Arman. He was always calm, confident, and excelled in academics and sports. We lived in the same house, of course, and I used to follow him around everywhere. His dedication to studies and his polite behaviour with elders made me want to be like him. I admired how he balanced everything so effortlessly.

2. My school science teacher – Miss Tanaka:
Miss Tanaka was one of the most influential people in my life during school. She made science fun and engaging, and her passion for learning was contagious. I first met her in grade six. She had a unique ability to explain complex topics in simple ways. I wanted to be as knowledgeable and inspiring as her, and that made me consider becoming a teacher myself for a time.

3. My grandfather – Mr. D'Souza:
My grandfather was someone I truly admired. He was a retired army officer, always disciplined, and very kind. He used to tell us fascinating stories from his life, and he always had wise advice. His resilience, punctuality, and honesty left a deep impression on me. I always wanted to grow up to be strong and wise like him.

4. A local entrepreneur – Mrs. Patel:
I used to see Mrs. Patel, a neighbour, run a successful bakery in our area. She started from scratch and turned her passion into a thriving business. I got to know her when my mother introduced me to her during a local event. Her dedication, leadership, and positive attitude made me dream of becoming an independent and confident businessperson like her.

5. A famous football player – Cristiano Ronaldo:
Growing up, I admired Cristiano Ronaldo a lot. I never met him, but I watched his matches and interviews religiously. His work ethic, perseverance, and never-give-up attitude inspired me deeply. Even though I wasn't a professional athlete, I always wanted to have that same level of commitment and drive in whatever I did.

6. My cousin – Samira:
Samira was a few years older than me and was the first person in our extended family to become a doctor. I first met her at a family reunion, and she spoke so humbly and passionately about helping others. Her intelligence, compassion, and dedication to her career made me want to pursue a meaningful profession too.

7. My English tutor – Mr. Blake:
Mr. Blake used to give me private tuition in English when I was in secondary school. He was witty, articulate, and incredibly encouraging. His love for literature and his storytelling skills fascinated me. I wanted to be as expressive and confident as him, especially when speaking in public or writing creatively.

Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

When describing a person you admired and wanted to emulate during your upbringing, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey their identity, your connection, the inspiring qualities they possessed, and the profound reasons for your aspiration. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate their impact on your development and the lessons you learned, making your response both personal and insightful. Here are some relevant words and phrases:

Role model: – A person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.
Example: She was, without a doubt, my primary role model throughout my teenage years.

Mentor: – An experienced and trusted adviser.
Example: He served as an unofficial mentor, guiding me through many challenges.

Inspirational figure: – A person who provides a feeling of encouragement or motivation to others.
Example: Her accomplishments made her an inspirational figure for many young people, including myself.

Admirable qualities: – Characteristics that deserve respect and approval.
Example: It was her admirable qualities like integrity and resilience that I truly looked up to.

Compassionate: – Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
Example: Her compassionate nature towards everyone, regardless of their background, deeply moved me.

Resilient: – Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
Example: His ability to stay resilient in the face of adversity was incredibly inspiring.

Intellectually curious: – Having a strong desire to learn or know things.
Example: I was drawn to his intellectually curious mind, always eager to explore new ideas.

Unyielding dedication: – Firm and resolute commitment, not giving way to pressure or difficulty.
Example: Her unyielding dedication to her craft truly motivated me to pursue my own passions.

Embodied values: – Represented or expressed certain principles or standards.
Example: He embodied the values of hard work and humility, which I wanted to adopt.

Made a profound impact: – Had a significant and lasting effect on someone.
Example: Their guidance made a profound impact on my personal and professional development.

Aspired to be: – Strongly desired or aimed to be a certain type of person or achieve something.
Example: I genuinely aspired to be as articulate and insightful as she was.

Guiding light: – A source of inspiration or leadership.
Example: In many ways, he was a guiding light for me during my formative years.

Exemplary behaviour: – Behaviour that serves as a good example to others.
Example: His exemplary behaviour in both his career and personal life set a high standard.

Left a lasting impression: – Had a significant and memorable effect on one's mind or feelings.
Example: Meeting him left a lasting impression, shaping many of my aspirations.

If you prepare for the topic "Describe a person you wanted to be similar to when you were growing up", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:

1) Describe someone you like or admire.
2) Describe someone in your family whom you are most similar to.
3) Describe someone in your family whom you like.
4) Describe someone who is similar to you.
5) Describe a friend from your childhood.
6) Describe an adventurous person you know.
7) Describe someone who inspired you when you were young.
 

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

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