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    IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards

    The long turn: one card, one minute to prepare, then up to two minutes on your own. Every card has samples at Band 6, 7 and 8.

    1

    minute to prepare

    2

    minutes to speak

    4

    points on every card

    A blank index card, a pencil and a small sand timer on a wooden desk

    115 cue cards

    How to structure your long turn

    What the long turn is

    Part 2 is the long turn: you get 1 minute to prepare and speak for 1 to 2 minutes.

    Use the minute for keywords

    Use the preparation minute to jot keywords against each bullet, not full sentences.

    Cover all four points

    Cover all four bullet points, spending the most time on the final 'and explain…' prompt.

    You can make it up

    It's fine to invent details, because you're scored on how you speak, not on whether the story is true.

    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.