IELTS Speaking · Part 2 · Cue card

Describe a dish you know how to cook

Last updated 21 July 2026

In short

"Describe a dish you know how to cook" is a Part 2 cue card in the IELTS Speaking test. You get one minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes. This guide breaks down how to structure your long turn around all four bullet points, the topic vocabulary to reach for, and the Part 3 questions likely to follow.

The cue card

Describe a dish you know how to cook.

You should say:

what the dish is
how you learned to make it
what ingredients it needs
and explain when you usually make it

How to structure your long turn

Spend roughly 20–30 seconds on each prompt. Take the bullets in order — they build a natural narrative — and save the most time for the final 'explain' point.

1
what the dish is
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
2
how you learned to make it
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
3
what ingredients it needs
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
4
and explain when you usually make it
This is the most important bullet — give reasons and a personal example, and spend the most time here.

Timing & delivery

Part 2 is the long turn: you get 1 minute to prepare and speak for 1–2 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 — you're scored on how you speak, not whether the story is true.

Useful vocabulary for this topic

Natural, Band 7+ language for talking about food and diet.

a balanced diet: a varied, healthy mix of foods; “I try to stick to a balanced diet during the working week.”
a sweet tooth: a strong fondness for sugary food; “I've got a real sweet tooth, so I can't resist desserts.”
home-cooked meals: food prepared freshly at home; “Nothing beats home-cooked meals after a long day.”
cut down on: reduce your consumption of something; “I'm trying to cut down on processed food this year.”
grab a bite: eat something quickly and informally; “I usually just grab a bite between lectures.”

Rounding-off questions

After your long turn, the examiner may ask a short question or two before moving on to Part 3.

Should young people learn to cook?
Is home cooking being lost in modern life?

Part 3 questions on food and diet

This cue card leads into a Part 3 discussion of the wider topic. Expect abstract, opinion-based questions such as these.

Why do you think fast food has become so common?
How have people's eating habits changed compared with the past?
Do you think it is important for families to eat together?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of eating out often?

See all Part 3 questions on food and diet

Explore more IELTS Speaking practice

Frequently asked questions

How long should I talk about the "Describe a dish you know how to cook" 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 this cue card?

Yes. IELTS examiners score how you speak — 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 Part 3 questions follow the "Describe a dish you know how to cook" topic?

This cue card leads into a Part 3 discussion on food and diet. Expect broader, opinion-based questions such as "Why do you think fast food has become so common?"

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.

Next step

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