If I had the chance to sit down with any author, I would choose Kazuo Ishiguro, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist. I have been fascinated by his work ever since I stumbled upon 'Never Let Me Go' in a dusty university bookshop. I already know that he was born in Japan but raised in Britain, a duality that seems to permeate his prose. His writing style is remarkably understated; he often uses unreliable narrators who look back on their lives with a sense of melancholic resignation, which I find incredibly moving. Beyond the biographical snippets available in interviews, I would love to find out about his specific drafting process. I am curious whether he maps out the emotional arcs of his characters before he starts writing, or if he allows the narrative voice to emerge more organically. I also want to ask him about the transition from his earlier, more realistic style to the speculative elements he has embraced in his recent fiction. The primary reason I am so eager to meet him is that his books have profoundly shifted my perspective on memory and regret. There is a quiet, meditative quality to his sentences that forces me to slow down and reflect on my own experiences. Engaging with him in person would be an intellectual dream, as I believe his insights into the human condition are as sharp as they are compassionate. A conversation with him would not just be about literature, but about the very nature of how we perceive our own histories and the choices we make along the way.
The cue card
Describe a writer you would like to meet.
You should say:
- →Who the writer is?
- →What did you know about this writer already?
- →What you would like to find out about him/her?
- →And explain why you would like to meet this writer.
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 writer whose work you genuinely know to ensure your points sound authentic.
- 2
Use the bullet points to create a logical flow from past knowledge to future curiosity.
- 3
Focus on how their work influences you personally to add depth to your explanation.
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
permeate
to spread throughout every part of something
understated
presented in a subtle or restrained way
unreliable narrators
storytellers whose credibility is compromised or limited
melancholic
feeling or expressing a deep, pensive sadness
resignation
accepting something unpleasant that one cannot change
speculative
fiction involving hypothetical or futuristic concepts
meditative
involving deep thought or reflective contemplation
human condition
the essential characteristics and experiences of mankind
6 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1What kinds of books are most popular with children in your country? Why do you think that is?
- 2Why do you think some children do not read books very often?
- 3How do you think children can be encouraged to read more?
- 4Are there any occasions when reading at speed is a useful skill to have? What are they?
- 5Are there any jobs where people need to read a lot? What are they?
- 6Do you think that reading novels is more interesting than reading factual books? Why is that?
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 writer you would like to meet."?+
Choose a writer whose work you genuinely know to ensure your points sound authentic.
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
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- 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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