IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue Card Topics and Tips

Summary

In this video, Keith from English-speaking Success and the Keith Speaking Academy offers essential tips for preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 2. He highlights the unpredictability of the questions and stresses the importance of being prepared for common topics such as describing a person, event, thing, place, or activity. Keith advises focusing on developing ideas rather than memorizing answers and provides actionable strategies, such as using proper tenses, expanding on your responses, and thinking creatively if you're unsure about the topic. His approach emphasizes fluency, natural speech, and thoughtful preparation to achieve success in the exam.

Takeaways

• 😀 Familiarizing yourself with popular IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics can reduce anxiety and help you prepare effectively.
• 😀 Focus on developing your answer by thinking of a main idea and 2-3 supporting details, rather than memorizing a full answer.
• 😀 Avoid writing your answer out during preparation, as it can sound unnatural and lead to low scores if memorized.
• 😀 Part 2 of IELTS Speaking asks you to talk about personal experiences, so aim to speak about your life and experiences.
• 😀 Common question types include describing a person, event, thing, place, or activity.
• 😀 For a person-related question, ensure you differentiate between a well-known person and a person you personally know.
• 😀 When asked to describe an event you've never experienced (e.g., a wedding), talk around the topic and imagine related experiences.
• 😀 When discussing a thing (e.g., a gift you didn't like), focus on key words such as 'received,' 'didn't like,' and past tense.
• 😀 Always be mindful of the tense used in the question. For instance, for a place you'd like to visit, use future tense: 'I would like to visit...'
• 😀 If you run out of ideas during your answer, give another example related to the topic to continue speaking until the examiner stops you.

Q & A

What makes IELTS speaking part two particularly challenging for students?

IELTS speaking part two is often seen as challenging because the questions can feel unpredictable, like a lottery. Students don’t know which topic they will get, making it hard to prepare specifically for each question.

How can students effectively prepare for IELTS speaking part two?

Students should familiarize themselves with common and popular IELTS speaking part two questions (Q cards). The key is to get the main idea for each topic, and think about two or three supporting details without memorizing the answer.

Why is memorizing answers discouraged in IELTS speaking part two?

Memorizing answers is discouraged because it leads to unnatural speech and can negatively impact fluency. Additionally, the examiner will recognize memorized responses, which can result in a lower score.

What should students focus on when answering a question like 'Describe a person who inspires you'?

Students should develop their answers by discussing who the person is, how they know them, and how that person inspires them. The answer should be detailed, using full sentences and examples.

What should students do if asked about an event they have never experienced, such as a wedding?

If students are asked about an event they’ve never experienced, they should talk around the topic. They can imagine what it would be like and discuss related things, rather than saying they don't know or haven't experienced it.

How can students handle a question about a gift they didn’t like?

Students should carefully read the question and focus on key words like 'gift', 'received', and 'didn’t really like'. If they have no example, they can imagine a scenario, such as receiving a gift they didn’t like, and explain the situation.

What is an important tip for answering a question about a place you would like to visit?

It’s important to focus on the correct tense. For example, if the question asks about a place you would like to visit, students should talk about it in the future tense, using phrases like 'I would like to visit' or 'I have never been there'.

What should students do if they are asked to describe an activity they used to do but no longer do?

Students should focus on the past tense and describe the activity in detail, explaining why they stopped doing it. They can also mention whether it’s something they might take up again in the future.

What happens if a student finishes their answer too early during part two of the IELTS speaking test?

If a student finishes their answer too early, they should provide another example or elaborate further on their original answer. This helps to keep the conversation going until the examiner stops them.

How does Keith suggest preparing for IELTS speaking part two, especially when practicing at home?

Keith suggests visiting websites like IDP to find speaking topics. Students should think of ideas and details they could talk about, without memorizing or worrying about the exact phrasing. The key is to practice fluency and thinking quickly on the spot.