Guide · Last updated 30 September 2026
IELTS Cue Cards: 40 Part 2 Topics to Practise
40 Speaking Part 2 cue cards in the real format, grouped by the kind of thing they ask you to describe. Before them, how to use the one minute of preparation; after them, a two-minute sample answer and the questions that tend to follow.
What happens in Part 2?
The examiner hands you a task card. It tells you the points to include and asks you to explain one aspect of the topic. You have one minute to prepare, with a pencil and paper for notes, then you talk for up to two minutes until the examiner stops you. They may ask one or two short questions on the same topic before moving on to Part 3. The whole part takes three to four minutes.
Part 2 is where Fluency and coherence is easiest to hear. The band descriptors put the difference plainly: at band 6 a candidate “demonstrates a willingness to produce long turns”, and at band 7 they can “readily produce long turns without noticeable effort”.
Are these this season’s cue cards?
No one outside IELTS can promise that, and you should be wary of anyone who does. IELTS does not publish its question bank. Lists sold as the cue cards for a particular few months are put together from what candidates remember afterwards, so they are incomplete and often out of date by the time you read them.
What does not change is the shape of the task. Part 2 keeps asking you to describe a person, a place, an object, an event or an experience, with three prompts and something to explain. Every card below was written for this page in that format. If you can talk for two minutes about any of them, you can talk about the one you are given.
How should I use the one minute?
- Write one or two keywords for each prompt, not sentences. A note like “pond, chess, ducks” is enough to start you talking.
- Pick one real detail or small story you can tell. Details make a long turn sound natural, and they fill time without repetition.
- Save most of your notes for the “explain” line. It asks for reasons and feelings, which is where extended, flexible language comes from.
- Start with the first prompt, and keep going until the examiner stops you. If you finish early, add another example to the “explain” part.
Cue cards about people
Describe a person who taught you something useful.
You should say:
- who this person is
- what they taught you
- how they taught it
and explain why it was useful to you.
Describe a friend you have known for a long time.
You should say:
- how you met
- what you usually do together
- how the friendship has changed
and explain why this friendship matters to you.
Describe someone you know who is good at their job.
You should say:
- who the person is
- what job they do
- how you know about their work
and explain what makes them good at it.
Describe a family member you would like to be like.
You should say:
- who this person is
- what they are like
- something they have done
and explain why you would like to be like them.
Describe a person who often helps others.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know them
- how they help people
and explain how you feel about this person.
Cue cards about places
Describe a place in your city where you like to relax.
You should say:
- where it is
- how often you go there
- what you do there
and explain why you find it relaxing.
Describe a crowded place you have visited.
You should say:
- where it was
- when you went there
- why it was crowded
and explain how you felt about being there.
Describe a building you think is beautiful.
You should say:
- where it is
- what it looks like
- what it is used for
and explain why you think it is beautiful.
Describe a place you would like to visit in the future.
You should say:
- where it is
- how you learned about it
- what you would do there
and explain why you want to go there.
Describe a quiet place you know.
You should say:
- where it is
- how you found it
- what you do there
and explain why you like it.
Cue cards about objects
Describe something you own that you use every day.
You should say:
- what it is
- when you got it
- how you use it
and explain why it is important to you.
Describe a gift you gave to someone.
You should say:
- what the gift was
- who you gave it to
- why you chose it
and explain how the person reacted.
Describe a piece of technology you find difficult to use.
You should say:
- what it is
- when you use it
- what problems you have with it
and explain how you feel about using it.
Describe something you bought recently that you were happy with.
You should say:
- what it was
- where you bought it
- how you chose it
and explain why you were happy with it.
Describe an old object your family has kept.
You should say:
- what it is
- how long your family has had it
- where it is kept
and explain why your family has kept it.
Cue cards about events and occasions
Describe a celebration you enjoyed.
You should say:
- what the celebration was
- where it took place
- who was there
and explain why you enjoyed it.
Describe a time you waited for something special.
You should say:
- what you were waiting for
- how long you waited
- what you did while you waited
and explain how you felt when it happened.
Describe a wedding you attended.
You should say:
- whose wedding it was
- where it took place
- what happened
and explain what you remember most about it.
Describe a sports event you watched.
You should say:
- what the event was
- where you watched it
- who was playing
and explain why you remember it.
Describe a day when the weather changed your plans.
You should say:
- when it was
- what you had planned
- what you did instead
and explain how you felt about the change.
Cue cards about experiences
Describe a time you solved a problem.
You should say:
- what the problem was
- when it happened
- how you solved it
and explain how you felt afterwards.
Describe something new you learned outside school.
You should say:
- what you learned
- where you learned it
- how you learned it
and explain why you wanted to learn it.
Describe a time you got lost.
You should say:
- where you were
- how you got lost
- what you did
and explain how you felt at the time.
Describe a time you helped someone.
You should say:
- who you helped
- why they needed help
- how you helped them
and explain how you felt about helping.
Describe a mistake you made.
You should say:
- what the mistake was
- when it happened
- what happened as a result
and explain what you learned from it.
Cue cards about media and ideas
Describe a book you would recommend to a friend.
You should say:
- what the book is
- what it is about
- when you read it
and explain why you would recommend it.
Describe a film that made you think.
You should say:
- what the film was
- when you saw it
- what it was about
and explain why it made you think.
Describe a website or app you use often.
You should say:
- what it is
- how you found it
- what you use it for
and explain why you use it so much.
Describe a piece of news you heard recently.
You should say:
- what the news was
- how you heard it
- who you told about it
and explain why it interested you.
Describe a song that means something to you.
You should say:
- what the song is
- when you first heard it
- when you listen to it
and explain why it means something to you.
Cue cards about work, study and goals
Describe a goal you want to achieve.
You should say:
- what the goal is
- when you set it
- what you are doing to achieve it
and explain why it matters to you.
Describe a subject you enjoyed studying.
You should say:
- what the subject was
- when you studied it
- who taught it
and explain why you enjoyed it.
Describe a job you would like to do in the future.
You should say:
- what the job is
- what it involves
- what you would need to do to get it
and explain why you would like to do it.
Describe a time you worked in a team.
You should say:
- what the task was
- who was in the team
- what your role was
and explain whether the teamwork was successful.
Describe a skill that took you a long time to learn.
You should say:
- what the skill is
- when you started learning it
- why it took so long
and explain how you feel about it now.
Cue cards about daily life and habits
Describe a healthy habit you have.
You should say:
- what the habit is
- when you started it
- how often you do it
and explain how it helps you.
Describe a meal you enjoyed with other people.
You should say:
- where you had it
- who you were with
- what you ate
and explain why you enjoyed it.
Describe a way you like to spend your free time.
You should say:
- what it is
- when you do it
- who you do it with
and explain why you enjoy it.
Describe a journey you often make.
You should say:
- where you go
- how you travel
- how long it takes
and explain how you feel about this journey.
Describe a change you would like to make to your daily routine.
You should say:
- what the change is
- why you want to make it
- what would be difficult about it
and explain how it would help you.
What does a two-minute answer sound like?
Here is one card answered in full, at a natural speaking pace. It is written to sound spoken: contractions, a question the speaker asks themselves, one small story, and the longest part spent on the “explain” line.
Describe a place in your city where you like to relax.
You should say where it is, how often you go there and what you do there, and explain why you find it relaxing.
Sample long turn · 260 words, about two minutes
I’m going to talk about a small park about ten minutes’ walk from where I live. It isn’t famous at all. I doubt anyone outside our neighbourhood even knows its name, and that’s partly why I like it.
It’s tucked behind a row of shops, so from the main road you’d never guess it was there. There’s a pond in the middle, a path that goes round it, and a few old trees with benches underneath. That’s more or less it.
I go there two or three times a week, usually in the evening once I’ve finished studying. What do I actually do there? Honestly, not much. I walk round the pond once or twice, then sit on the same bench and watch what’s going on. There are always a few older men playing chess on a folding table, and children feeding the ducks, even though there’s a sign asking people not to.
As for why I find it relaxing, I think it’s because nothing there asks anything of me. At home there’s always something I should be doing, and my phone keeps buzzing. In the park I leave the phone in my pocket, and after about ten minutes I notice my shoulders have dropped. It’s also one of the few places where I can’t hear traffic, which is quite rare in my city.
I suppose it’s become a bit of a routine now. If I’ve had a bad day, I know that half an hour on that bench will sort me out, or at least make things feel smaller.
The examiner might then ask a rounding-off question such as “Do you think there are enough places like this in your city?”, and a sentence or two is enough.
What comes after the cue card?
Part 3 takes the same theme and makes it general and abstract, for four to five minutes. After a card about a place to relax, you might be asked why cities need green spaces, or whether people have less free time than they used to. After a card about a person, expect questions about what makes a good teacher or a good friend. The Speaking questions guide covers Parts 1 and 3 in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to speak in Part 2?
Up to two minutes. You get one minute to prepare, with a pencil and paper for notes, and the examiner stops you when the time is up. They may then ask one or two questions on the same topic. The whole of Part 2 takes three to four minutes.
Are these the cue cards in the test right now?
No one outside IELTS can say that. IELTS does not publish its question bank, and lists sold as the cards for a particular few months are collected from candidates’ memories. The cards here are written for practice in the real format and cover the kinds of topic Part 2 keeps returning to: people, places, objects, events and experiences.
What if I stop before the two minutes are up?
The examiner may prompt you to go on, and the talk gives less evidence of fluency. The band 7 description for Fluency and coherence says a candidate can “readily produce long turns without noticeable effort”, so practise until two minutes feels normal rather than long.
Can I talk about something I have not experienced?
Yes. The examiner is assessing your English, not checking your story. If the card asks about a wedding and you have never been to one, describe one you have seen or invent a believable one. Hesitating while you search for a true memory costs more than a made-up detail.
Should I memorise answers to cue cards?
No. A memorised answer rarely fits the exact card you are given, and recited speech works against the natural, flexible language the higher bands describe. Practise the method instead, with many cards, until turning four prompts into two minutes of talk is routine.
Is Part 2 scored on its own?
No. There is one Speaking band, and the descriptors say a candidate “will be rated on their average performance across all parts of the test”. A weak Part 2 can be balanced by strong Parts 1 and 3, and the other way round.
Say one out loud to an examiner
A free weekly AI-examiner session can run Part 2 on its own, with a card and the minute to prepare, then score your fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
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