Topic Vocabulary >> Lesson 12: Personality
During the IELTS Speaking exam you may be asked to talk about someone’s personality or character. Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to the phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check the meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: How would you describe yourself?
Paula: Everyone tells me I take after my mum as I’m quite laid-back … I think I’m good company but you should ask my friends if they agree …
Examiner: In which ways are you similar to your friends?
Manuel: I seem to be attracted to introverts … not people who are painfully shy but most of my friends are a little reserved … and I think that’s what I’m like …
Examiner: Are you similar or different to your brother(s)/sister(s)?
Mira: I think my brother and I are very similar … I’d say we’re fun-loving and tend to be a bit extroverted … my brother is certainly the life and soul of the party … I’m not sure that applies to me …
Part 2-style task
Describe a teacher you once had who you enjoyed being taught by. You should say
- who this person was
- when they were your teacher
- which subject they taught you
and describe what it was about their character that you liked.
Carolina: I’d like to describe my English teacher from school … Miss Thomas … this was a few years ago now and she was my teacher at a time when I was getting a little bored with being at school … unlike some of the other teachers Miss Thomas never lost her temper … she was very calm and easy-going … she was also very broad-minded … we were able to ask her questions about lots of subjects that some other teachers would refuse to discuss which made us respect her even more … she had a great sense of humour too … she’d laugh at our jokes as well as making us laugh … and she would also bend over backwards to help us with our work … she always put us first and often stayed around at the end of class to talk with anyone who needed help … apparently she was highly respected within her field but you would never know as she was the type that hid her light under a bushel … she was very modest and self-effacing … so yes … Miss Thomas was a teacher I have fond memories of …
Part 3-style questions
Examiner: Which personal qualities do you think we most want to pass on to our children?
Martin: I certainly would want my children to be self-confident and self-assured … I really believe that people who feel good about themselves are in a good position to face what life has to offer them … and I’d hope they wouldn’t be self-centred … but remembered to think about others …
Examiner: Which characteristics do you think are the least appealing in a person?
Marianne: Well … people who are very narrow-minded are difficult to get on with … it’s nice when someone is open to other people’s opinion and willing to think about their own views … and people who are two-faced can be a little irritating … relationships are built on trust and without honesty there’s not much left …
Examiner: Which personality types do you think are less likely to suffer from stress or anxiety?
Sol: Probably people who are thick-skinned … who don’t let people or problems affect them too much … and if you are fair-minded you’ ll be less likely to overreact to situations or be quick-tempered …
Definitions
- to be the life and soul of the party: a fun person, someone who is the centre of activity
- to bend over backwards: to try very hard to help someone
- broad-minded: prepared to accept other views or behaviours
- easy-going: relaxed and not easily worried about anything
- extrovert: an energetic person who likes the company of others
- fair-minded: to treat people equally
- fun-loving: to enjoy having fun
- to hide one’s light under a bushel: to hide one’s talents and skills
- good company: enjoyable to socialise with
- good sense of humour: the ability to understand what is funny
- introvert: someone who is shy
- laid-back: see ‘easy-going’
- to lose one’s temper: to suddenly become angry
- narrow minded: opposite of ‘broad-minded’ (see above)
- painfully shy: very shy
- to put others first: to think of others before yourself
- quick-tempered: to become angry quickly
- reserved: shy
- self-assured: confident
- self-centred: thinks only of oneself
- self-confident: believes in one’s own ability or knowledge
- self-effacing: to not try to get the attention of others (especially in terms of hiding one’s skills or abilities)
- to take after: to be like (often another member of the family)
- thick-skinned: not easily affected by criticism
- trustworthy: can be trusted
- two-faced: not honest or sincere. Will say one thing to someone to their face and another when they are not present.
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My name is mahrukh sadaf. I am a students. I am a food lover as well as good in cooking. I am confident and humble. I have good team work qualities bcz of this ability and skills as well i was selected as capton in my university football team. I totally believe in bonding. I have major intrest in watching movies and cartoons. I am honest and family oriented person.
very useful me as for
starter proverbs
As a beginner it’s very useful for me to taught how to add a phrases in speaking…thanks a lot!!!
that’s correct about opinion from the website than if uplout some of opinion can bi translition so we have understaint about opinion
I do consider all the ideas you’ve introduced for your post.
They’re really convincing and can certainly work.
Still, the posts are very short for beginners. Could you please extend them a little from next time?
Thanks for the post.
its really helpful to me .
Thanks,
From;Nepal
i’m so self-effacing person)))
That,helped me alot. I have every words on my note to discribe my protagonists character well.
Really helpful.
thanks
Stay blessed
It’s really good and it’ll be more helpfull if you add few more topics.
Thanks for your great help for my test.
It’s really helpful to many people especially for my ielts test.
Thanks a lot.
All the best x
How would you describe yourself?
In which ways are you similar to your friends?
Which personal qualities do you think we most want to pass on to our children?
That’s a good question! I take after my like my mum because she is painfully shy, so i am bit of the introvert. Despite that, I am self-effacing, resilient and i, suppose the life and soul of the party of a family of 6. Like my mum, I am naturally ready to bend over backward to offer succor while avoiding the searchlight of the public. I have picked up some great skills in acts and crafting yet I try to hide my light under a bushel.
Little wonder my circle of friends are people who are basically introvert, largehearted and skillful, yet unassuming.
If I ever have the privilege of having children, I would definitely love to transmit self-sacrificing spirit, kindness and plasticity.
Thank God I’ve always been a self-effacing man. I enjoy being like this because it prevents us to go through embarrassing moments in life. When I was in my childhood I used to be painfully shy, but I could turn things around and nowadays I consider myself to be a little more self-assured. People say that I’m fair-minded guy because I always have a judicious reasoning about everything.
Thank you for the text. It certainly was of great help for me and the others.
This is a good sample for the Cue Card answer. So far http://www.ielts-mentor.com is the best for cue card I have found so far. Just wanted you to give a heads up in case you are struggling in cue card preparation.
Have a good day. Happy IELTS preparation !
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Hi Dilya
Many thanks for your kind words. I agree. Simon’s IELTS Simon site is great for all-round preparation. (http://www.ielts-simon.com). Hopefully our focus on Speaking will help you pass this paper with flying colours!
Peter
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My name is Mehwish Fahim. I m a housewife. I have three kids. I have done my F.Sc in 2000. I love to read and drive if I have any spare time from my busy schedule.
OVER TO YOU
Use some of the vocabulary above to answer these or any of the other questions on this page.