IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards to practise aloud
In Speaking Part 2 you get a cue card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to talk. Your first speaking score is free.
By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated
IELTS Speaking, Part 2
Cue cardDescribe a time when you felt very proud of something a family member did.
You should say:
- when it was
- who the family member was
- what he or she did
and explain why you felt so proud of what your family member did.
Preparation time
1:00
Your talk
Up to 2:00
In the full speaking test, a one-minute timer runs before the recording starts. You can make notes.
How Part 2 works
The cue card
Preparation
Your talk
After your talk
Total time
Then Part 3
Cue cards to practise
How it is marked
Speaking is marked on four criteria, and each one counts the same. Our engine marks your recording on all four against the public band descriptors.
Fluency and Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Pronunciation
Speaking, Part 2
A cue card and its follow-up questions
Band 6.0
- Fluency and Coherence
- 6.0
- Lexical Resource
- 6.0
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- 5.0
- Pronunciation
- 7.0
How steadily you speak and how your ideas connect
The range and precision of your vocabulary
The variety and accuracy of your sentences
How clearly you are understood, including stress and intonation
The one thing worth fixing first: use every point on the card, then say why it matters to you.
Ten cue cards to try
All ten are in the app, each with its follow-up questions.
- Work and career
Describe a perfect job you would like to have in the future.
You should say what it is, how you came to know about it, what it is like, and explain why you think it is perfect.
- Media and arts
Describe a celebrity that you would like to meet in person.
You should say who the person is, how you know about this person, what this person does, and explain why you would like to meet this person.
- Travel and places
Describe a place you enjoyed visiting that was very quiet.
You should say where this place is and why you wanted to visit it, why this place was very quiet, what you did there, and explain why you enjoyed visiting this quiet place.
- Money and business
Describe a time when you bought something that was over your budget.
You should say what you bought, why you wanted to buy it, why it was more expensive than you planned, and explain how you felt about it.
- Environment
Describe a person who encouraged you to protect the environment or nature.
You should say who the person is, what they told you or did, how it influenced you, and explain how you felt about their advice or actions.
- Culture and history
Describe the first time you had to communicate in a foreign language.
You should say when and where it happened, who you communicated with, what you talked or wrote about, and explain how you felt about using this foreign language for the first time.
- Daily life
Describe an occasion when the electricity suddenly went off.
You should say when and where it happened, what you were doing, how long the electricity went off for, and explain how you felt when the electricity suddenly went off.
- Health and sport
Describe a famous sportsperson you admire.
You should say who this person is, what his or her achievement is, how you know about him or her, and explain why you admire this sportsperson.
- Technology
Describe a time when you found out something very interesting through social media.
You should say when it was, where you were, what you found out, and explain why this information was so interesting to you.
- Media and arts
Describe a book you have read that you found useful.
You should say what the book was about, when and where you read the book, why you decided to read the book, and explain why you found this book useful.
How to plan your talk
Use your minute to write a few words for each point on the card.
Cover the points in order, one or two sentences each. Then say more about the point you like best.
For a story, say when and where it happened, what happened, and how you feel about it now.
For a person, a thing or a place, group your points and finish with why it matters to you.
End on the last line of the card, the one that asks you to explain.
Keep talking until the examiner stops you.
Step 1 on the card above
The card
Your notes in one minute
Common questions
What is a cue card in IELTS Speaking?
How long should I speak in Part 2?
What happens after the cue card?
Can I get my cue card answer scored for free?
Are there cue cards with answers?
Can I practise the whole speaking test?
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