IELTS Speaking · Part 2 · Cue card

Describe a piece of furniture in your home that you like

Last updated 21 July 2026

In short

"Describe a piece of furniture in your home that you like" 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 piece of furniture in your home that you like.

You should say:

what it is
where it is in your home
how you use it
and explain why you like 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 it is
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
2
where it is in your home
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
3
how you use it
Cover this in a sentence or two with a concrete, specific detail.
4
and explain why you like 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 housing and community.

a close-knit community: a neighbourhood whose people are tightly bonded; “I grew up in a close-knit community where everyone helped out.”
a starter home: a first, modestly priced house; “Young couples now struggle to afford even a starter home.”
get on the property ladder: buy your first home to begin owning property; “It's incredibly hard to get on the property ladder these days.”
a sense of belonging: a feeling of being accepted and fitting in; “My neighbourhood gives me a real sense of belonging.”
do up: renovate or redecorate a property; “We spent the whole summer doing up our old flat.”

Rounding-off questions

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

What makes a home comfortable?
Do people spend too much on furnishing their homes?

Part 3 questions on housing and community

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 people feel less connected to their neighbours than before?
How has the kind of housing people live in changed over time?
Do you think a strong sense of community is important?
What are the effects of people moving home frequently?

See all Part 3 questions on housing and community

Explore more IELTS Speaking practice

Frequently asked questions

How long should I talk about the "Describe a piece of furniture in your home that you like" 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 piece of furniture in your home that you like" topic?

This cue card leads into a Part 3 discussion on housing and community. Expect broader, opinion-based questions such as "Why do you think people feel less connected to their neighbours than before?"

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

Practise "Describe a piece of furniture in your home that you like" with an AI examiner

Rehearse this cue card under real exam timing with SpeakMetry's AI examiner, then get an instant band score and feedback on your long turn.

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