IELTS Speaking Part 2: how to ace the cue card
IELTS specialists — MUIC & Chulalongkorn University alumni, IELTS Speaking Band 9, IDP-certified.
In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get one minute to prepare and should speak for the full 1–2 minutes. Use the prep minute to jot keywords for each bullet point, then tell it like a short story with specifics — names, places, reasons and feelings — so you show range without memorising.
Use the prep minute well
Don't write sentences — jot 4–6 keywords, one or two per bullet point, plus a couple of strong words you want to use. The bullets are a scaffold, not a checklist to tick robotically.
Speak for the full two minutes
Stopping at 40 seconds caps your fluency score. Extend every point with a reason and an example. Specific detail (a real place, a date, how you felt) makes it easier to keep talking and shows natural language.
Show range without memorising
- Use a mix of tenses naturally (it happened, it has changed, I would say…).
- Add one idiomatic or less-common phrase where it fits.
- Signpost lightly: 'The main thing was…', 'What I remember most…'.
Frequently asked questions
What if I run out of things to say?
Add reasons, examples and feelings, or compare it to something else. Examiners reward you for keeping going coherently.
Can I lie or make things up?
Yes — it's a language test, not a fact check. Invent details freely as long as your English is natural.
Is pronunciation important in Part 2?
Yes, it's one of the four criteria. Clear word stress and natural rhythm matter more than a 'native' accent.
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