Describe a person who inspired you to do something
You should say:
Who this person is
How you know this person
What they inspired you to do
And explain how you felt about it
💡
Speaking Pro Tip: The 2-Minute Rule
Don't stop speaking until the examiner stops you! If you run out of points, use the "Expand Strategy": Add a personal feeling, a specific sensory detail (what you saw/heard), or a quick "Past vs. Present" comparison to hit the 2-minute mark comfortably.
🎙️ Band 9 Model Answer
Model Answer RecordingAI SYNTHESIS
Ready to listenBand 9 Audio
To be perfectly honest, I’ve been quite lucky to cross paths with several truly inspiring individuals over the years, but the one who immediately springs to mind—and I mean, without a shadow of a doubt—is my older cousin, David. He’s one of those people who is just incredibly driven and has this almost infectious energy that makes you feel like anything is possible if you just put in the hard graft.
I’ve known him literally my whole life since we grew up in the same neighborhood, just a stone's throw away from each other. He’s about five years my senior, so I’ve always kind of looked up to him as this sort of trailblazer or a "cool older brother" figure who had already navigated the hurdles I was just starting to face.
Anyway, to give you a bit of context, a few years back, I found myself feeling completely and utterly stuck in a rut with my career. I was working a comfortable, yet mind-numbingly boring administrative job, and I’d been toying with the idea of learning to code for months, but I just kept procrastinating. I was overthinking everything—fear of failure, the steep learning curve, you name it. David, on the other hand, had recently done something that most people would find terrifying: he quit a stable, high-paying accounting job to start his own digital agency from essentially nothing.
When we met up for coffee one drizzly Tuesday afternoon, he didn’t just give me the usual clichés about "following my dreams." Instead, he gave me a massive reality check. He practically dared me to dedicate just one hour a day to programming for a month—no excuses. Seeing his sheer enthusiasm, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about the challenges he’d overcome, gave me that necessary push. It wasn't just his words; it was the fact that he was living proof that taking a calculated risk could pay off.
Looking back, I felt a mix of pure terror and exhilaration when I finally typed my first line of code. At first, I felt completely out of my depth, like I was trying to learn a language from another planet. But seeing how David's grit and determination had transformed his life made me realize that staying in my comfort zone was actually the far bigger risk in the long run. If it weren't for his candid, no-nonsense advice that day, I honestly doubt I would be where I am today, working in a field I actually love. It was a total turning point for me.
✨ Natural Vocabulary Used
Springs to mindTo be suddenly remembered or thought of.
Burning the midnight oilWorking late into the night.
Stuck in a rutTrapped in a boring, repetitive situation.
Out of my depthIn a situation that is too difficult to handle.
Reality checkAn assessment to recognize the true facts of a situation.
Advanced Discussion
🎓 Part 3: Deep-Dive Follow-up
Q
What are some of the ways that people can inspire others?
Inspiration often stems from leading by example. When someone demonstrates resilience or achieves a feat despite overwhelming odds, it creates a ripple effect. Additionally, mentors who offer constructive, empathetic feedback can empower others to step out of their comfort zones.
Q
Is it better to be inspired by someone you know personally or by a famous person?
While a famous person can offer a sense of grand scale achievement, a personal mentor is often far more impactful. The 'humanity' and accessibility of a personal contact allow for a dialogue that a distant celebrity simply cannot provide.
Q
Can inspiration sometimes be negative?
It can be if the 'inspiration' leads to unhealthy comparison or unrealistic expectations. If someone is inspired to achieve perfection at the cost of their mental well-being, the catalyst becomes toxic rather than empowering.
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Don't spend too much time on appearance. Examiners want to hear about 'character traits' and your 'relationship/feelings' toward the person. Focus on their impact on you.
Vary it! Use their name occasionally to maintain clarity, but show range with pronouns and descriptive substitutes like 'this mentor' or 'the individual in question'.
The test lasts between 11 and 14 minutes and is divided into three parts.
You can ask for clarification! Say 'Could you repeat the question, please?' or 'I'm not exactly sure what you mean by [word].'
No. You are marked on pronunciation, not accent. As long as you are clear and easy to understand, you can achieve a Band 9.