IELTS Speaking86 cue cards

Speaking Cue Card & Follow-ups

In Part 2 the examiner hands you a cue card with a topic and a few points to cover. You get 1 minute to prepare and must then speak for 1–2 minutes without interruption. Part 3 follows straight after — a discussion of deeper, more abstract questions on the same theme.

How to handle Part 2 & Part 3

  1. 1 · Use the prep minuteIn your 1 minute, jot quick notes against each bullet on the card. A plan keeps you talking for the full 2 minutes without drying up.
  2. 2 · Cover every bulletTalk through each "you should say" point and develop it with details, feelings and an example. Tell it like a short story, not a list.
  3. 3 · Keep talking till stoppedAim for the full 2 minutes. The examiner will stop you — don't stop early. Use varied tenses and linking words to show range.
  4. 4 · Go deeper in Part 3Part 3 wants opinions and reasons, not personal stories. Give your view, justify it, and consider the other side — that's what earns the top bands.
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