Describe a person you know who did something difficult and was successful: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card and Part 3 Questions
Part 2 cue card
Describe a person you know who did something difficult and was successful
You should say:
- Who this person is
- What difficult thing this person did
- Why this person was successful
- And explain how you feel about this person
You will have one to two minutes to talk about this topic.
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 3 discussion questions
Move one question at a time: listen, answer, compare and retry. The complete question text remains in the page HTML for accessibility and search.
- 01Other than making money, what is more important for a company?
- 02Is it easy to start up a company?
- 03In which sectors are companies more likely to succeed in China?
- 04Is it difficult to do business in today’s world?
- 05How can companies help protect the environment?
- 06Does money equal success?
Model answers, heard side by side
Start with the simpler answer, switch bands to hear how the same task can be developed, then record a personal response. These are teaching examples, not official answers or score guarantees.
Part 2 — Model Answer
Part 2 cue-card response
I'd like to talk about my friend Mark, who set up a small café in our neighbourhood and made it successful. He used to work in an office but always loved cooking. The difficult thing he did was leave his steady job and invest his savings in the café. He had to learn about suppliers, hygiene rules and how to run a till. He worked long hours and had some bad weeks at first. He was successful because he kept the food simple, friendly and consistent, and he listened to customers. I feel proud of him because he took a risk and it paid off. He now employs two local people and the place is busy at the weekend.
I'd like to talk about my friend Sarah, who turned a small home-baking hobby into a busy local bakery in our town. She used to bake for friends and neighbours; when demand grew she decided to rent a tiny shop and take the risk of leaving her part-time office job. The difficult thing she did was start the bakery from scratch with almost no savings and without formal business training. She learned about licences, food safety, pricing and bookkeeping while juggling deliveries and opening early every morning. For example, she taught herself how to manage temperature-controlled proofs after a failed batch. She succeeded because she combined strong work ethic with careful planning and real attention to quality. She built a loyal customer base by using fresh ingredients and listening to feedback, and she used social media to attract attention; within a year she was breaking even. Also she created partnerships with a local café which helped sales. I feel proud of her and inspired — her determination showed me that modest beginnings can lead to real achievement. She often offers short baking courses at weekends, which is another way she gives back.
One person who stands out is my cousin Amina, who retrained as a primary school teacher in her thirties while raising two young children. The main difficulty was balancing part-time study, childcare and the cost of training; she had to organise childcare, study late at night and negotiate a loan to pay fees. She passed her PGCE with distinction and secured a job at a local school, which was remarkable considering she’d had a long gap since university and limited academic confidence. To achieve this she planned meticulously — drafting study timetables, joining study groups and arranging work experience in nurseries to meet placement requirements. Her success came from resilience and excellent time-management, but also from seeking support: she asked for references, applied for bursaries, and used school volunteering to gain practical skills. The headteacher who hired her praised her classroom management during a trial lesson, which sealed the appointment. Seeing Amina succeed makes me very proud and a bit humbled; her example changed my view of mid-life career change and encouraged me to consider retraining myself. She’s become an advocate for mature students at the college and often speaks at information evenings to inspire others.
Part 3 — Model Answers
Other than making money, what is more important for a company?
I think besides making money, companies should care about their customers and reputation. If people trust a company they will buy more and talk about it to others. It's also good when companies treat staff well because happy workers do better work.
Apart from profit, long-term sustainability and employee welfare are crucial. A company that invests in staff training and builds a reliable brand will usually survive downturns better. For example, firms that keep customers happy and reduce staff turnover often save money in the long run.
Beyond immediate profits, I’d argue that delivering stakeholder value — including employees, customers and the wider community — is vital for durable success. Firms that cultivate a strong corporate culture and prioritise ethical conduct and sustainability tend to be more resilient and attract talent and loyal customers. In practice, that might mean reinvesting earnings in innovation or staff development rather than paying out all profits as dividends.
Is it easy to start up a company?
No, it's not easy to start a company. You need money, paperwork and customers. Many people work very long hours at the start and it can be stressful.
Starting up isn't straightforward, though it depends on the sector. Some businesses, like online shops, need less capital to begin, while manufacturing needs more equipment and premises. Access to seed funding, a clear business plan and a support network such as an incubator can make a big difference.
Launching a company is rarely straightforward: barriers to entry, regulatory requirements and the need to establish product-market fit are common obstacles. However, an entrepreneur with a minimum viable product, clear value proposition and access to appropriate funding and mentorship has a much better chance. The ease of starting up also varies by industry and local ecosystem — some cities offer strong support structures that significantly lower the friction for new firms.
In which sectors are companies more likely to succeed in China?
In China, I think internet companies and manufacturing often do well. People buy a lot online and factories are strong. Also services like restaurants in big cities can succeed.
Companies in e-commerce, digital services and renewable energy are currently well placed in China. The large domestic market and rapid urbanisation mean consumer-facing tech and healthcare services can scale fast. Additionally, government support for green industries has opened up opportunities in electric vehicles and solar.
China’s strengths favour sectors such as digital commerce, advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies and healthcare services. The combination of a huge domestic market, sophisticated digital payment and logistics infrastructure, and state policy encouraging strategic industries gives firms in these areas an advantage. That said, success still depends on local competition, regulatory compliance and the ability to innovate rather than simply replicate.
Is it difficult to do business in today’s world?
Yes, it's difficult to do business today. There is a lot of competition and costs are high. Problems like the pandemic made things harder for many companies.
Doing business today is challenging because of global competition, supply chain disruption and fast-moving technology. Companies must adapt to changing customer habits, comply with more regulations and invest in digital tools. Those that can be agile and innovate tend to survive better.
Contemporary business operates in a highly volatile environment: geopolitical tensions, rapid technological change and heightened ESG expectations create both risk and complexity. Firms need robust risk management, flexible supply chains and continuous innovation to thrive. In short, it's harder in some respects than before, but those that develop organisational agility and strategic foresight can turn disruption into opportunity.
How can companies help protect the environment?
Companies can protect the environment by recycling and using less energy. They can also avoid wasting materials and try to use reusable packaging. These things help in small ways.
Companies can reduce their environmental impact by cutting waste, improving energy efficiency and choosing greener suppliers. Adopting a circular approach — repairing, reusing and recycling — and investing in renewable energy for factories are practical steps. For example, switching to LED lighting and remote meetings cuts emissions and costs.
Businesses can make a meaningful environmental contribution through lifecycle thinking, green procurement and internal measures such as carbon accounting and an internal carbon price. Beyond operational changes they should engage supply chains, design products for longevity and transparently report progress. Strategic investment in low-carbon technologies and collaborating on industry-wide initiatives can drive systemic change.
Does money equal success?
No, I don't think money is the same as success. Money helps but things like health, family and hobbies are important too. Some people with lots of money are not happy.
Money can be a sign of success but it's not the whole picture. Many people measure success by fulfilment, relationships or impact on others rather than wealth alone. For instance, teachers or carers often feel successful because of the difference they make, even if they earn less.
Money is a resource that can enable certain dimensions of success, but it shouldn't be equated with achievement in itself. True success is multifaceted — encompassing personal fulfilment, contribution to others and a sense of purpose — and often depends on intrinsic goals rather than purely financial ones. In short, financial security matters, but it is only one element of a wider, more meaningful definition of success.
How to answer Describe a person you know who did something difficult and was successful IELTS Speaking questions
For the Describe a person you know who did something difficult and was successful 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 this person is
- What difficult thing this person did
- Why this person was successful
- And explain how you feel about this person
- Opening: identify the person, place, object or event.
- Development: describe two details or moments in a logical order.
- Extension: explain a reason, result, comparison or problem.
- Reflection: finish with why the subject is memorable or important.
Question-by-question approach
| Practice question | Useful answer move |
|---|---|
| Other than making money, what is more important for a company? | Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script. |
| Is it easy to start up a company? | Answer directly, give a reason and add one natural personal detail. |
| In which sectors are companies more likely to succeed in China? | Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script. |
| Is it difficult to do business in today’s world? | Answer directly, give a reason and add one natural personal detail. |
Vocabulary focus
Useful language already demonstrated in the model answers includes stakeholder, corporate culture, sustainability, seed funding, minimum viable product, incubator, e-commerce, renewables. Learn each meaning and a natural word partnership, then use the item in a fresh 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 person you know who did something difficult and was successful practice FAQ
How should I use the Describe a person you know who did something difficult and was successful 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.
