Speaking Part 2 · PeopleIn the May–Aug 2026 forecast
Describe a Person You Would Like to Work With
In short
“Describe a Person You Would Like to Work With” is a common IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card. You get 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1–2 minutes, covering all four points below. This page gives you a Band 9 model answer, an idea map so you can make it your own, the Part 3 follow-up questions with answers, and the vocabulary examiners reward.
The task card
Describe a Person You Would Like to Work With. You should say:
- •Who this person is
- •How you know about them
- •What kind of work you would do together
- •And explain why you would like to work with them
Band 9 model answer
The person I'd most like to work with is an old university friend of mine called Priya, who's now made quite a name for herself as a UX designer. We studied together years ago, and even back then it was obvious she was going places, so if I ever got the chance to collaborate with her properly, I'd jump at it. We haven't actually worked together since graduating, which is precisely why the idea appeals to me so much.
I know her because we were on the same business course and ended up in a lot of the same project groups. We've stayed in touch ever since — mostly through the odd coffee and a fair bit of scrolling through each other's work online. I've watched her career take off from a distance, and these days she leads design at a small but rather well-regarded tech studio.
If we did work together, I imagine we'd build some kind of digital product — probably an app aimed at helping students manage their studies, since that's an area we've both always cared about. She'd handle the design and the user experience, which is her forte, while I'd take on the strategy and the business side, so our skills would dovetail nicely rather than overlap. We've even half-joked about it over coffee, sketching ideas on napkins, so it doesn't feel entirely far-fetched.
The main reason I'd love to work with her, though, comes down to how she operates. Back at university we once had a group project that was falling apart — deadlines slipping, nobody agreeing on anything — and Priya just quietly took charge without ever being bossy about it. She had this knack for listening to everyone and then steering us towards a decision that felt like it was ours. By the end, what could easily have been a disaster turned into the best mark in the class. That mix of creativity and level-headedness is genuinely rare, and it's exactly what I'd want in a partner.
On top of that, I think I'd learn an enormous amount from her. She's the sort of person who's ruthlessly focused on the end user and never lets ego get in the way of a good idea, and I suspect working alongside her would push me to raise my own game. There'd be a real meeting of minds, but also enough difference in our strengths to keep it interesting.
So if the stars ever aligned and we could start something together, I honestly believe it'd be both productive and a lot of fun — and I'd like to think our old friendship would make the inevitable disagreements far easier to navigate.
Make it your own: three angles
A talented friend or former colleague
Feels believable and lets you tell a real anecdote about having worked with them before.
An expert or famous figure in your field
Ambitious and impressive, but focus on their qualities and what you'd learn, not just their fame.
Someone whose skills complement your own
Perfect for the WHY bullet — you can explain exactly how your strengths would fit together.
What the examiner is listening for
Because this is a hypothetical card, lean on conditionals ('if we worked together, we'd…') to show grammatical range, and spend the bulk of your turn on WHY — their qualities and how your skills would complement each other. A short story from a past collaboration keeps it grounded rather than vague.
Part 1 warm-up questions
- Do you prefer working alone or in a team?
- What makes a good colleague?
- Would you like to run your own business one day?
- Is it easy for you to get along with new people at work?
Part 3 follow-up questions & answers
What qualities make someone a good colleague?
Reliability is the big one — you need to trust that when someone says they'll do something, it'll actually get done. On top of that, I value people who communicate openly and can disagree without taking it personally, because that's what stops small tensions from turning into real friction.
Is it better to work with friends or with strangers?
There's no single answer, honestly. Working with friends can be brilliant because the trust is already there, but it risks straining the friendship if things go wrong. Strangers keep it more professional and objective, though it takes longer to build the rapport that makes a team really click.
Do you think teamwork is always more effective than working alone?
Not always. Teamwork is fantastic for big, complex projects that need a range of skills, but for focused, creative work it can actually slow you down with too many opinions. The trick is matching the approach to the task rather than assuming more people automatically means better results.
How important is it to get along with the people you work with?
I'd say it's very important, because we spend so many of our waking hours at work. You don't have to be best friends, but a basic level of warmth and respect makes people far more willing to help each other and share ideas, which directly affects how well the whole team performs.
What causes conflict between coworkers?
A lot of it comes down to poor communication — unclear expectations, or credit not being shared fairly. Differences in working style can grate too, like a very meticulous person paired with someone who rushes. Usually the underlying issue is that people don't feel heard, and resentment builds from there.
Do you think younger and older people work well together?
They can complement each other really nicely when there's mutual respect. Older colleagues bring experience and perspective, while younger ones often bring fresh ideas and comfort with new technology. Problems only arise when either side is dismissive of the other, which is more about attitude than age.
How has remote working changed the way teams collaborate?
It's given people enormous flexibility and access to talent anywhere in the world, which is a huge plus. The flip side is that spontaneous conversations disappear, and it's harder to build genuine bonds through a screen. Teams that thrive remotely tend to be very deliberate about communication rather than leaving it to chance.
Useful vocabulary
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to make a name for oneself | to become well known and respected for one's work |
| to be going places | to be clearly likely to succeed in the future |
| to jump at the chance | to accept an opportunity eagerly and without hesitation |
| one's forte | a thing one is particularly good at |
| to dovetail | to fit together neatly and effectively |
| to take charge | to take control of and responsibility for a situation |
| to have a knack for | to have a natural talent or aptitude for something |
| level-headed | calm and sensible, even under pressure |
| a meeting of minds | a strong mutual understanding or agreement between people |
| to raise one's game | to improve one's performance to a higher level |
More cue cards
Describe a Goal You Want to Achieve
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