# Describe a successful businessperson: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Work

Describe a successful businessperson you know or know about.

You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know about this person
- what kind of business this person runs
- and explain why you think this person is successful

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

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about my uncle Farid, my father's older brother. Of course I've known him all my life, but I learned more about his business when I have worked for him during the summer holidays when I was at high school.

He runs a chain of bakeries in our city. He started about twenty-five years ago with one very small shop, where he did everything himself, baking at four in the morning, selling bread during the day and doing the accounts at night. Now he has six shops and around forty employees, and they sell bread, cakes and also sandwiches and coffee for people going to work. When I worked there, my job was mainly serving customers and cleaning, but I also saw how he managed everything.

I think he's successful for a few reasons. First of all, he never compromises on quality. Even now, he goes to each shop and tastes the bread himself, and if something isn't right, he makes them change it. Also, he is very good with people. He treats his staff very fair, so many of them have worked for him for more than ten years, which is unusual in this kind of business. And another reason is that he's not afraid to try new things. For example, a few years ago he started selling online and delivering to offices, and it became a big part of his business.

But for me, the most impressive thing is that he's still very humble. He doesn't show off his money, and he still gets his hands dirty in the kitchen when they're busy. I think that's why people respect him so much.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer gives a clear, well-supported picture of the uncle's business and the reasons for his success, using specific examples like tasting the bread and delivering to offices. Expressions such as "never compromises on quality", "show off" and "gets his hands dirty" add range. However, linking is list-like ("First of all", "Also", "And another reason"), the speech stays mostly descriptive, and some errors persist: "when I have worked for him" (rather than "when I worked for him") and "treats his staff very fair" (rather than the adverb "fairly"). For Band 8, the speaker would use more precise business vocabulary and analyse success in a more nuanced way.

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

## 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.