IELTS Speaking Part 2 asks you to speak for 1–2 minutes on a given topic, based on a cue card. You’ll have 1 minute to prepare, and you should try to cover all points on the card.

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

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• Time: 3–4 minutes (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak)

• Format: Short talk based on a prompt card

• Topics: Personal experiences, objects, events, people, or preferences

• Purpose: Test your ability to speak at length in an organised and coherent way

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YOU NEED TO:

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• Use the 1-minute preparation time to plan what to say

• Try to speak for the full 2 minutes

• Cover all the bullet points on the card (but don’t worry if you don’t finish all)

• Use examples, descriptions, and storytelling to expand

• Keep talking – don’t stop too early

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KEY SKILLS NEEDED:

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• Organising a short speech or story

• Expanding on a topic using detail and emotion

• Using time expressions (e.g. “last year”, “at the moment”, “in the future”)

• Speaking without hesitation

• Using linking and sequencing words (e.g. “First”, “Then”, “Finally”)

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SUGGESTED PRACTICE ACTIVITIES:

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• Practise with real IELTS cue cards

• Time yourself: 1 minute to prepare, 2 minutes to speak

• Use storytelling techniques to keep your speech interesting

• Record your response and review fluency, grammar, and vocabulary

• Learn useful phrases for describing people, places, events, and feelings