DESCRIBING PEOPLE

Describing a close friend

Jacques has been my close friend for two years. I first met him on a school exchange trip to Calais, France. I asked him the way to the library and we started talking. We've been friends ever since.

Jacques is quite good-looking. He's tall and slim, with olive skin and curly dark hair. Like many French people, he has a great sense of style, so he always looks well-dressed even in casual clothes.
Jacques is very outgoing. He is always friendly and loves to have fun. He's got a fantastic sense of humour and he always makes me laugh. However, he can be a bit immature at times. For example, when he doesn't get what he wants, he acts childishly and stamps his feet.
Jacques is very keen on water sports. He likes sailing and he spends a lot of time on his boat. He enjoys scuba diving, too, and loves exploring life under sea.
All in all, I'm glad to have Hacques as my friend. It's a pleasure to be with him and I really enhoy his company. I'm sure we'll always be close friends.

** When you describe someone's physical appearance you start with the general features (i.e. height, biuld, age) and move on to the more specific ones, such as hair, eyes, nose etc. You can also add a description of the clothes the person likes to wear. e.g. Laura is a tall, slim woman in her early twenties. She has got red hair, green eyes and freckles. She usually wears smart suits.

** When you describe someone's personal qualities you should support your description with examples and/or justifications. e.g. Wayne is very shy. For example, he finds it difficult to make new friends. You can also describe someone's personality through their mannerisms by:

a) referring to the way they speak e.g. He speaks in a soft voice as if he were whispering.

b) describing the gestures they use e.g. She constantly uses her hands when she speaks.

c) mentioning a particular habit they have. e.g. Jason always bites his nails when he is nervous.

Note: When you mention someone's negative qualities you should use mild language (seems to, can be rather, etc). For example, instead of saying Paul is lazy, it is better to say Paul can be lazy at times.

Useful IELTS Phrases

Here are some useful phrases from the sample which you can use to answer the same question.

I spend a lot of time with….

I have known him/her since…

We (only) see each other during/at…because…

When we are together we always…

We also both enjoy + noun/verb+ing.

We normally hang out at the…

We’re both big film buffs (you like films).

I really like spending time with…

He’s/She’s such a nice person and very friendly.

I always have a good time when we are together.