Ashore for webTry a mock test
Part 2 cue card · People · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe a person who works in a successful company.

Describe a person who works in a successful company.

You should say:

  • ·who he or she is
  • ·what he or she does in the company
  • ·what business the company does

and explain why you think it is a successful company.

One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk. Then Part 3 asks the questions below.

Sample answers

Two answers to the same card

Same story, two levels. Both were written by Ashore, then checked against the public band descriptors in a separate pass. The bands are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.

A simpler answer

Checked at band 6.5 · 167 words

I’d like to talk about my cousin, Lin. She’s in her early thirties and works for a company in Hangzhou that has become quite successful. We’re close, so I’ve heard quite a lot about her job.

She works as a team leader in the customer service department. She answers difficult questions from customers and helps train new staff. She also checks feedback and tells other teams what problems people often have. Her work sounds busy, especially during big sales, but she says she enjoys helping people.

The company sells fresh food and daily household items through an app, and it delivers them to people’s homes. Customers can order vegetables, fruit, meat and other things without going to a supermarket.

I think it is successful because many people use it regularly, and it has grown over the last few years. It also delivers orders quite quickly and keeps the food fresh. People trust it, so they continue to use it. That’s why I think it’s a successful company.

  • Adding job details · “helps train new staff”
  • Giving a reason · “many people use it regularly”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7.5 · 250 words

Honestly, the person I’d choose is my cousin Lin, who’s in her early thirties and lives in Hangzhou. She’s worked for the same company for about six years, so I’ve heard about its growth through her rather than just reading about it online.

She’s a team leader in customer service. Her job isn’t just answering complaints; she also helps new staff learn how to deal with tricky situations and passes recurring issues on to the delivery and technology teams. For example, if customers keep saying that a certain item arrives late, she gathers those comments and helps the company work out where the delay is happening. It sounds demanding, especially during busy sales periods, but she likes being able to solve practical problems.

The company sells fresh food and everyday household items through an app and delivers them to people’s homes. Customers can order vegetables, fruit, meat and basic supplies without making a trip to a supermarket. The service is particularly useful for busy families or older people who find shopping inconvenient.

I’d call it successful because it has built a large, regular customer base and has expanded over the past few years. More importantly, it seems to have earned people’s trust: orders usually arrive quickly, and the food is kept fresh. If the service were unreliable, customers could easily go back to local shops, so the fact that many keep using it says a lot. That’s why I see it as a successful company, not just a growing one.

  • Clarifying responsibilities · “passes recurring issues on”
  • Developing with an example · “if customers keep saying that”
  • Precise vocabulary · “earned people’s trust”
  • Conditional contrast · “If the service were unreliable”
Angles

2 ways to answer it

  1. 1A cousin coordinating deliveries at a logistics firm known for punctual service and repeat customers
  2. 2A graduate designing software that solves a specific problem and keeps attracting customers
Expressions

4 expressions that fit this card

build a good reputation
become known for doing good work
a loyal customer base
customers who repeatedly use the business
pay attention to detail
notice small things that affect quality
have room to grow
have opportunities to develop further
Part 3

The questions that follow

After the long turn, Part 3 asks bigger questions on the same theme. Each one comes with two points you can build an answer from.

  1. 1

    Do you think governments should provide financial support to companies?

    • ·Support can help promising firms begin operating and create jobs.
    • ·Transparent criteria and oversight help prevent unfair favouritism.
  2. 2

    Do you think companies should donate money to help society?

    • ·Companies benefit from society and can contribute within their means.
    • ·They should also fulfil basic responsibilities to customers, employees and the public.
  3. 3

    Do you think customer satisfaction is important for a company?

    • ·Satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend the business.
    • ·Resolving real complaints matters more than simply collecting positive survey scores.
  4. 4

    Why do people want to work for successful companies?

    • ·Stability, training and career development can attract applicants to established companies.
    • ·A famous company does not guarantee a suitable role or supportive team.
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits this story. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • A driven classmate or colleague

    Someone with a clear goal: what they want to become, how they study or work, a problem they solved.

Say it out loud and get a band score