A robust vocabulary is crucial for IELTS Speaking, particularly when describing people. It allows for nuanced expression, whilst elevating your score. In Part 2, where you describe a person, a rich and diverse vocabulary helps explain in a vivid and detailed manner. In Part 3, discussing abstract concepts related to people (for example, personality traits, societal roles) demands a broad lexical range. Using diverse adjectives, synonyms, and idiomatic expressions will help you demonstrate fluency and sophistication, crucial for achieving a higher band score.
List of Words to Describe a Person’s Personality
Positive Traits
| Term/ Phrase | Description | Example Sentence |
| Outgoing | Sociable and energetic, enjoying the company of others. | She’s incredibly outgoing and makes friends easily wherever she goes. |
| Empathetic | Able to understand and share the feelings of another. | He’s an empathetic listener, always understanding how others are feeling. |
| Resilient | Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. | Despite facing many setbacks, she remained resilient and never gave up. |
Neutral Traits
| Term/ Phrase | Description | Example Sentence |
| Reserved | Inclined to keep one’s thoughts and feelings to oneself, not openly expressive. | He’s quite reserved, preferring to listen rather than actively participate. |
| Pragmatic | Dealing with things realistically and practically rather than theoretically. | She’s a pragmatic problem-solver, always focusing on the most efficient solution. |
| Meticulous | Showing great attention to detail, very careful and precise. | He’s meticulous in his work, ensuring every detail is perfectly executed. |
Negative Traits
| Term/ Phrase | Description | Example Sentence |
| Arrogant | Having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities. | His arrogant attitude made it difficult for others to work with him. |
| Impatient | Having or showing a tendency to be quickly irritated or provoked. | She’s often impatient and finds it hard to wait for anything. |
| Aloof | Not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant. | He remained aloof during the party, not engaging with any of the guests. |
Using such varied adjectives will boost your IELTS lexical resource score by showing you don’t just know basic words, instead you have a flexible vocabulary. Using “outgoing” instead of “friendly”, or “meticulous” instead of “careful” demonstrates precision. Making use of such nuanced language proves that you can express complex personality traits, thereby impressing examiners and showcasing your ability to use vocabulary effectively and naturally. This is key to a higher score!
Physical Characteristics
Physical characteristics can enhance personality descriptions by creating a more whole and vivid picture. Combining them will allow you to paint a detailed portrait, making your descriptions more engaging and realistic, eventually helping you in storytelling in IELTS Speaking Part 2.
| Term/ Phrase | Description | Example Sentence |
| Tall | Having a more than average height. | He’s tall and lanky, with a friendly smile that reaches his eyes. |
| Petite | Small and delicate. | She’s petite and graceful, with a quiet but strong presence. |
| Muscular | Having well-developed muscles. | He’s muscular and strong, a testament to his dedication to fitness. |
| Scruffy | Untidy or disheveled in appearance. | He has a scruffy beard and a relaxed, easygoing vibe. |
List of Idioms & Phrases on a Person’s Personality
Idiom usage in IELTS Speaking showcases your fluency and sophisticated command of English. Instead of putting forth plain descriptions, idioms can add color and depth to your speaking, impressing examiners. This will not only demonstrate your ability to use language beyond basic vocabulary, but also prove that you can communicate naturally and effectively.
| Idiom/ Phrase | Description | Example Sentence |
| Down to earth | Practical and humble, not pretentious. | Despite his success, he’s very down to earth and easy to talk to. |
| A people person | Someone who enjoys and is good at interacting with others. | She’s a real people person, always making everyone feel welcome. |
| Set in their ways | Resistant to change. | My grandfather is quite set in his ways and doesn’t like trying new things. |
| A shoulder to cry on | Someone who provides comfort and support. | She’s always a shoulder to cry on when I’m going through a tough time. |
| A lone wolf | Someone who prefers to be alone and independent. | He’s a bit of a lone wolf, preferring to work on his own. |
| A wet blanket | Someone who spoils the enjoyment of others. | Don’t invite him, he’s a wet blanket and will ruin the party. |
| To have a short fuse | To become angry very quickly. | He has a short fuse and can get irritated easily. |
| To be a chatterbox | To talk excessively. | She’s a real chatterbox, always talking about something. |
| To be a go-getter | Someone who is ambitious and proactive. | She’s a go-getter, always striving to achieve her goals. |
| To be a wallflower | Someone who is shy or reserved, especially at social events. | She tended to be a wallflower at parties, preferring to observe from the side. |
Sample Questions for IELTS Speaking on Personality Vocabulary
Using a rich and diverse vocabulary during your IELTS Speaking is extremely crucial for scoring well. This shows the examiner that you can use the English language effectively to convey nuanced meanings. This is a key factor in achieving a higher band score and overall fluency.
Here are some sample questions for parts 1,2 and 3 with sample answers using the above noted vocabulary, idioms and phrases to help you prepare for your speaking part of the test.
| Part | Sample Question | Sample Answer |
| 1 | How would your friends describe your personality? | My friends would probably say I’m quite down to earth. I try to be empathetic and a good shoulder to cry on when they need support. I think they see me as outgoing but also pragmatic when it comes to solving problems. I hope they don’t think I have a short fuse! |
| Do you think it’s important to have a wide circle of friends? | Yes, I believe it’s quite important. Having a diverse group of friends exposes you to different perspectives and experiences. I personally think that having a wide circle of friends helps you to be a very empathetic person. Also, they can be a great shoulder to cry on during difficult times. However, I also think it’s important to have a few close friends that you can really trust. | |
| 2 | Describe a person you admire. | I admire my grandmother. She’s petite but incredibly resilient. She has a heart of gold and is always meticulous in everything she does. She’s very set in her ways, but that’s part of her charm. Her confident demeanor and thick skin have allowed her to overcome many obstacles in her life. She is truly a live wire. |
| 3 | Describe a friend who has had a significant impact on your life. | I’d like to talk about my friend, Michelle. She’s incredibly resilient and has a really down-to-earth personality. She’s quite petite, but her strength of character is immense. She’s a real go-getter and always encourages me to pursue my goals. What’s more, she has a way of making everyone feel comfortable. Her positive influence has truly shaped who I am today. |
| 4 | Do you think personality traits are influenced by culture? | Definitely. I believe culture plays a significant role. For example, some cultures might value being reserved, while others encourage being outgoing. Cultural norms can shape how people express emotions and interact with each other. In some cultures people are encouraged to be a go-getter, and in other cultures it is more important to be a people person. I think it’s a complex interplay between innate traits and cultural influences. |
| 5 | How do you think social media affects people’s personalities? | I think social media can have a complex impact. On one hand, it can encourage people to be more outgoing and connect with others. However, it can also lead to superficial interactions and a focus on projecting an ideal image. I think that sometimes it can make people become a little bit aloof, as they prefer online interactions to face to face ones. Also, people can become impatient for instant gratification. I also think it can encourage people to try to become the life of the party online, even if they are not like that in real life. It might contribute to a sense of insecurity or anxiety if people focus too much on comparing themselves to others online. It’s a double edged sword. |
Conclusion
As you must’ve deduced by now, mastering personality vocabulary is crucial for IELTS success. Using a variety of adjectives, idioms, and phrases elevates your Lexical Resource score, showcasing fluency and sophistication. Practicing using these words on a daily basis, describing people you know, discussing personality traits in news articles, and role-playing IELTS questions can aid in improving your communication skills during the exam. For those aiming to ace their IELTS, structured guidance from expert educators at La Forêt Education can make all the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I improve my personality vocabulary?
Ans: Reading books, articles, and watching videos where people are described can help you in improving your personality vocabulary. You can also make a list of new adjectives and idioms that you learn to memorise them better.
2. Should I only focus on positive personality traits?
Ans: Not at all, it’s essential to learn both positive and negative traits. Being able to express a diverse range of qualities demonstrates a more comprehensive and whole understanding of the English language.
3. Will using complex sophisticated vocabulary guarantee a high score?
Ans: Not really. Vocabulary is just one aspect of the IELTS Speaking test. Fluency, pronunciation, and grammatical accuracy are also important factors in obtaining a high score.
