What is IELTS Speaking Part 2?
IELTS Speaking Part 2 is the “long turn” section of the IELTS Speaking test. Candidates receive a topic card (cue card), have 1 minute to prepare, and then speak for up to 2 minutes without interruption.
The best candidates develop their ideas with explanations, examples, and stories rather than simply answering the cue card bullet points.
Key Points
- You get 1 minute to prepare and make notes 📝 – they give you a pencil and paper
- Use your preparation time to write keywords, not full sentences.
- You should speak for the full 2 minutes. ⏳
- You are assessed on 4 criteria – fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
- Tell a story to improve fluency and reduce repetition.
See also:
How is IELTS Speaking Part 2 assessed?
IELTS Speaking Part 2 is assessed using four criteria:
Fluency and Coherence
Your ability to speak smoothly and develop ideas.
Lexical Resource
Your range and accuracy of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Your ability to use different grammar structures correctly.
Pronunciation
Your ability to speak clearly and naturally.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics
Most IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards can be grouped into six broad categories. Although the wording of the question changes from test to test, understanding these common IELTS Speaking Part 2 topic types will help you prepare effectively.
1. A person 🧑🌾
Many IELTS Speaking Part 2 questions ask you to describe a person you know or admire.
Examples include:
– a teacher you like
– a polite person you know
– a neighbour
– someone you remember from your childhood
– a person you admire
– a celebrity
– someone you met recently
Tip: Tell a story about how you met them, or what you remember about meeting them the first time, their appearance, personality, and why they are memorable.
2. An object or possession 👛
You may be asked to talk about an item, gift, piece of technology, or something that is important to you.
Examples include:
– something you bought
– something you returned to a shop
– a gadget in your house
– a piece of technology
– a gift you gave or received
– a photograph or painting you like
– something you would like to buy
Tip: Describe the item, explain why it is important, and discuss how it has affected your life.
3. A place 🏝️
Place-based IELTS cue cards are very common and often involve describing somewhere you have visited or would like to visit.
Examples include:
– a museum
– a park
– a tourist attraction
– a sports venue
– a building you like
– a restaurant, café, or shop
Tip: Include descriptive language about the location, atmosphere, and your personal experience there.
4. An experience or an event 🏃♂️🥇
These questions focus on something that happened in your life.
Examples include:
– a party you attended
– a meal you enjoyed
– a concert or sporting event
– a holiday
– a difficult journey
– a prize you won
– a film you watched
– a book you read
Tip: Tell a story rather than answering each bullet point separately. This will help you sound more fluent and natural.
5. An imaginary situation 💭
Some IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics ask you to talk about something that has not happened yet.
Examples include:
– a job you would like to have
– a country you would like to visit
– a skill you would like to learn
– something you would like to buy
– a business you would like to start
Tip: Use a range of future forms and speculative language such as would, might, could and hope to.
6. Something you enjoy ☕️
These topics allow you to discuss your interests, preferences, and free-time activities.
Examples include:
– a hobby
– a website you use regularly
– a café you enjoy visiting
– a song or musician you like
– a newspaper or magazine you read
Tip: Explain why you enjoy it and give specific examples to support your answer.
For a larger collection of recent IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards and practice questions, see my Speaking Parts 1 and 2 Planner.
How can I get a high score in IELTS Speaking Part 2?
To achieve a high score in IELTS Speaking Part 2, focus on five key strategies:
✅ Use your preparation time effectively
Use your 1-minute planning time wisely to write quick notes and organise your answer. Write short notes only, not full sentences
✅ Speak for the full two minutes
✅ Develop your ideas with examples and details
✅ Tell a story when possible
✅ Include your opinions and feelings
Expand your ideas. If you finish one point quickly, add more details, explain why something was important, or describe what happened next.
Common mistakes to avoid
⌛️ Finishing too early
If you feel you are running out of ideas, move to a different aspect of the topic, such as how you felt, what happened before or after, or why it was memorable.
♻️ Repeating the same vocabulary
It’s better to develop a new angle than recycle what you have already said.
🙇♂️ Reading directly from your notes.
This can make your speech sound less natural.
✅ Treating the bullet points as a checklist
The bullet points are there to help you generate ideas, not as a checklist.
What is the examiner looking for in IELTS Speaking Part 2?
Many candidates worry about giving the “perfect” answer, but IELTS examiners are not assessing the quality of your ideas.
In IELTS Speaking Part 2, your score is based on four criteria:
– Fluency and Coherence
– Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
– Grammatical Range and Accuracy
– Pronunciation
This means that how you communicate is more important than what you say.
The examiner is not judging whether your story is interesting, true, or clever. They are assessing your ability to speak English clearly, naturally, and confidently.
For example, a simple story told fluently with good vocabulary and accurate grammar will usually score higher than a fascinating story that contains frequent language errors.
Remember: There is no marking criterion for “answering the question perfectly”. Focus on communicating your ideas effectively rather than trying to give the ideal answer.
Expert Tip
After teaching IELTS for over 20 years, I have found that the biggest reason candidates lose marks in Part 2 is not vocabulary or grammar. It is failing to develop their ideas. Candidates who explain, describe, and tell stories almost always sound more fluent than candidates who simply answer the cue card points one by one.
How to avoid repetition in IELTS Speaking Part 2
One of the most common problems in IELTS Speaking Part 2 is repetition.
The answer below comes from one of my own IELTS students.
The student achieved a strong response overall, but there is one common issue that many candidates have in Speaking Part 2.
As you listen or read, pay attention to the vocabulary that is repeated.
Describe a piece of technology (NOT a phone or computer) that you use regularly). You should say
- what it is
- why you bought it
- what you use it for
and explain what benefits this item has brought.
I’m going to talk about the Bluetooth technology that I use a lot in my day-to-day life and my work. Usually I use this technology to connect to my various digital devices instead of using various complicated options. For example, I use Bluetooth technology to transfer files from my own laptop, to my cell phone or other cell phone. And I also use Bluetooth technology to send some commands to my home appliances such as opening door for me and so on. The thing I use the most is Bluetooth headphones. Whether I’m out and about or working out, I can listen to music while doing my business. The benefits of Bluetooth technology is that this technology consumes less power, costs less and is easy to use. Bluetooth technology has advanced so much that most people can buy electronic products that apply this technology. And it really, really helps people.
How can we learn from this example?
This was produced by a real student during Speaking Part 2 practice.
Although the answer contains good ideas and relevant content, the word ‘technology’ appears repeatedly throughout the response.
This is a very common problem. Many IELTS Speaking Part 2 questions naturally encourage candidates to keep repeating the same vocabulary.
However, repetition can make your answer sound less natural and limit your range of vocabulary.
The good news is that there are simple ways to avoid this.
A simple strategy: change the focus of each bullet point
Instead of talking about the same thing throughout your answer, give each bullet point a different focus.
What it is
Focus on description. Ask yourself:
– What does it look like?
– How big is it?
– Where do you keep it?
“I’d like to talk about the air fryer that sits on my kitchen counter. It’s black, quite modern-looking, and large enough to cook meals for two or three people.”
Why you bought it
Focus on motivation and context. Ask yourself:
– Why did you need it?
– What problem were you trying to solve?
“I bought it because I wanted to eat more healthily and spend less money on takeaway food.”
What you use it for
Focus on habits and routines. Ask yourself:
– How often do you use it?
– When do you use it?
“I use it almost every evening to prepare simple meals such as vegetables, salmon, or roasted potatoes.”
What benefits it has brought
Focus on results and impact. Ask yourself:
– How has it changed your life?
– What advantages does it have?
“Since buying it, I’ve become much more organised with meal preparation, and I waste less food because I cook smaller portions more efficiently.”*
Why this works
Notice how each part of the answer explores a different angle:
– Description
– Motivation
– Routine
– Impact
As a result, you naturally use a wider range of vocabulary and ideas. Your answer sounds more fluent, more detailed, and less repetitive.
Remember: the cue card bullet points are idea prompts, not a strict structure. You can use them to generate ideas, but you do not need to treat them like a checklist.
Tip: Tell a story 📖
Another effective way to avoid repetition is to tell a story.
Many IELTS Speaking Part 2 candidates become trapped in a single tense because they follow the bullet points one by one. A story naturally allows you to move between different time periods.
For example, you might:
– explain how something began in the past
– describe what happened next
– talk about how it affects your life now
– mention your future plans
This helps you demonstrate a wider range of grammar while making your answer more natural and engaging.
In fact, storytelling is one of the easiest ways to improve fluency, reduce repetition, and keep speaking for the full two minutes.
I’d like to talk about Bluetooth, which is a piece of technology that I use almost every day. In fact, it’s become such a normal part of my life that I hardly notice it anymore.
I first started using it several years ago when I bought a new pair of wireless headphones. Before that, I was always dealing with tangled cables, which was quite frustrating, especially when travelling or exercising. Once I switched to wireless devices, I realised how much more convenient everything was.
These days, I mainly use it to connect different devices and transfer files. The other day, for example, I was rushing to catch a train when I suddenly realised that I’d forgotten to send an important document from my laptop to my phone. I didn’t have time to search for a cable or upload it to the cloud, so I simply turned on Bluetooth and transferred the file in a matter of seconds. It saved me from a potentially stressful situation because I needed the document for a meeting later that day.
Another way I use it is with my headphones. Whether I’m going for a walk, working out at the gym, or doing housework, I can listen to music or podcasts without being restricted by wires. I find that much more comfortable and practical.
The biggest benefit it has brought to my life is convenience. It saves time, reduces clutter, and allows my devices to communicate with each other effortlessly. Although it’s a relatively simple technology, it’s one of those things that I would really miss if it suddenly disappeared.
How can I improve my IELTS Speaking Task 2 by myself?
One of the most effective ways to improve your IELTS Speaking Part 2 performance is to record yourself completing 2-minute long turns on a regular basis.
Many students are surprised when they listen back to their recordings. Problems that are difficult to notice while speaking often become obvious when you hear yourself from the examiner’s perspective.
Over the years, these are some of the most common issues I have identified when reviewing students’ recordings:
🐢 SLOW DOWN
Many candidates speak too quickly because they are nervous. Speaking slightly more slowly will improve clarity, pronunciation, and fluency.
⏸️ PAUSE at the end of sentences
Avoid rushing from one idea straight into the next. Short pauses help organise your speech and make it easier for the examiner to follow your ideas.
🗣️ Use INTONATION to structure your speech
Your voice should naturally rise and fall. Good intonation helps listeners recognise when one idea has finished and another is beginning.
👩🏼🎤 Use CONTRACTIONS
Fluent speakers usually say I’m, I’d, I’ll, don’t, and can’t rather than pronouncing every word in its full form. This helps your speech sound more natural and conversational.
📖 Organise your answer like a STORY
A storytelling approach makes it easier to keep speaking for two minutes, avoid repetition, and demonstrate a wider range of grammar and tenses.
👂 Identify one pronunciation problem at a time
Don’t try to fix everything at once. Choose one recurring issue, such as word stress, connected speech, final consonants, or a particular vowel sound, and work on it consistently.
Remember: Small improvements made consistently are far more effective than occasional long practice sessions. Recording yourself regularly is one of the fastest ways to identify weaknesses and build confidence before test day.
👉 For help with common pronunciation problems, see my Pronunciation Repair Kit.)
🎤 How recording helped my student
One of the biggest benefits of recording yourself is that repetition becomes much easier to spot.
Here is a Speaking Part 2 answer from one of my students.
I’d like to tell you about a puzzle that I bought recently for my son. I remember when my son was 2 years old. I wanted to buy my son an educational toy that could stimulate his psychometric skills for solving problems. So I bought some 3-dimensional puzzle bricks called Lego, which is a really famous brand. There are many kinds of Lego, such as Lego for building a home, Lego cars, or Lego furniture. And one of our favorites was a Lego car. We bought the Lego car from our local toy shop in our city and my son was very fascinated when he entered the shop. When I went to buy the Lego for my son, there was an option that was based on the age of the children such as Lego for two-year-old children, children between 5 and 7 years old, children above 12 years old, and so on. Mostly I chose the Lego that was suitable for my son’s age, but sometimes I also bought the Lego that had a level above his age, and we played with Lego a lot.
As soon as she read the transcript, she noticed several repeated words:
– my son (6 times)
– Lego (12 times)
– children (4 times)
This is extremely common in IELTS Speaking Part 2. When we are concentrating on grammar, vocabulary, and ideas, we often don’t notice how frequently we repeat key words.
A few small changes made the answer sound much more natural:
I’d like to tell you about a puzzle that I did recently with my son. I remember when he was 2 years old, I wanted to buy an educational toy that could stimulate his psychometric skills for solving problems. So I bought some 3 dimensional puzzle bricks called Lego, which is a really famous brand. There are many kinds of Lego, and one of our favorites was a car. We bought one from our local toy shop in our city. My son was absolutely fascinated when he entered the shop. When I went to buy it, there was an option that was based on the age of the children. Mostly I chose ones that were suitable for his age, but sometimes I also bought something that was more challenging.
Learn more about storytelling and How to avoid repetition in Speaking Part 2 (Bronze Members).
Frequently asked questions about IELTS Speaking Part 2
How long is IELTS Speaking Part 2?
Do I need to answer every bullet point?
Can I make notes during preparation time?
What happens if I stop speaking early?
What is the best strategy for IELTS Speaking Part 2?
Can I talk about myself if the cue card asks about someone else?
Yes. You can adapt the topic slightly if it helps you speak more naturally and confidently.
For example, if the cue card asks you to describe someone who moved to a new place, you could say:
“Actually, I moved house recently, so I’d like to talk about my own experience.”
This is perfectly acceptable. The examiner is not judging whether your story is true or whether you followed the prompt exactly. They are assessing your fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Just make sure your answer remains broadly relevant to the topic.
Do I need a conclusion in IELTS Speaking Part 2?
No. You do not need a formal conclusion in IELTS Speaking Part 2.
The examiner is assessing your fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, not whether your answer has a perfect ending.
In fact, the examiner may stop you at any point during the 2 minutes, even if you are in the middle of a sentence.
If you naturally reach the end of your answer, you can add a simple closing comment such as:
“Overall, it was a really positive experience.”
or
“So although it was challenging at first, everything worked out well in the end.”
However, this is optional. The most important thing is to keep speaking naturally until the examiner stops you.
Do I need to tell the truth in IELTS Speaking Part 2?
No. You do not have to tell the truth in IELTS Speaking Part 2.
The examiner is assessing your English, not whether your story is true. In fact, many candidates speak more fluently when they adapt the topic to something familiar rather than inventing lots of details.
For example, if the cue card asks about a sport you enjoy watching but you do not watch sports, you could talk about a sporting event you saw once or a sport that a friend or family member enjoys.
Using real experiences, memories, and opinions is often easier than creating a completely fictional story. You can also adapt the topic slightly if necessary.
Remember: your goal is not to give the perfect answer. Your goal is to speak naturally, confidently, and fluently for two minutes.
Need more help with Speaking and Pronunciation?
- How to improve your IELTS Speaking Score at home without a teacher
- 5 quick ways to improve your pronunciation score
- How to give longer answers in IELTS Speaking Part 2
- How to improve your IELTS Speaking Part 3
- How to avoid repetition in the 2-minute long-turn (Bronze Members)
About Fiona
Fiona is an IELTS trainer, ex-examiner and course creator based in the UK. She has a Master’s in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Distinction) and over 35 years of teaching experience. She has helped thousands of IELTS candidates develop the language and exam skills needed to achieve their target scores.
