# Describe a person you like spending time with: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - People

Describe a person you like spending time with.

You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know this person
- what you usually do together
- and explain why you like spending time with this person

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

The person I like spending time with most is my older sister, Farah. She's four years older than me, and she works as a pharmacist in the same city where I live.

Obviously, I've known her my whole life, but to be honest, when we were children we didn't get on very well. She thought I was annoying, because I always followed her and her friends everywhere, and we used to argue about small things like who could use the computer. Our relationship changed a lot when she moved away to university. I really missed her, and when she came home in the holidays, we started talking more like friends than like sisters.

Now we try to meet at least once a week. Usually we go to a café near her work on Saturday morning and have a long breakfast together. Sometimes we go shopping, or we go for a walk in the park and just chat about everything, our jobs, our friends, our plans for the future. Every few months we also cook a big dinner for our parents together, which is always a bit chaotic but fun.

I like spending time with her for many reasons. First, she's really funny. She has a very dry sense of humour, and she can make me laugh even when I'm in a bad mood. Also, she gives me very honest advices. If I'm making a bad decision, she tells me directly, and I appreciate it, even if I don't always like hearing it. And mainly, I feel completely relaxed with her. I don't have to pretend anything, because she knows me better than anyone.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer is warm and well organised, with a clear sense of how the relationship has developed. Vocabulary is good ("get on", "dry sense of humour", "in a bad mood", "chaotic"), though "really" and "very" recur and the reasons are listed with "First", "Also" and "And mainly". There are typical slips: "very honest advices" (rather than "advice") and "I don't have to pretend anything" (rather than "I don't have to pretend at all"). Band 8 would add more precise and idiomatic language and develop the reasons in a more natural, less listed way.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-person-you-like-spending-time-with).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.