🗒️ IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card Strategy & Sample Answer

IELTS Speaking Part 2 is your opportunity to speak for 1–2 minutes about a specific topic. You’ll be given a cue card with a prompt and 3–4 bullet points to guide your answer. You’ll also get one minute to prepare. This part tests your ability to organize your thoughts, expand ideas, and speak continuously with confidence.

📋 What Happens in Part 2?

• You receive a task card with a topic (e.g., "Describe a time you helped someone")
• You get 1 minute to prepare and take notes
• You must speak for 1–2 minutes without interruption
• The examiner will not ask questions until you finish

✅ Cue Card Strategy (1-Minute Prep)

1. Read the Topic Carefully

Don’t panic. Focus on the main topic and 3–4 supporting questions.

2. Note Short Keywords

• Use bullet points, not full sentences
• Write down names, places, emotions, time phrases (e.g., “last year,” “excited,” “friend’s house”)

3. Think Chronologically

Structure your story like this:

1. Introduction: What is it about?
2. Background: When, where, who?
3. Main Event: What happened?
4. Feelings: How did you feel?
5. Reflection: What did you learn or realize?

🧠 Useful Phrases to Start

• “I’d like to talk about…”
• “This happened a couple of years ago…”
• “What I remember most about it is…”
• “It was a situation that taught me…”

🗨️ Sample Cue Card + Answer

Describe a time when you helped someone.
You should say:

• Who you helped
• How you helped them
• Why they needed help
• And explain how you felt after helping them

Sample Answer:

I'd like to talk about a time I helped a friend prepare for a job interview. This happened about six months ago when one of my closest friends was applying for a position at a major IT company. He was quite nervous because it was his first time facing a panel interview, and he didn’t have much experience.

Since I had gone through a similar process before, I offered to help him out. We sat down and went through common interview questions. I gave him tips on how to answer behavior-based questions, how to talk about his strengths, and how to present his projects confidently. I also played the role of the interviewer and did two full mock interviews with him.

He really appreciated the practice and said it boosted his confidence a lot. A few days later, he called to tell me that he had passed the interview and got the job. That moment made me incredibly happy. It felt great to know that my small effort made a real difference for someone else.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• ❌ Memorizing a full speech — it sounds unnatural
• ❌ Ignoring the bullet points on the card
• ❌ Ending in 30 seconds — you must aim for 90–120 seconds
• ❌ Going off-topic

🎯 Final Advice

Speaking Part 2 is not about being perfect — it’s about speaking clearly, staying on topic, and showing your ability to organize thoughts. Use your 1-minute prep wisely, expand each bullet point, and speak with energy. With the right structure and vocabulary, your 2-minute answer will feel natural and confident.

See also next IELTS Speaking Part 3 – How to Develop and Extend Your Ideas

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