Vocabulary to Describe Personality in IELTS | Admissify

Last Updated on January 31, 2025

IELTS, being the widely renowned English proficiency test, requires good preparation to clear the exam with a sufficient band score in one go. The aspects of language must be utilised appropriately while trying to discuss the subject of people or personalities. The content the candidate needs to be sure of is the correct vocabulary, style and how it is delivered and structured. To write or speak with a high English vocabulary, one must not only use uncommon words to strengthen one’s answer but also collocations and transitional words to support them with the perfect expression. This blog will help you to handle any trouble you might face in speaking effectively by providing you with words and the way the conversations are constructed, allowing the IELTS examiner to gain a better understanding of the value given by the words you use.

List of Words to Describe a Character

Having a rich vocabulary to describe a person’s character is crucial for the IELTS examination. This allows us to express nuanced descriptions by using specific terms, helping to articulate complex traits of personality accurately, and making our speech more precise and vivid. A varied set of vocabulary demonstrates that you employ a good amount of lexical resources, which is a criterion mentioned in the band descriptors to score a 7+ band both in IELTS Writing and Speaking. 

Positive Character Traits Vocabulary 

Word	Meaning
Supportive	To provide or offer assistance when necessary
Cheerful	having a happy or pleasant personality
Ambitious	having a strong desire for success
Outgoing	having a pleasant and friendly personality
Considerate	having a kind and thoughtful personality
Confident	being sure of oneself
Adventurous	someone who likes to try new and daring things
Diligent	hardworking and meticulous
innovative	creative and able to think of new ideas
Resilient	able to recover from difficulties
Charismatic	charming and able to attract others
Courteous	polite and respectful

Negative Character Traits Vocabulary

Word	Meaning
Pessimistic	Someone who thinks negatively about life
Rude	Impolite
Insensitive	Unfeeling or uncaring about other people’s feelings
Stingy	Someone who doesn’t like to share
Deceitful	A dishonest individual who tries to mislead others
Arrogant	Someone who believes they are better than others
Bad-tempered	a person with an angry, irritable personality
Aloof	not friendly and distant
Vindictive	seeking revenge
ruthless	having no compass or pity
Stubborn	unwilling to change one’s attitude or position on something
Narcissistic	extremely self-centred

Describing Physical Characteristics

The English language has a plethora of words and ways to describe physical appearances. Here are some valuable ways to do the same-

Build/General Appearance

Word	Meaning
Chubby	slightly overweight
Petite	small in stature
Thin	having minimal or no fat on the body
Stocky	broad and sturdily built
Small	short, tiny
Muscular	having well-developed muscles
Slender	slim and gracefully thin
Athletic	having a strong, fit, muscular body
Plump	slightly fat in a pleasant way

Complexion/Skin

Word	Meaning
Olive	light brown skin
Fair	light coloured skin
Pale	skin appearing lighter than usual
Dark	deep brown or black skin
Light	quite fair
Tanned	skin darkened by exposure to the sun
Freckled	skin with small brown spots
Wrinkled	skin with lines or creases

Eyes

Word	Meaning
Blue	eyes blue in colour
Sparkling	eyes that appear bright and lively
Brown	eyes brown in colour
Hazel	eyes mix of green and brown
Almond shaped	eyes that are oval and resemble an almond

Hair

Word	Meaning
Short, medium, long	according to the length of the hair
blonde	light yellow hair
brunette	dark brown hair
curly hair	hair that forms curls
straight hair	hair without any curls or waves
wavy hair	hair not completely straight or curly
bald	having no hair on the head
grey, red, black, brown	depends on the hair colour
thick, thin	depends on the thickness of the hair

Facial Features

Word	Meaning
Clean-shaven, moustache, beard	facial hair dependent on men’s
oval face	a face shaped like an egg
round face	a face circular in shape
sharp features	distinct and well-defined features
rosy cheeks	pink and healthy cheeks

List of Idioms 

You can pull up your scores in the modules, such as speaking and writing, by using idioms, proverbs, or relevant phrases. The following is a list of positive, negative, and neutral character traits.

Phrase/Idiom	Meaning
A heart of gold	a very good and kind-natured person
A cold fish	a person who seems unemotional, unfriendly
Cheapskate	someone tight with money
Fresh as a daisy	someone attractive in a clean, fresh way
Couch potato	someone who spends too much time on TV or internet
Bad egg	someone untrustworthy
Down to earth	someone practical, realistic
Party pooper	a person having no fun at a social gathering
Eager beaver	a person who is enthusiastic and hardworking
The ball is in your court	it’s time to take your own decision or responsibility for something
Pain in the neck	an irritating, annoying person
a dipstick	a person who seems to be stupid
wimp	weak person, lacking confidence
Big mouth	someone who is likely to reveal personal information to other people
Laid back	a relaxed and easy-going person
Happy camper	comfortable, satisfied and contented person
nerd	someone who is very interested in studies
Early bird	a person who makes it before the usual time
Slave driver	an individual who makes other people work really hard

Sample Questions of IELTS Speaking

The IELTS speaking test evaluates the candidate’s ability to converse and communicate well in English and their ability to understand the question well. You will get 11-14 minutes to talk about a range of topics with a single IELTS examiner during the test. It will be conducted in a silent place. The speaking test is divided into three sections-

Part 1- Introduction Round

The examiner will ask you basic questions about yourself, your home, family, hobbies, work or study based on whether you are taking an academic or general exam. A few sample questions are listed below-

1. How would you describe yourself?

Example answer- I would describe myself as diligent and ambitious. I always set big goals for myself and strive hard to reach them. Additionally, I believe I’m empathetic as I understand and share the feelings of others.

2. Would you say you are a sociable person?

Example answer- I’d like to say so, as I am always excited about organising parties and going to gatherings. In fact, as I have an eye for detail, I can be a bit of a control freak. I have known my friends since school, and we trust each other completely and pick up where we left off each time we see each other.

3. Are you punctual or late?

Example answer- That’s a great question. Every year, I resolve to be on time everywhere I go, but I have a terrible habit of always being slightly late. I know punctuality is a virtue, and I’m embarrassed by being a wrong timekeeper. I will keep working on improving this negative habit.

Part 2- Cue Card Round

This part is called the individual long run and lasts about 3-4 minutes. Herein, the examiner will hand you a paper with your topic, and you will be asked to describe a person, thing, place, journey, event, etc. You need to speak for 2 minutes straight, but the examiner might stop you in between. A couple of sample questions are listed below-

1. Describe a person who you know is very intelligent. 

Suggested vocabulary- sharp, quick-witted, insightful, resourceful, inspiring

2. Describe someone you want to be like

Suggested vocabulary- admirable, charismatic, compassionate, innovative, diligent, determined 

Part 3- Discussion

This part involves a two-way discussion with the examiner, which is connected to the topic of part 2. They might cross-question you, so make sure you explain the reason why you think what you think properly in a good way. This lasts for about 4-6 minutes. Here are a few sample questions-

1. Why do you think the personalities of men and women vary?

Sample answer- I believe, as it is always said, that men can be more dominating, opinionated and less empathetic than women; it is true because of a male stereotype. However, compared to older generations, many men today are more in touch with what they feel, express their emotions well and are less moody, making it similar to those women.

2. How do employers try to assess the personalities of people applying for jobs?

Sample answer- Instead of a traditional interview, nowadays, many companies demand high grades in psychometric tests, which have been designed to select candidates compatible with the mentality of the company they are applying for. While these tests may highlight weaker candidates, I am not convinced that it is the most effective way to judge personality.

Check IELTS Speaking Links:

Conclusion

To sum up, while preparing for the IELTS exam, it is essential that you know that 25% of your score depends on your lexical resource and the range of vocabulary you employ. With proper visualisation and mind-mapping techniques, any speaker would be able to answer questions at length without running out of words and repeating the words again and again, failing to deliver/speak the content for the IELTS examination. 

Read Also:

Describe an Occasion When You Helped a Family Member/Relative

Describe a Person Who Likes to Make Things by Hand | IELTS Cue Card

Describe a Person Who Has Strong Opinions: IELTS Cue Card

Describe a Challenge You Faced That You Thought Was Rather Difficult

Describe Something You Did in Your Study/Work That Has Made You Feel Confident

FAQs

Q. Can we use slang during the IELTS speaking exam?

No, it is highly informal for an international examination like IELTS. So, in such a crucial exam, it is advised not to take any chances.

Q. How important is vocabulary for IELTS?

Vocabulary is one of the parameters based on which your performance will be judged and scored in IELTS. A rich vocabulary with minimal repetition of words is crucial to obtain an overall high band score. 

Q. How can I enhance my vocabulary for describing personalities in the IELTS speaking?

You can improve your vocabulary by reading diverse materials like books, articles, magazines and character profiles. Practice learning and using new words in sentences and essays, engage in similar conversations and use vocabulary applications to reinforce learning. Remember, practice makes a person perfect.

Q. Is it important to use difficult words in IELTS?

No, you need not use fancy words to earn a high band score in IELTS. You can instead express your thoughts effectively by using simpler collocations or idiomatic language to score better. 

Q. How do I get a 7.5 band in IELTS Speaking?

In order to score a 7+ band in IELTS, Study the assessment criteria, avoid fillers, expand your answers, practice rephrasing your ideas, record yourself or ask someone to listen to the flow of your speech and receive professional help if necessary,

Linette Shoji is a seasoned content writer specializing in guiding students through the complexities of applying to universities abroad. Her well-researched, clear, and practical articles break down intricate information into easy-to-understand advice. Linette’s work empowers students to make informed decisions, ensuring a smooth and successful journey to higher education.