IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a job that you have done

Describe a job that you have done.

You should say:

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

How to plan it in one minute

  1. Note down the job title and how you found it to start your narrative smoothly.
  2. List three specific duties to ensure you have enough content for the middle section.
  3. Brainstorm one personal feeling or skill gained to provide a strong, reflective closing.

Band 8 model answer

A couple of years ago, I took on a summer role as a junior archivist at the local municipal library. I stumbled upon the opportunity quite serendipitously; I was just browsing the library’s notice board when I saw a flyer seeking help with their digitisation project. I’d always been intrigued by the dusty, labyrinthine basements of the building, so I applied immediately, going through a brief interview with the head librarian, a stern but kind woman named Mrs Higgins. The job was essentially to catalogue and scan fragile, historical manuscripts from the early twentieth century. It involved wearing white cotton gloves and carefully flattening yellowed documents to feed them into a high-resolution scanner. I held this position for exactly three months over the summer break. I think I performed remarkably well, actually. Initially, the process was incredibly tedious and I struggled with the sheer monotony of the tasks, but I soon developed a methodical rhythm. By the second month, I was processing twice as many documents as the previous intern, and I took great pride in ensuring that the digital copies were crystal clear. I was particularly meticulous about tagging the files with accurate metadata, which meant that researchers could actually find what they were looking for later on. I genuinely felt like I was preserving a slice of history. The reason I enjoyed this job so much was the quiet solitude of the archives combined with the profound sense of accomplishment I felt whenever I completed a stack; it was immensely satisfying to transform a chaotic pile of decaying paper into an organised, accessible digital database.

267 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

Vocabulary from the answer

serendipitously
happening by chance in a happy, beneficial way
labyrinthine
like a maze, intricate, confusing and very large
digitisation
converting physical documents into a digital computer format
monotony
lack of variety and interest, making something boring
methodical
done in a very systematic and orderly way
meticulous
showing great attention to detail and extreme care
accessible
easy to reach, enter, or obtain and use
solitude
the state of being alone, often pleasantly quiet

Part 3 questions that follow this card

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See the Part 3 guide.

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Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a job that you have done."?

Note down the job title and how you found it to start your narrative smoothly.

How long should my answer be?

Speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

Can I use this model answer in the exam?

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

More cue cards: an experience