IELTS Speaking cue cards: how Part 2 works, a one-minute plan and 24 practice cards

An IELTS cue card is the task card the examiner gives you in Part 2 of the Speaking test: a topic with three or four prompts to talk about. You get one minute to prepare, then speak on your own for up to two minutes, the only part of the test where you talk for a sustained stretch. This guide explains exactly how the long turn works, gives you a method for the preparation minute, walks through one card from notes to finished talk, and ends with 24 original IELTS Speaking cue cards to practise with.

How the IELTS Speaking Part 2 long turn works

The whole Speaking test takes 11 to 14 minutes and has three parts. Part 2 lasts 3 to 4 minutes, and that includes your one minute of preparation. According to the official test format on ielts.org, the examiner gives you a task card that tells you what points to include and asks you to explain one aspect of the topic. You also get a pencil and paper for notes.

When the minute is up, the examiner asks you to start. You speak for up to two minutes and the examiner stops you when the time is up. They may then ask one or two short questions on the same topic before moving on to Part 3, which is a discussion of more general issues linked to your Part 2 topic.

Part 2 is assessed with the same four criteria as the rest of the test: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. There is no separate mark for following the card. The prompts are there to help you keep going and organise your ideas, which feeds directly into fluency and coherence. Our guide to the Speaking band descriptors explains what each criterion looks for.

A method for the one-minute preparation

One minute goes quickly. The aim is not to write a script. It is to decide what you are talking about and have a word or two for each part of the talk, so you never stand at the edge of a silence wondering what comes next.

1. Choose fast (10 seconds). Pick the first example that you can say plenty about. A true story is easiest, but a simple, plausible one is fine. Don't hunt for the most impressive example.
2. One keyword per prompt (30 seconds). Write a word or short phrase beside each prompt: a name, a place, a time, a detail. Keywords are quicker than sentences and easier to glance at.
3. Plan the “explain” line (15 seconds). The last prompt is where your best language usually goes, because it asks for reasons and feelings. Note two reasons, not one.
4. Add one extra (5 seconds). Jot one thing you can add if you finish early: a comparison with the past, what happened afterwards, or what you would do differently.

Worked example: from card to talk

Here is one of the practice cards below, the notes a well-prepared candidate might write in the minute, and the start of a talk built from those notes.

“I'd like to talk about the old bus station in the centre of my town, which sits right next to the river. When I was a child it was a pretty grim place, to be honest. It was noisy, there was always a smell of diesel, and the only things to buy were newspapers and sweets from a couple of kiosks. My grandfather actually ran a tea stall there for about fifteen years, so I spent a lot of Saturday mornings sitting on an upturned crate watching the buses come in.

About three years ago the council moved the buses to a new interchange on the edge of town and turned the old building into a food hall. They kept the iron frame but added a glass roof, so it's full of light now, and there's a cycle hire point by the entrance. On a Friday evening it's absolutely packed.

How do I feel about it? Honestly, it's mixed. On the one hand, it's far cleaner and it's brought life back to that part of town after dark. On the other hand, it has lost a lot of its character, and the food is priced for tourists rather than for the people who used to wait for buses there. My grandfather refuses to set foot in it, which says a lot…”

• Past to present gives the talk a natural timeline. It also invites a mix of past simple, used to, and present perfect (see present perfect vs past simple).
• Specific details (the tea stall, the upturned crate, the glass roof) make the talk vivid and give you more to say than general statements would.
• “On the one hand… on the other hand” organises the explain prompt into two reasons, which is where the talk sounds most developed.
• The extra note (grandad's opinion) is ready if the examiner hasn't stopped you yet.

For more full-length answers across all three parts, see our IELTS Speaking sample answers.

24 original IELTS Speaking cue cards to practise

Each card follows the usual Part 2 pattern: a topic, three prompts and a final “explain” prompt. Work through one theme at a time so you build a bank of stories you can adapt. A story about a market, for example, can often be reused for a card about a busy place or a place you like visiting.

People

• 1. Describe someone you know who is good at fixing things. You should say: who this person is; how you know them; something they have fixed; and explain what makes them good at it.
• 2. Describe a person who changed your mind about something. You should say: who the person is; what you used to think; what they said or did; and explain why your opinion changed.
• 3. Describe an older person you enjoy spending time with. You should say: who they are; how often you see them; what you do together; and explain why you enjoy their company.
• 4. Describe a neighbour or colleague who once helped you unexpectedly. You should say: who they are; what the problem was; how they helped; and explain how you felt afterwards.
• 5. Describe someone who does a job you would find difficult. You should say: who the person is; what their job involves; how you know about it; and explain why you would find it difficult.

Places

• 6. Describe a place in your town or city that has changed a lot. You should say: where it is; what it used to be like; how it has changed; and explain how you feel about the change.
• 7. Describe a quiet place you go to when you want to think. You should say: where it is; how you found it; what you do there; and explain why it helps you think.
• 8. Describe a market or shopping street you like visiting. You should say: where it is; what is sold there; who goes there; and explain why you like it.
• 9. Describe a building you think is badly designed. You should say: where it is; what it is used for; what the problems are; and explain how you would improve it.
• 10. Describe a place you visited that was different from what you expected. You should say: where it was; why you went; what you expected; and explain how it was different.

Objects

• 11. Describe something you own that you repaired instead of replacing. You should say: what it is; how it broke; how it was repaired; and explain why you decided to keep it.
• 12. Describe an app or tool that saves you time. You should say: what it is; how you found out about it; how you use it; and explain how much time it saves you.
• 13. Describe a gift you chose carefully for someone. You should say: who it was for; what the gift was; how you chose it; and explain how the person reacted.
• 14. Describe an item of clothing that has a story behind it. You should say: what it is; where it came from; when you wear it; and explain why it matters to you.
• 15. Describe a photograph you like. You should say: what it shows; who took it; where you keep it; and explain why you like it.

Events

• 16. Describe a celebration in your community that you took part in. You should say: what was celebrated; where it took place; what you did; and explain what you enjoyed about it.
• 17. Describe a time when a plan was cancelled at the last minute. You should say: what the plan was; why it was cancelled; what you did instead; and explain how you felt about it.
• 18. Describe a live event you went to, such as a concert, match or talk. You should say: what the event was; who you went with; what happened; and explain why you remember it.
• 19. Describe a meal you shared with others that you remember well. You should say: where it was; who was there; what you ate; and explain why it was memorable.

Experiences

• 20. Describe a time you learned something from a mistake. You should say: what the mistake was; when it happened; what the result was; and explain what you learned.
• 21. Describe a time you had to wait a long time for something. You should say: what you were waiting for; how long you waited; what you did while waiting; and explain how you felt when it arrived.
• 22. Describe a skill you started learning as an adult. You should say: what the skill is; why you started; how you are learning it; and explain how it compares with learning as a child.
• 23. Describe a time you helped a stranger. You should say: where you were; who the person was; what you did; and explain why you decided to help.
• 24. Describe a time you had to speak in front of a group. You should say: what the occasion was; who was listening; how you prepared; and explain how it went.

How to practise with these cards

Reading the cards is not practice. Speaking them aloud, against the clock, is. A simple routine that many candidates find useful:

1. Set a one-minute timer and make notes, exactly as you would in the test.
2. Record yourself speaking for two minutes. Don't stop if you make a mistake; just keep going.
3. Play it back and check three things: did you reach the “explain” prompt, where did you pause for a long time, and which words did you repeat?
4. Do the same card again straight away. The second attempt is usually smoother, and noticing that difference is the point.
5. Once a week, mix the themes and pick a card at random so you practise choosing an example quickly.

The IELTS Speaking practice page has a cue-card timer that runs the preparation minute for you. On Stride's Speaking test you can record your answers and get an AI-estimated band with feedback, including a transcript of what you said and a count of filler words. It is a practice estimate, not an official score, and it works from the transcript, so it can't judge pronunciation the way an examiner does.

Common Part 2 problems and quick fixes

Vocabulary for describing places, people and change is worth building by topic. The IELTS vocabulary guides group useful words by theme, and linking and cohesion covers the connecting language that makes a long turn easy to follow. For short-answer practice before Part 2, try our Part 1 questions, and for general strategy see IELTS Speaking tips.

How long should my Part 2 answer be?

You can speak for up to two minutes and the examiner will stop you when the time is up. Aim to keep talking until you are stopped; finishing very early gives you less chance to show your range.

Do I have to answer every prompt on the cue card?

The prompts are there to guide you, and following them is the easiest way to organise your talk. Covering them in order also gives you a natural structure, so it is sensible to use all of them.

Can I make up a story for the cue card?

The test assesses your English, not whether your story is true. Many candidates find a real experience easier to talk about in detail, but a simple, believable invented example is fine if nothing real comes to mind.

Are these real IELTS cue cards?

No. Every card on this page was written by Stride for practice. They follow the usual Part 2 format and cover common themes, but they are not real, recent or reported exam topics.

Will I get paper to make notes?

Yes. According to ielts.org, the examiner gives you a pencil and paper to make notes during the one-minute preparation.

What happens after my two minutes?

The examiner may ask one or two questions on the same topic. Then the test moves on to Part 3, a discussion of broader issues connected to your Part 2 topic.