Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2, 3: Describe a successful business you know

"Describe a successful business you know" - the IELTS Speaking Part 2 topic under the "Others" category. This category has no specific content limitations, so there is no common essay structure. The best approach for candidates is to closely follow the questions in the cue card.

Refer to the sample essay "Describe a successful business you know" below to understand more about developing ideas, taking notes in 1 minute, and effectively tackling the IELTS Speaking test in the real exam!

I. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a successful business you know

1. Cue card: Describe a successful business you know

Describe a successful business you know. You should say: 

• What it is

• How you know about it

• How it becomes successful

 And explain how you felt about it

2. Outline: Part 2

2.1. Sample idea

• The prompt "Describe a successful business you know" requires the test-taker to describe a successful company or business model, providing the following information:

  • What is the business?

  • How do you know about this business?

  • How has the business become successful?

  • Explain your perception/feelings about the business.

• The task "Describe a successful business you know" falls under the "Others" topic - those topics that do not belong to the major common topic groups. Since this group has no content restrictions, there is no common essay structure. The best way to handle the task "Describe a successful business you know" is to closely follow the questions in the cue card.

• Question 1: What is the business? This is where you provide the most general introduction to the business: its name, the products/services it deals in, the company model... These are the basic information needed for the listener to have a clearer picture of the subject being described.

• Question 2: How did you come to know about this business? Content related to storytelling is always a good opportunity to extend the length of your speech naturally, but you shouldn't get too bogged down in telling overly long and complicated stories, as this is still not the main focus of the speech. Around 2-3 sentences are enough, and pay special attention to the verb tenses, as this is a story from the past, so you will need to use the appropriate past tenses.

• Question 3: How did this business become successful? 

  • The focus of the "Describe a successful business you know" speech is on this question, because the task not only asks for a business you know, but a successful business. You need to clearly illustrate the success of the business to ensure the speech aligns with the requirement, without straying from the topic.

  • There are many different aspects of success that can be explored - things like the products, services, people, marketing, etc. Think about the various aspects involved in running a company, and from which perspective(s) you can assess the main drivers of its success, or the combination of different factors.

• Question 4: Explain how you feel about that business. This part about your perceptions does not necessarily have to be at the end of the "Describe a successful business you know" speech. In general, this is where you can use descriptive adjectives to express your emotions, feelings, and also explore in more depth how that business has influenced your own thoughts, mindset, and future plans.

2.2. One-minute note taking

3. Sample Speaking: Describe a successful business you know

Below is a sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 on the topic of "Describe a successful business you know", compiled by teacher Tung V. Review the sample "Describe a successful business you know" to effectively practice IELTS Speaking at home and achieve a high band score on your actual test!

Let's listen to the Podcast of the IELTS Speaking Part 2 sample - "Describe a successful business you know":

I'm not the kind of person who pays much attention to the business world, but there’s a company that has inspired me a lot in everything I do. That's Apple - a giant tech company, the first trillion-dollar business and the most valuable brand in the world. They are renowned for producing the highest-quality technological devices, including smartphones, laptops, desktops, and headphones, among which the iPhone is considered a revolutionary product that changed the world with its release. 

The first time I saw an iPhone, it completely blew me away, because it was unlike any other phone on the market at that time. Then I looked up the company behind the product, and was immediately intrigued by its fascinating success story.

Many people probably don't know this, but before becoming this successful, Apple struggled a lot and almost went bankrupt. Its first line of products was not welcomed by the public, and its infamous founder, Steve Jobs, was even fired from his own company. However, with the release of the original Macintosh and the iPhone, Apple managed to pull in lots of attention, and the sales of their products skyrocketed. Its success can be attributed to a few factors.

First of all, it adapts very well to the demand of the market. From a first mover with lots of innovative devices, Apple now waits for a new technology to perfect itself before implementing it in their own products, offering their users not necessarily the first, but certainly the best experience. In this saturated market, no new technology can wow consumers, but an optimal experience can, and Apple is aiming for that.

Besides, Apple is a marketing genius, coming up with brilliant catchphrases and creative campaigns to popularize their products. They also offer the best services in the tech world, overshadowing most of their competitors in this aspect. 

I don’t consider myself an Apple fanatic, but its business principles and practice have inspired me a lot, as I always try to provide my students with the best experience, and never give them any half-baked product or service. The company is definitely having a positive influence on me.

Vocabulary used to score points in the sample "Describe a successful business you know":

• a trillion-dollar business (phrase): a company worth trillions of dollars

• renowned (for) (a): famous (for something)

• revolutionary (a): groundbreaking, transformative

• blow sb away (phrase): to impress or astound someone greatly

• (be) intrigued by (phrase): to be fascinated by something

• line of products (phrase): a range of products

• skyrocket (v): to increase dramatically

• (be) attributed to (phrase): to originate from, for something to be the result of something

• a first mover (phrase): a pioneer, the first to enter a field

• saturated (a): oversaturated, overly full

• optimal (a): ideal, perfect

• a marketing genius (phrase): a marketing mastermind

• catchphrase (n): a memorable and widely-used phrase

• campaign (n): a coordinated marketing effort

• popularize (v): to make something widely popular

• overshadow (v): to make something less prominent or noticeable

• fanatic (n): an extremely devoted and enthusiastic supporter

• half-baked (a): incomplete, not fully developed

II. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 3: Business

IELTS Speaking Part 2 + 3 sample on the topic "Describe a businessman you admire"

1. What do you think is the retirement age for men and women?

It is my opinion that there should be no restriction regarding the age to which men and women can work. As long as their health allows and their company requires their services, they can keep on contributing, and retire only when they feel that they have reached their limit. Old employees' experience and wisdom can be extremely valuable, and I think it is a huge loss when they are forced to retire while they are still physically and mentally capable. 

• restriction (n): a limitation, a constraint

• reach one's limit (phrase): to reach the maximum capacity or ability of someone

• wisdom (n): the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment

• physically and mentally capable (phrase): having the ability both physically and mentally

2. What kinds of qualities do people need to run their own business?

There are a few factors that come into play, but at the top of the list, I think a business owner must be extremely well-organized. Running a business is no simple feat, and if an entrepreneur can’t plan things well and manage the many different aspects of a company, the situation will be very chaotic. In addition, those who want to be their own boss should have a clear vision, because no business can thrive without its identity figured out and a well-thought-out development plan.  

• come into play (phrase): to become relevant or important

• at the top of the list (phrase): of the highest priority or importance

• no simple feat (phrase): not an easy task to accomplish

• an entrepreneur (n): a person who starts and runs their own business

• chaotic (a): disorganized and in a state of confusion

• thrive (v): to grow and develop successfully

• well-thought-out (a): carefully planned and effective

3. What do you think are the key factors that contribute to the success of a business?

I personally think that, more than anything, a company must have a competitive advantage in order to become successful. In other words, they should gain an edge over their competitors in a particular aspect, be it price, user experience or uniqueness.

Besides, a strong team can be a major contributor to the success of a business. A good smartphone, for example, may not sell if there isn't a strong marketing team to bring it to the public eye and a capable sales team to convince its customers to make a purchase.  

• competitive advantage (phrase): a strategic advantage over competitors

• gain an edge over (phrase): to obtain an advantage or superiority over someone/something

• uniqueness (n): the state of being unique, one-of-a-kind

• bring sth to the public eye (idiom): to make something publicly known or noticed

• make a purchase (phrase): to buy something

III. Conclusion

This article has provided a sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 response on the topic "Describe a successful business you know". If you are still struggling with the IELTS Speaking section, then choose an IELTS preparation course that is appropriate for the band score you are aiming for. The teachers at Prep will be very happy to accompany you on your journey!