In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get a task card, 1 minute to prepare with paper and a pencil, and then you speak for 1 to 2 minutes. The exact cards change all the time, so there is no list of "the questions this year". But almost every card belongs to one of a small number of topic families. If you know the families and have a fast way to plan, very few cards will surprise you.
This guide covers the families, a 1-minute planning method, and a full sample answer. For the basic structure of a 2-minute answer, see our Part 2 cue card guide.
The 7 topic families
| Family | Typical card starts with… | What usually helps |
|---|---|---|
| People | Describe a person who… (helped you, you admire, is good at their job) | Appearance is optional. Focus on what they did and how it affected you. |
| Places | Describe a place… (you visited, you'd like to go back to, where you relax) | Location, what you can see and do there, one specific visit. |
| Objects | Describe something you own / bought / were given… | Where it came from, how you use it, why it matters. |
| Events and experiences | Describe a time when… (you were late, you helped someone, you changed your mind) | Tell it as a short story: before, what happened, after. |
| Activities and skills | Describe a hobby / sport / skill you learned… | How you started, how often you do it, what you get from it. |
| Media and ideas | Describe a book, film, website, app, advertisement or piece of news… | What it's about in two sentences, then your reaction. |
| Plans and wishes | Describe something you'd like to do / a place you'd like to visit in the future… | Use future and conditional forms: I'm hoping to, if I had the chance, I'd. |
Prepare stories, not scripts
You can't predict the card, but you can prepare 5 or 6 real experiences from your life that fit several families. One trip, for example, can answer "a place you visited", "a time you were surprised", "a journey that took longer than expected" and "a photo you like". Practise telling each story in different ways.
Don't memorise word-for-word answers. Examiners are trained to notice rehearsed speech, and a memorised answer rarely fits the card exactly. If you go off-topic to use it, your Fluency and Coherence score suffers. Know the story, not the sentences.
A 1-minute planning method
Divide your page into four quick sections. Write key words only, never full sentences.
- 0–10 seconds: choose. Pick the first idea you have real details about. Don't waste 30 seconds looking for the "best" topic.
- 10–40 seconds: one key word per prompt. The card usually has 3 or 4 prompts ("You should say…"). Write 2 or 3 words next to each, in order.
- 40–50 seconds: the last prompt. It usually asks why or how you felt. Write two reasons. This is where your best vocabulary goes.
- 50–60 seconds: one extra. Add a backup detail for when you run out: a comparison ("compared with…"), a small problem that happened, or what you'd do differently.
Example notes for "Describe a place you visited that you would like to go back to":
Blue Mtns · 2 yrs ago, uni friends · train 2 hrs, foggy · bushwalk, waterfall, cold
WHY: quiet, no phone signal / missed lookout, fog
EXTRA: go in winter next time, stay overnight
Sample task and band 7 style answer
Describe a place you visited that you would like to go back to.
You should say: where it is · when you went there · what you did there · and explain why you would like to go back.
I'd like to talk about the Blue Mountains, which is a national park about two hours west of Sydney by train. I went there around two years ago with a couple of friends from university, mainly because we'd been studying non-stop and wanted a day away from screens.
We caught an early train, and I remember that as we got closer, the weather changed completely. In the city it had been sunny, but up in the mountains it was cold and quite foggy. We did a bushwalk down to a waterfall, which was harder than I expected, because there were hundreds of steep steps. My legs were sore for two days afterwards, to be honest.
The main reason I'd like to go back is that I didn't really get to see the place properly. The famous lookout was completely covered in fog when we got there, so all we saw was a white cloud. Everyone around us was laughing about it, but I was a bit disappointed. The other reason is how peaceful it was. For most of the walk there was no phone signal, and I realised I hadn't been that relaxed in months.
So next time, I'd like to stay overnight rather than rushing back the same day, and maybe go in winter, when it's supposed to be clearer. I think it's one of those places you need more than one visit to appreciate.
Written by BandIQ as a teaching example (about 1 minute 50 seconds spoken at a natural pace). The band is our estimate, not an official IELTS score.
Why it works
- Follows the card in order, so the examiner can follow it easily (Fluency and Coherence).
- Uses the backup detail (staying overnight, going in winter) to keep speaking until the 2 minutes are nearly up.
- Natural vocabulary such as non-stop, completely covered in fog, appreciate, rather than rare words forced in.
- A range of tenses: past simple, past perfect (we'd been studying, I hadn't been), and future and conditional forms (I'd like to).
- A small problem (the fog) makes the story real and gives you more to say.
Practise with real-style cards
Pick one card from each family above and answer it out loud with a 1-minute timer. BandIQ Speaking practice gives you a Part 2 card and planning timer, then an estimated band for Fluency, Vocabulary and Grammar with better ways to say what you said. Part 3 questions will usually follow on from your Part 2 topic, so see our Part 3 guide too.
Frequently asked questions
Are there fixed IELTS cue card topics for this year?
No. Cards change regularly and lists online are only guesses. Most cards belong to a few families (people, places, objects, events, activities, media, and plans), so prepare for the families, not a specific list.
What should I write in the 1-minute preparation time?
Key words only: two or three words for each prompt on the card, two reasons for the last 'why' prompt, and one extra detail in case you finish early.
Can I talk about something that didn't really happen?
Yes. You're marked on your English, not on whether the story is true. A real experience is usually easier, though, because you have more natural details.
What if I don't know anything about the topic on the card?
Choose something close to it and connect it clearly to the card. For example, if you've never been to a concert, talk about a live event at a festival or school, and say so at the start.
Do I have to cover every point on the card?
The prompts are there to help you, and covering them in order keeps your answer organised. Make sure you stay on the main topic in the first line of the card.