Describe someone older than you whom you admire.
You should say:
- 1who this person is~30s
- 2what he or she does~30s
- 3what he or she is like~30s
- 4and explain why you admire this person so much~30s
Reported in September 2026 Family & Relationships
Plan it in one minute
What each point needs, about 30 seconds on each.
- 1Who this person isSet the scene: a real time, place or person. Specific beats impressive.
- 2What he or she doesSay it in one line, then add one detail.
- 3What he or she is likeSay it in one line, then add one detail.
- 4Explain why you admire this person so muchThis is your ending. One clear reason or lesson, said with confidence.
Sample answers: Band 6, 7 and 8
One story told three ways. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Band 6
Um, the older person I really look up to is my aunt Lan, who’s about twenty years older than me. She teach science at a secondary school in Da Nang1, and she runs a free class for children from poorer families on Saturday mornings. I first helped her during grade eleven - no, sorry, grade twelve, my last year at school. I prepare simple experiments and sort books for the children. She’s calm and practical, but she can be strict2 when students aren’t listening. She explains difficult things with everyday examples, and she always listens before giving advice. She’s friendly too, but she is not very loud. Sometimes she tells small jokes, and everyone laughs. You know, she says education can make a real difference, so she gives her time even when she’s tired. Last year, she organise a book drive3, and we collected books for the class library. She also help students after lessons, which is quite impressive. Um, she is very, very patient, and that’s why I admire her so much. I hope I can become a little more like her one day.
Why it's a Band 6
She teach science at a secondary school in Da Nang
This clear detail has a small verb slip, which is a real weakness.She’s calm and practical, but she can be strict
The simple but link is clear, though the connection sounds basic.Last year, she organise a book drive
This past story detail has a small tense slip, but it remains easy to understand.
What lifts it to Band 7 Change “She teach” to “She teaches” and “she organise” to “she organised”, then end with one real example: “When I was stressed about exams, she told me to do one subject a day, and it really helped.”
Phrases to borrow
look up to
/lʊk ʌp tuː/
admire and respect someone
I’ve always looked up to my older cousin.
make a real difference
/meɪk ə rɪəl ˈdɪfrəns/
create an important positive change
Volunteering can make a real difference to local families.
Band 7
The older person I’ve always looked up to is my aunt Lan, who’s roughly twenty years older than me. She teaches science at a secondary school in Da Nang, and she also has a free Saturday class for children from poor families. I first saw this side of her in grade twelve, when I joined her to prepare simple experiments and organise donated books1. She’s calm and really nice, but she can be firm when students aren’t concentrating. I noticed this clearly when a boy get upset during a lesson. She didn’t get angry, she just sat beside him and explained it again in another way until he was ready to try. She doesn’t always have an easy day, but she still makes time for the class. She is quite funny too, and her little jokes can crack the whole class up2. I admire her because she doesn’t just talk about helping people. She actually does it, not just talks. She says education can make a real difference, and she gives up her weekends to support students who don’t get much help at home3. When the school closed the classroom for repairs, she took it in her stride and moved the lessons online. She also wants to give something back to the community that supported her when she was younger. Um, I suppose I’d like to be a bit more like her.
Why it's a Band 7
when I joined her to prepare simple experiments and organise donated books
The time clause and two linked actions show a wider range of sentence patterns.her little jokes can crack the whole class up
This natural expression gives the answer more flexible and interesting vocabulary.students who don’t get much help at home
This extra clause explains which students her class helps.
What lifts it to Band 8 Change “a boy get upset” to “a boy got upset”, and “moved the lessons online” to “kept the classes running online while the room was repaired”.
Phrases to borrow
look up to
/lʊk ʌp tuː/
admire and respect someone
I’ve always looked up to my older cousin.
crack someone up
/kræk ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp/
make someone laugh a lot
His funny story cracked everyone up.
make a real difference
/meɪk ə rɪəl ˈdɪfrəns/
create an important positive change
Volunteering can make a real difference to local families.
take it in your stride
/teɪk ɪt ɪn jɔː straɪd/
deal calmly with difficulties
Even after losing the match, he took it in his stride.
give something back
/ɡɪv ˈsʌmθɪŋ bæk/
do something useful for people or places that helped you
She wants to give something back to her hometown.
Band 8
The older person I most admire is my aunt Lan, a science teacher in Da Nang who’s about twenty years older than me. She teaches at a secondary school, but she also runs a free class on Saturday mornings for children whose families can’t easily afford extra lessons. I helped her during my final year at school, preparing simple experiments and sorting donated books, so I got to see what she’s like when nobody is watching1. She’s steady and warm, and she has a way of making nervous students feel they belong. At the same time, she won’t let a noisy class get out of control. She explains science through familiar situations, like cooking or traffic, and that helps weaker students follow her. I remember one boy who kept saying he was bad at science. Aunt Lan sat with him after class and changed the task2 into a small experiment he could actually finish. By the end, he was smiling and asking questions. She has a dry sense of humour as well, so when a lesson gets tense, she can crack the whole class up without making fun of anyone. What I admire most is that she’s consistent. She believes education can make a real difference, and she acts on that belief week after week. Last year, we organised a book drive together, and when the Saturday classroom closed for repairs, she took it in her stride and moved the lessons online. She sees the work as a way to give something back, not as a way to attract praise3. I’ve looked up to her for years, and honestly, the more time I spend with her, the more I understand why.
Why it's a Band 8
I got to see what she’s like when nobody is watching
This natural time clause makes the story sound personal and smoothly developed.Aunt Lan sat with him after class and changed the task
The connected actions give a precise example with accurate grammar.She sees the work as a way to give something back, not as a way to attract praise
The contrast with not as a way shows her real reason clearly.
What would make it a 9 For Band 9, change “By the end, he was smiling and asking questions” to “By the end, he was grinning and asking if they could do another one”.
Phrases to borrow
crack someone up
/kræk ˈsʌmwʌn ʌp/
make someone laugh a lot
His funny story cracked everyone up.
make a real difference
/meɪk ə rɪəl ˈdɪfrəns/
create an important positive change
Volunteering can make a real difference to local families.
take it in your stride
/teɪk ɪt ɪn jɔː straɪd/
deal calmly with difficulties
Even after losing the match, he took it in his stride.
give something back
/ɡɪv ˈsʌmθɪŋ bæk/
do something useful for people or places that helped you
She wants to give something back to her hometown.
look up to
/lʊk ʌp tuː/
admire and respect someone
I’ve always looked up to my older cousin.
Part 3: what the examiner asks next
Real follow-up questions candidates reported with this card.
- What can young people learn from older generations?
- Are there things older people can learn from the younger generation?
- Do you think there is a big generation gap between young and older adults nowadays?
- What role do older adults play in a traditional family?
- How has the status of older adults in the family changed compared to the past?
Your turn: talk through the card
Describe someone older than you whom you admire.
Talk for one to two minutes, one point at a time. Nothing is uploaded.
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Answer it with the examiner
Sign in free, then speak for 1–2 minutes and get a band score with one thing to fix.
Which phrase means…
admire and respect someone
“I’ve always looked up to my older cousin.”
look up to
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