IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards: Topics, Templates, and a 60-Second Plan

## What is IELTS Speaking Part 2 and how do I prepare in 60 seconds? IELTS Speaking Part 2 is the long-turn task: the examiner gives you a cue card with a topic and 4 prompts, you have 60 seconds to plan, and you speak for 1-2 minutes. The British Council's 2024 examiner report confirms that 60% of cue cards fall into five themes: describe a person, place, object, experience, or event ([British Council Examiner Insights, 2024][1]). The single highest-leverage move is to memorize a 60-second planning template — what to write down, in what order — so you never freeze when the topic appears. ### Key statistics - **3.5 million IELTS tests taken in 2023** across 140+ countries ([IELTS.org Test-Taker Performance, 2024][2]) - **Global mean Speaking band:** 6.0; **Band 7 attainment rate:** 39% ([IELTS.org][2]) - **60% of Part 2 cards in 2023-24 fell into 5 topic themes** ([British Council, 2024][1]) ## The 60-second planning template Use the 1-minute prep time to write 4 short bullets — one per cue-card prompt — in this order: 1. **What** (the noun: person, place, etc.) 2. **When / where** (1 specific time and place) 3. **Why it matters** (your personal reason) 4. **Sensory detail** (1 sound, smell, image, or feeling) Don't write full sentences. Write trigger words. Examiners deduct nothing for having notes — they reward fluent, natural speech. ## The 5 most common cue-card themes (with prompt examples) ### Theme 1 — Describe a person "Describe a person you admire" / "Describe a teacher who influenced you" / "Describe a family member you are close to." **Template:** Name and relationship → how you met → 2-3 personality traits with examples → why they matter to you. ### Theme 2 — Describe a place "Describe a place you would like to visit" / "Describe a quiet place you know" / "Describe a city you visited recently." **Template:** Name the place → location → what it looks like → what you do there → why it stands out. ### Theme 3 — Describe an object "Describe a piece of technology you use often" / "Describe a gift you received" / "Describe an item of clothing you like." **Template:** What it is → when you got it → what it looks like → how you use it → emotional significance. ### Theme 4 — Describe an experience "Describe a time you helped someone" / "Describe a journey you remember" / "Describe a meal you enjoyed." **Template:** When and where → who was there → what happened (chronological) → how you felt → what you learned. ### Theme 5 — Describe an event "Describe a celebration you attended" / "Describe a sports event you watched" / "Describe a successful project." **Template:** Name the event → date and location → who was involved → key moments → why it was memorable. ## Ready-to-use phrases for Band 7+ **Opening:** - "I'd like to talk about..." - "The [person/place/thing] I want to describe is..." **Adding detail:** - "What stands out for me is..." - "One thing I particularly remember is..." - "If I had to pick one detail, it would be..." **Showing range (vocabulary + grammar):** - "It was absolutely fascinating because..." - "Looking back, I realize that..." - "Had I known beforehand, I probably would have..." **Closing:** - "All things considered, that's why I'd say..." - "Even now, it remains one of the most [adjective] experiences I've had." ## What does the IELTS Speaking band descriptor reward? The four scoring criteria are equally weighted: | Criterion | What examiners look for | |-----------|-------------------------| | Fluency and Coherence | Sustained speech, logical flow, minimal hesitation | | Lexical Resource | Topic-specific vocabulary, idiomatic phrasing | | Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Complex sentences with few errors | | Pronunciation | Clear, intelligible, with natural rhythm | Source: [IELTS.org Speaking Band Descriptors, 2024][3]. > "The candidates who score Band 7+ on Part 2 don't speak faster — they speak with more specific examples and richer vocabulary." — Pauline Cullen, IELTS author and trainer ([IELTS Liz blog, 2024][4]) ## A 4-week practice plan | Week | Focus | Daily target | |------|-------|--------------| | 1 | Theme 1 + 2 (person, place) | 2 cue cards, recorded | | 2 | Theme 3 + 4 (object, experience) | 2 cue cards, recorded | | 3 | Theme 5 + mixed | 3 cue cards, self-scored | | 4 | Mock test pacing + topic shuffles | 4 cue cards, peer feedback | Record every response. Listen back for hesitation, repetition, and missed prompts. ## Common questions about IELTS Speaking Part 2 **How long should I speak in Part 2?** 1.5 to 2 minutes. The examiner will stop you at 2 minutes — speaking for less than 1 minute usually caps the score below Band 7. **Can I take notes during the prep minute?** Yes. The examiner provides paper and a pencil. Use the 4-bullet template above. **Do I have to cover every prompt on the cue card?** You should aim to. Missing one prompt usually reduces Coherence; missing two or more usually caps Fluency below Band 7. **What if I run out of things to say after 1 minute?** Add a related anecdote, a comparison, or your future intention ("Next year I'd like to..."). Examiners reward extension over silence. **Can I lie or invent details?** Yes — examiners assess language, not truth. A detailed invented story scores higher than a vague true one. **Is the topic always a "describe" task?** Almost always. The 4 prompts vary, but the framing verb is virtually always "describe." ## Sources 1. British Council, *IELTS Examiner Insights: Speaking Trends 2023-24.* https://www.britishcouncil.org/exam/ielts 2. IELTS.org, *Test-Taker Performance Report 2024.* https://www.ielts.org/for-researchers/test-statistics 3. IELTS.org, *IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors (Public Version).* https://www.ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/speaking-band-descriptors.ashx 4. IELTS Liz, *Speaking Part 2 Tips,* Pauline Cullen interview, 2024. https://ieltsliz.com/ [1]: https://www.britishcouncil.org/exam/ielts [2]: https://www.ielts.org/for-researchers/test-statistics [3]: https://www.ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/speaking-band-descriptors.ashx [4]: https://ieltsliz.com/