I’d like to talk about my cousin, Sarah, who is truly an environmental crusader. I have known her since we were children, as we spent every summer at our grandparents' cottage in the Lake District, but it was only recently that I truly appreciated her dedication to the planet. Sarah works as a marine biologist, but her commitment extends far beyond her professional duties into her daily lifestyle. She is a staunch advocate for zero-waste living. She meticulously avoids single-use plastics, even going so far as to frequent bulk-buy stores where she brings her own glass jars and fabric bags. Beyond that, she organises monthly community beach clean-ups along the coast near her home in Brighton. I’ve joined her on a few occasions, and it’s genuinely eye-opening to see the sheer volume of waste that ends up on our shores. She also volunteers her weekends to rehabilitate injured seabirds, often turning her spare room into a makeshift clinic. Watching Sarah operate, I am struck by her unwavering consistency. It isn't just a hobby for her; it is a fundamental part of her identity. Honestly, I feel incredibly inspired by her actions because she demonstrates that one individual can indeed make a tangible difference. In a world where many people feel helpless about climate change, Sarah’s proactive approach serves as a powerful reminder that small, deliberate steps, when taken regularly, have a significant cumulative impact on the health of our local ecosystems.
The cue card
Describe a person who helps protect the environment
You should say:
- →Who this person is
- →How you know them
- →What they do to protect the environment
- →And explain how you feel about their actions
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
A person
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Choose a real person to make your delivery more natural and effortless.
- 2
Jot down three specific actions they take to avoid repetitive vocabulary.
- 3
Use the final bullet to connect their actions to your own personal feelings.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.
Say it and get a band free →8 words
Useful vocabulary for this cue card
environmental crusader
someone who campaigns vigorously for environmental protection
staunch
loyal, firm, and committed in an attitude
zero-waste
a lifestyle aiming to send nothing to landfills
bulk-buy
purchasing large quantities to avoid individual plastic packaging
proactive
creating change rather than just reacting to events
tangible
clear, definite, and able to be touched or felt
cumulative
increasing in quantity by successive additions over time
ecosystems
a biological community of interacting organisms and environment
5 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1What role does society play in shaping our attitudes towards this?
- 2Has the way people view this changed over the years?
- 3How do you think it will develop in the future?
- 4What are the benefits and drawbacks?
- 5Do you think the government should be involved in regulating this area?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a person who helps protect the environment"?+
Choose a real person to make your delivery more natural and effortless.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then 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.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample 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.
Keep practising
More cue cards: a person
- Describe a child who loves drawing/painting
- Describe a confident public speaker you know
- Describe a family member you admire
- Describe a famous business person that you know about
- Describe a film/movie actor from your country who is very popular
- Describe a friend from your childhood
- All 705 IELTS cue cards 2026
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