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IELTS Speaking Part 2 & 3 · Current season: 7.15-8.07 Predicted · Updated 2026-08-05

Preparation status: Predicted topic cycle. This independent practice resource is not an official IELTS paper, and the questions in your test can be different. How topics are labelled.

Part 2 Cue Card

Describe a famous person you would like to meet

You should say:

  • Who he/she is
  • How you knew him/her
  • How/where you would like to meet him/her
  • And explain why you would like to meet him/her

You will have one to two minutes to talk about this topic.

Part 3 Discussion Questions

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a famous child?
  • What can today's children do to become famous?
  • What can children do with their fame?
  • Do people become famous because of their talent?
  • Is it easy to become famous in your country?
  • Do you want to be a famous person?

Band 6 & 7 Model Answers

Compare a Band 6 and a Band 7 answer for each question, see what lifts the score, then record your own and get it graded against British Council & IDP criteria.

Part 2 — Model Answer

Band 6

I'd like to meet Malala Yousafzai, the education activist. I first heard about her on the news when she spoke about girls' education and after she won the Nobel Prize. I would like to meet her at a talk or a school event where she is giving a speech. I want to meet her because she is brave and has done a lot to help children get an education. I would ask her how she stayed strong and how young people can help in their communities.

Band 7

I'd love to meet Sir David Attenborough, the veteran broadcaster and natural historian whose documentaries I've watched since childhood. He has a calm, distinctive voice and a real gift for making complex natural history accessible. I first knew about him through TV programmes — the BBC documentaries that my parents used to play in the evenings — and later through clips and interviews online; one particular series on coral reefs left a strong impression on me. Ideally, I'd meet him at a public event, maybe a Q&A after a screening of his latest film at the Natural History Museum, where there is a real atmosphere and people are clearly engaged; as a concrete plan I would book tickets well in advance and prepare a couple of thoughtful questions. I want to meet him because his work combines science, storytelling and urgent conservation messages in a way that has inspired my own interest in environmental issues; I would like to ask him about communicating difficult topics to the public. Meeting him would also be a chance to hear first-hand how he stayed curious throughout his very long career and to pick up tips about persistence and observation that I could apply in my studies or volunteer work.

Examiner note: The Band 7 answer is longer, uses more varied vocabulary and connectives, includes specific examples and concrete plans, and develops reasons more fully than the simpler Band 6 response.
public eventthoughtful questionspick up tips

Part 3 — Model Answers

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a famous child?

Band 6

Being a famous child can mean lots of money and chances to meet people. But it can also be hard because they lose privacy and feel pressure to behave. Some children might not have a normal childhood or make mistakes in public.

Band 7

There are obvious benefits to a child becoming famous: financial security, unique opportunities and early career experience in fields like acting or sport. However, the downsides are serious — intense media scrutiny, loss of anonymity and the psychological pressure that can affect development; for example, schooling and friendships may suffer if a child is constantly in the public eye. In short, fame can open doors but also bring risks that need careful management.

Examiner note: The Band 7 answer gives a balanced view, adds consequences for development and schooling, and includes an illustrative example, whereas the Band 6 is more general and brief.
media scrutinyloss of anonymitycareful management

What can today's children do to become famous?

Band 6

Today many children try to become famous on social media by posting videos or joining talent shows. They might sing, dance, or make funny clips. Parents often help with accounts and filming.

Band 7

Children aiming for fame now often combine talent with strategy: they practise a craft (music, sport, comedy), consistently post content online and engage with an audience to build a following. Equally important are presentation and timing — a well-crafted short video can go viral — and having a supportive adult to manage practicalities. Schools and local clubs also provide platforms, so young people who work on both skill and exposure increase their chances.

Examiner note: The Band 7 answer explains both skill-building and strategic actions, mentions platforms and support structures, while the Band 6 answer lists simpler ideas.
consistently postgo viralsupportive adult

What can children do with their fame?

Band 6

With fame, children can earn money and buy things. They can also promote products or get offers for TV and movies. Some use their fame to help charities or support causes.

Band 7

Fame can be used constructively: young people can raise awareness for causes, set up foundations, or fund their education and future projects. They can also make business choices like investing or hiring advisers to manage earnings and public image. Of course, some might squander opportunities or feel trapped by an image, so guidance from family and professionals is important.

Examiner note: The Band 7 response gives concrete constructive uses of fame, mentions financial planning and risks, and stresses the need for guidance, while the Band 6 reply stays quite basic.
raise awarenesspublic imagefinancial planning

Do people become famous because of their talent?

Band 6

Some people become famous because they have talent, like singers or athletes. But other times people get famous because of luck or a viral video. Talent helps but it is not the only reason.

Band 7

Talent is often a key ingredient in lasting fame, especially in fields such as music, sport or acting, but it isn't sufficient on its own. Timing, media exposure, networking and sometimes sheer luck play big roles — a talented person also needs opportunity and visibility, and clever publicity can turn potential into fame. In short, fame usually comes from a mixture of ability, circumstance and promotion.

Examiner note: The Band 7 answer analyses the interplay of talent, opportunity and publicity and uses connectives, while the Band 6 answer gives a straightforward, simpler view.
lasting famemedia exposurea mixture of

Is it easy to become famous in your country?

Band 6

It is easier now to become famous because of social media, but competition is tough. Many people try to get attention, so you need something special. Traditional routes like TV are still hard but possible.

Band 7

In my country it's easier than before to get noticed thanks to social platforms, but that also means the market is saturated and standing out is difficult. Classic industries like film and music still have gatekeepers — agents and casting directors — so networks and persistence matter. Overall, while technology lowers some barriers, real success usually requires talent, hard work and a bit of luck.

Examiner note: The Band 7 reply balances the impact of social media with remaining barriers like gatekeepers and competition, offering a nuanced perspective compared to the simpler Band 6 answer.
saturated marketgatekeepersstanding out

Do you want to be a famous person?

Band 6

I wouldn't want to be famous for the sake of it. I prefer a normal life and privacy. But I wouldn't mind being known for doing good work in my job or community.

Band 7

I wouldn't actively seek celebrity — the loss of privacy and constant scrutiny put me off — but I would welcome recognition if it came from doing something valuable, such as significant work in science, education or community projects. If I had visibility, I'd try to use it responsibly to promote causes I care about, while keeping most of my personal life private. So, fame as a by-product of useful work is acceptable to me, fame for fame's sake is not.

Examiner note: The Band 7 answer is more reflective, balances pros and cons, and explains how the speaker would use fame responsibly; the Band 6 answer is short and general.
loss of privacyuse it responsiblyby-product

How to answer Describe a famous person you would like to meet IELTS Speaking questions

For the Describe a famous person you would like to meet cue card, use the preparation minute to build a route through the talk. Choose a clear subject, add two specific moments or details and end with why it matters. Then use the linked Part 3 questions to practise broader explanation and comparison.

Cue-card prompts:

  • Who he/she is
  • How you knew him/her
  • How/where you would like to meet him/her
  • And explain why you would like to meet him/her
  1. Opening: identify the person, place, object or event.
  2. Development: describe two details or moments in a logical order.
  3. Extension: explain a reason, result, comparison or problem.
  4. Reflection: finish with why the subject is memorable or important.

Question-by-question approach

Practice questionUseful answer move
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a famous child?Name the thing first, then describe a specific feature or example.
What can today's children do to become famous?Name the thing first, then describe a specific feature or example.
What can children do with their fame?Name the thing first, then describe a specific feature or example.
Do people become famous because of their talent?Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script.

Vocabulary focus

Useful language already demonstrated in the model answers includes media scrutiny, loss of anonymity, careful management, consistently post, go viral, supportive adult, raise awareness, public image. Learn the meaning and a natural word partnership, then use each item in a different answer instead of copying a complete script.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Giving a memorised response that only partly answers the question.
  • Adding difficult vocabulary without checking meaning or collocation.
  • Restarting after every error instead of correcting briefly and continuing.
  • Reading the model answer before recording your own first attempt.

Describe a famous person you would like to meet practice FAQ

How should I use the Describe a famous person you would like to meet cue card preparation minute?

Write keywords for an opening, two or three details and a final reflection. Do not try to write complete sentences.

Do I have to cover every cue-card bullet?

The prompts help you organise the talk. Covering them is useful, but a coherent one-to-two-minute response matters more than mechanically ticking off each line.

How are Part 3 questions connected to Part 2?

They develop the same broad theme through reasons, comparisons, social effects or future possibilities, so answers normally need more explanation than Part 1.