Part 2 · Band 4

Describe a person who encouraged you to achieve a goal.

Illustrative target band for this model answer · 211 words

AI-completed learning example

Everyone has someone who inspires them to achieve their goals. For me, that person is my husband. He's incredibly supportive and encouraging. Whenever I feel discouraged, he reminds me of my strengths and pushes me to keep going. This was especially helpful when I decided to take an exam for a professional certification. I was quite nervous because I had not taken an exam like that for a long time. My husband helped me make a simple study plan, and he often asked how my preparation was going. When I wanted to give up, he reminded me that I had already worked hard and that one difficult day did not mean I would fail. He also gave me time and space to study, which made a big difference. In the end, I completed the exam and achieved the goal I had set for myself. I felt proud, but I was also grateful to him. His support did not mean that he did the work for me; instead, he helped me believe that I could do it. I remember this experience because it showed me how much encouragement from a close person can matter. Since then, whenever I face a new challenge, I try to remember his words and keep moving forward.

Answer analysis

Fluency & Coherence

The ideas follow a clear speaking sequence: you introduce your husband, explain the certification goal, describe his practical and emotional support, and reflect on the result. The final reflection gives the answer a satisfying close. Because this is text only, fluency cannot be scored. Practise delivering this answer in two minutes, using brief pauses between the situation, his support, and what you learned.

Lexical Resource

Phrases such as 'reminds me of my strengths', 'study plan', and 'time and space to study' communicate the support clearly and with some variety. The vocabulary suits a personal story, though words such as 'support' and 'goal' recur and some descriptions remain broad. For a more precise account, add one specific example of what he said or did, while keeping the wording natural for speech.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The answer uses accurate simple and compound sentences, with some subordinate structures, as in 'Whenever I feel discouraged' and 'because it showed me how much encouragement...can matter.' The contrast in 'His support did not mean...; instead...' also adds variety. Most sentence patterns are still straightforward. Practise combining a time clause with a result or reflection, without making the spoken answer difficult to follow.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation cannot be assessed from text, and this practice guide is not an assessment of a recording. Practise the word stress in 'professional certification' and 'discouraged', and group the closing thought as: 'Since then / whenever I face a new challenge / I try to remember his words / and keep moving forward.' Record yourself saying the answer, then check whether each key phrase is clear and each thought group is easy to follow.

A transcript shows language and organisation. Fluency, delivery and pronunciation require an audio recording; the synthetic voice demonstrates the text, not the original speaker.

  • Add one concrete example of your husband's encouragement, such as a particular reminder or a practical way he made time for you to study.
  • When rehearsing, give the story a clear three-part shape: the exam goal, his support during preparation, and the result or lesson.
  • Practise saying 'professional certification' and 'keep moving forward' in full sentences, then listen back to check that the key words are easy to understand.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Name one specific goal and explain why it mattered to you.
  • Describe two concrete ways the person supported you, such as setting small targets and giving feedback.
  • Explain what changed after the encouragement and what you learned from the experience.

Suggested structure

  1. Briefly introduce the person and your relationship.
  2. State the goal and why you found it challenging.
  3. Give specific examples of how the person encouraged you.
  4. Describe the result and reflect on why the support mattered.
Useful vocabulary & examples
set manageable targets
choose small, realistic steps towards a larger goal

My mother helped me set manageable targets for practising my speaking.

offer gentle feedback
give suggestions in a supportive, non-critical way

After each practice, she offered gentle feedback on one thing I could improve.

grow in confidence
become more self-assured over time

I began to grow in confidence as I spoke more often in class.

break a goal into steps
divide a larger aim into smaller actions

It became easier to make progress once I broke my goal into steps.

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