Home › IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue Card Strategies & Topics
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue Card Strategies & Topics
Part 2 gives you a cue card prompt and one minute to plan a 2-minute talk. Here's how to structure it and extend your answer to hit Band 7+.
Understanding the cue card task
You get a cue card with a topic and 4–5 sub-questions (e.g. Describe a person you know: who they are, how you know them, why you admire them, what you have in common). You have one minute to read and plan, then you speak for 1–2 minutes without interruption. The examiner may ask a follow-up question after.
Common cue card topics
Frequent topics include describe a person, a place you have visited, a book you enjoyed, an experience that made you laugh, a useful skill you learned, an object you own, a decision you made. All are everyday topics testing your ability to speak fluently about familiar subjects.
The planning minute — use it wisely
Jot down keyword bullet points for each sub-question, not full sentences. Aim for 3–4 key points per sub-question. Decide on your opening line (e.g. 'I'll talk about my friend Ravi, whom I've known since school') and your closing (a brief comment on why it matters). This roadmap keeps you fluent and relevant.
Structure for fluency and coherence
Opening (directly answer the topic, e.g. 'The person I'd like to describe is my best friend Arjun'), Body (develop each sub-question with details and examples), Closing (summary or personal reflection). Use signposting language: firstly, moving on to, to elaborate, in summary. This structure rewards coherence & cohesion.
Techniques to extend your talk to 2 minutes
Add reasons and examples: not just 'he is kind' but 'he is kind — he helped my family when my father was ill'. Use descriptive language: colours, emotions, details. Ask yourself 'why' or 'how' and answer it. Tell a small story related to the topic. Pause for thought (it shows you are reflecting, not scripted).
Avoiding common mistakes
Do not memorise a script — examiners detect this and it lowers your fluency band. Do not stay silent for long — it damages your score. Do not talk about something else (the cue card, not your random story). Do not rush — pause occasionally, take a breath, let your answer flow naturally.
Frequently asked questions
- What if I do not know the topic on the cue card?
- You can ask the examiner for clarification on a word, but you must speak about the general topic. If you genuinely cannot, you can say so, but the examiner will move on and you lose points. Practise a wide range of topics to be prepared.
- Can I speak for less than 1 minute on Part 2?
- Technically you can stop early, but speaking less than 1 minute shows you cannot sustain fluency and will lower your band. Aim to fill the full 1–2 minutes by extending with reasons and examples.
- How much does Part 2 count towards my speaking band?
- Speaking is 25% of your overall IELTS. Part 2 is a major component of the Speaking section, so delivering a fluent, detailed talk is crucial.