IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card: How to Speak for Two Minutes With a Sample Answer
How Part 2 works
In Part 2 the examiner gives you a cue card with a topic and four prompts and one minute to prepare. You then speak for one to two minutes without interruption. The examiner may ask one or two short follow-up questions. You may write notes on the paper provided. The task assesses fluency, organisation of ideas, vocabulary and grammar over an extended answer.
Using the preparation minute
Write keywords, not sentences. Follow the order of the prompts because the examiner expects you to cover each point. Add one specific story or detail for the first prompt, a feeling or opinion for the last, and one memorable word or idiom if it comes naturally. A simple structure is introduction, background, detail or story, and reflection.
Sample answer
Cue card: Describe a teacher who influenced you. Sample: 'I'd like to talk about my English teacher at secondary school, Ms Rahman. She taught me for three years, and what I remember most is her patience. I was very shy at that time, and I hardly ever spoke in class. One day she asked me to read a short poem to her alone, and she listened without correcting me once. Afterwards she said that my voice was clear, and that small comment made me feel much braver. Over the next months I started to volunteer answers, and by the end of the year I even joined a debating club. I think she influenced me because she showed me that a good teacher builds confidence as well as knowledge. Today, whenever I have to speak in public, I still remember her encouraging smile.'
What if I run out of ideas?
Describe what you saw, heard and felt; explain why something mattered; compare past and present; or add what you learned. These strategies provide natural content without inventing stories. If you finish before two minutes, the examiner may ask a question, but you will score better when you continue speaking.
Mistakes to avoid
Avoid memorising a speech, speaking only for 30 seconds, reading your notes word for word and repeating the same words. Use the timer on the IELTS Speaking practice page to practise Part 2 prompts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make notes in Part 2?
Yes. You receive paper and a pencil, and you can write keywords during the preparation minute.
What happens if I stop early?
The examiner may encourage you to continue or ask a follow-up question.
Does the story have to be true?
No. The examiner assesses your language, not the truth of the story.