IELTS Speaking · Part 2
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards
In short
In Part 2 the examiner hands you a cue card with a topic and four prompts. You get one minute to prepare and then speak for one to two minutes. Below are 115 practice cue cards grouped by theme, open any card for a full breakdown of how to structure your long turn, the vocabulary to use, and the Part 3 questions it leads into.
Reading and learning
2 cardsEducation and schools
3 cardsWork and careers
3 cardsSkills and success
7 cards- Describe someone who inspired you to do something
- Describe a good leader you know or have heard about
- Describe a useful skill you have learned
- Describe an important decision you have made
- Describe a problem you managed to solve
- Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded at
- Describe a skill you could teach other people
Technology and society
3 cardsThe internet and information
2 cardsSocial media and communication
1 cardsMedia and news
7 cards- Describe a piece of good news you received
- Describe a film you enjoyed watching
- Describe a TV programme you like
- Describe an interesting news story you heard recently
- Describe a famous person you would like to meet
- Describe a magazine or newspaper you like to read
- Describe a radio programme or podcast you enjoy
Travel and tourism
4 cardsCulture and tradition
5 cardsFestivals and celebrations
4 cardsFood and diet
4 cardsHealth and fitness
5 cardsEnvironment and conservation
1 cardsNature and wildlife
3 cardsCities and urban life
4 cardsHousing and community
1 cardsTransport and traffic
2 cardsShopping and consumerism
6 cardsMoney and finance
3 cardsPeople and relationships
12 cards- Describe a person you admire
- Describe a time a friend helped you
- Describe a time a stranger helped you
- Describe a person you enjoy talking to
- Describe a gift you gave to someone
- Describe a gift you received that you liked
- Describe a pleasant surprise you had
- Describe a time you helped someone
- Describe a time someone gave you good advice
- Describe a person who has a good sense of humour
- Describe a polite person you know
- Describe a time you did something to help your community
Family and upbringing
6 cardsChildhood and memories
5 cardsArt and creativity
4 cardsMusic and performance
3 cardsSport and competition
3 cardsLeisure and relaxation
7 cards- Describe a place where you like to go to relax
- Describe a busy day you had recently
- Describe an enjoyable day out you had
- Describe a time you had to wait for something
- Describe a place where you go to think
- Describe an enjoyable activity you did recently
- Describe an activity that made you lose track of time
Goals and the future
5 cardsHow to structure your long turn
Spend roughly 20 to 30 seconds on each prompt. Take the bullets in order (they build a natural narrative) and save the most time for the final 'explain' point.
- Part 2 is the long turn: you get 1 minute to prepare and speak for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Use the preparation minute to jot keywords against each bullet, not full sentences.
- Cover all four bullet points, spending the most time on the final 'and explain…' prompt.
- It's fine to invent details, because you're scored on how you speak, not on whether the story is true.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I talk about a Part 2 cue card?
You should speak for one to two minutes without interruption. The examiner gives you one minute beforehand to make notes, then times the long turn and stops you at two minutes.
Can I make up my answer to a cue card?
Yes. IELTS examiners score how you speak, meaning your fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, not whether your story is true. Inventing realistic details is completely acceptable and often easier than recalling a real event.
What if I run out of things to say before two minutes?
Lean on the final 'and explain…' bullet. Adding reasons, feelings and a specific example naturally extends your answer, and it's the part that most improves your score.