IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 2 (cue card)
In Part 2 the examiner gives you a cue card with a topic and three or four prompts. You get one minute to prepare, with paper and pencil for notes, then speak for one to two minutes. The examiner may ask one or two short questions at the end.
Use the minute to write keywords, not sentences, for each prompt, and decide the order. Cover every prompt, and save the last one ('and explain…') for a strong finish.
Example cue card
Describe a skill you learned outside school.
You should say:
- What the skill is
- When and where you learned it
- Who or what helped you learn it
- and explain how this skill has been useful to you
Rounding-off questions: Do you still practise this skill? Would you like to learn another skill in the same way?
Useful language: pick up a skill through hands-on experience · learn at one's own pace · build confidence through trial and error · put newly acquired skills into practice · develop a strong foundation in a subject
More IELTS cue cards with Part 3 questions →
How to answer
Identify The Cue Card Task
- The opening instruction usually names the main task. Find its action verb and topic.
- Treat the “You should say” prompts as supporting details, not separate main tasks.
- Check for a final instruction such as “explain why”; it may add a requirement to the task.
- Before choosing ideas, restate the full task in a short phrase.
Example: A cue card about a useful object. Cue card: “Describe a useful object you own. You should say what it is, when you use it, and explain why it is useful.” Main task: describe a useful object you own, including why it is useful. The other prompts guide your answer.
Choose Useful Note Keywords
- Use the one-minute preparation period to note ideas, not write a script.
- Choose useful content words, such as a place, person, activity or feeling.
- Keep each note short, often one or two words. Use an abbreviation only if you will understand it.
- Skip repeated ideas and words that add no key detail. A small set of notes is easier to use.
- Use your keywords to help you speak in full sentences during the long turn.
Example: Cue card: Describe a place you enjoyed visiting. quiet café / near station / tea and book / relaxing
Open With Context
- Start with a simple phrase such as “I’d like to talk about…” and name the topic.
- Add one or two details to establish who was involved, where it was, or when it happened.
- Keep the opening brief; save reasons, actions, and feelings for later.
- Use a clear time phrase if it helps, such as “last summer” or “when I was at school.”
Example: Cue card: Describe a place you enjoy visiting.. I’d like to talk about a small public garden near my home that I first visited last spring.
Cover Cue Card Prompts
- Treat the cue card points as connected parts of one answer, not as separate mini-answers.
- Use links such as “because”, “so” and “which means” to show how one detail relates to another.
- Refer back to an earlier detail with “it”, “this” or “that” to keep your account connected.
- Cover every point, but connect them in a way that sounds natural to you.
Example: Cue card: Describe something you use often. Say what it is, when you got it, how you use it, and why it is useful.. I use a metal water bottle almost every day. I bought it last year, and since then it has become part of my routine. I fill it at home and carry it in my bag, so I can drink water whenever I need it. Because it is strong and easy to wash, I can use it again and again. That makes it useful when I am out, as I do not have to look for a drink.
Pace A Two-Minute Talk
- In IELTS Speaking Part 2, use your one-minute preparation to plan three stages; you can speak for up to two minutes.
- As a guide, spend about 15–20 seconds opening, 75–90 seconds developing your talk, and 10–15 seconds ending it.
- Keep the opening brief: name the topic and give just enough context to begin.
- Give most of your time to the main development, then finish with a short closing thought.
Example: Part 2: Describe a hobby you enjoy. Say when you started it, how often you do it, what you do, and why you enjoy it.. [Opening — about 20 seconds] I’d like to talk about baking bread, a hobby I began a few years ago. I usually do it at the weekend, when I have a free morning. I enjoy it as both a practical activity and a way to slow down.
[Development — about 80 seconds] I start by choosing a recipe and measuring the ingredients. Then I mix them together and knead the dough for several minutes. It takes a little patience, because the dough needs time to rise before I can shape it and put it in the oven. While I wait, I tidy the kitchen or prepare something else for later. I tend to make a simple loaf, although sometimes I try a different recipe. I have learnt that following the steps carefully is important, but the timing can vary, so I check the dough rather than rushing through the process. I do not bake every weekend, but I try to make time for it once or twice a month. It is satisfying to make something useful myself, and I can share it with other people at home.
[Ending — about 15 seconds] Overall, baking gives me a calm break from my usual routine. I would like to keep improving, but it is already a hobby I genuinely look forward to.
End With Significance
- Use your final one or two sentences to explain why the experience still matters to you.
- Give a clear reason, such as a value it taught you or a way it influences your choices now.
- Link the experience to your present life; do not just repeat what happened.
- A short phrase such as “It remains meaningful because…” can make your final point clear.
Example: IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an event you enjoyed taking part in. Explain why it was memorable.. I’d like to talk about a community singing evening I joined last year. I went with a few neighbours, and we practised several songs before performing them for a small audience. The event was simple, but everyone contributed, so it felt like a shared effort. I especially liked that people of different ages could take part without needing much experience. Afterwards, we stayed for tea and chatted about the evening. It was enjoyable at the time, but its importance has lasted longer than the event itself. It remains meaningful because it showed me that taking part in a local activity can help me feel more connected to the people around me. Since then, I’ve made more effort to join events in my area.
Practise
Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.
1Cue card: “Describe a public building you have visited. You should say where it is, what it looks like, and explain why people go there.” What is the main task?
2Cue card: “Describe a website you find useful. You should say what it is used for, who uses it, and explain why you find it useful.” What is the main task?
3Which notes make the best use of the preparation minute?
4A learner wants to talk about a visit to a quiet café near the station, where they drank tea. Which note set is most useful?
5Write the two-word keyword note for the place in this sentence: “I found the old library very peaceful.”
6Which is the best opening for the cue card “Describe an occasion when you helped someone”?
7In “I first saw the old theatre during a school trip last year,” which words establish when?
8Which sentence links how the speaker uses an item to why it helps?
Test hacks
Keep your tenses straight in Part 2
Many cue cards are about the past ("a time when you…"). Stay in past tenses for the story, then switch to the present for how you feel now.
Why it works: Accurate tense control is part of Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
Answer, then add a reason or example
In Part 1, give a direct answer and then one reason or example. Two or three sentences is ideal.
Why it works: One-word answers give the examiner nothing to assess; long speeches aren't needed in Part 1.
Buy thinking time naturally
Use phrases like "That's an interesting question" or "Let me think about that for a second" instead of silence or "umm".
Why it works: Natural fillers keep your fluency up while you plan.
Practise with feedback on every answer
ielts.coach builds daily lessons and practice around your interests and level, marks Writing and Speaking like an examiner in seconds, and plans your weeks to test day.