IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards 2026: Topics & Sample Answers

IELTS Speaking Part 2 is the "long turn". You get a cue card, one minute to prepare, and up to two minutes to talk without the examiner helping you. It is the part most candidates fear, and the part where preparation pays off fastest, because the format never changes even though the topic does.

This page covers how Part 2 works, a simple way to fill two minutes, the 2026 cue card topics by category, and three full model answers with notes on what makes them work.

How Part 2 works

From the official IELTS test format:

• The examiner gives you a task card with a topic and a few points to cover.
• You get one minute to prepare, and the examiner gives you a pencil and paper for notes.
• You talk for up to two minutes. The examiner will stop you at the limit.
• The examiner may then ask one or two questions on the same topic.
• Part 2 takes 3–4 minutes including preparation. Part 3 then discusses the same topic in more abstract terms.

You are marked on the same four criteria as the rest of the test: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Part 2 is a strong test of the first one, because there is nobody to keep the conversation going for you. See the band descriptors explained.

What a cue card looks like

Describe a person who has inspired you. You should say:

• who this person is
• how you know them
• what they have done

and explain why they inspire you.

The bullets are a guide, not a checklist you're marked on. The last line ("and explain…") is the one to develop most. It is where your opinions, reasons and more complex grammar naturally come out.

How to fill two minutes without going blank

Most candidates who dry up after 50 seconds have run out of content, not English. Fix that with structure:

In your one minute of preparation, write keywords only, one line per bullet, plus two or three precise words you want to use. For "a place you'd like to visit again" that might be: Hoi An – 2023 trip – lanterns – riverside – slow pace – "unhurried", "atmospheric".

While you talk, move through four stages:

1. Set the scene (about 20 seconds). What or who it is, and when or where. One clear opening sentence, then a detail.
2. Tell the story (about 40 seconds). What happened, in order. This is where past tenses and sequencing words matter.
3. Explain why it matters (about 40 seconds). The "and explain" bullet. Give reasons, feelings and a specific moment.
4. Look back or ahead (about 20 seconds). What it means now, or what you'd do differently or again. This brings in different tenses ("I'd love to…", "If I went back…").

If your mind goes blank, use a calm recovery line to buy a few seconds, then go back to your notes: "Actually, the thing I remember most clearly is…". One honest pause does far less damage than stopping. See IELTS Speaking anxiety if blanking is a pattern for you.

Describe; don't just label. "The food was good" tells the examiner nothing. "The noodles were simple, just broth, herbs and a squeeze of lime, but I still think about them" shows range without forcing rare words in.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card topics for 2026

IELTS does not publish its question bank, but cue cards recycle across test cycles in predictable families. These are the families candidates commonly report. Practise at least two from each category out loud before test day.

People

• Describe a person who inspired you to do something.
• Describe a teacher you remember well.
• Describe a creative person you admire.
• Describe an old friend you got back in contact with.
• Describe a person who is good at their job.
• Describe someone you know who is very confident.
• Describe a leader you respect.
• Describe an older person you know and respect.

Places

• Describe a place you would like to visit again.
• Describe a quiet place where you go to relax.
• Describe an interesting building in your city.
• Describe a city that impressed you.
• Describe a place near water that you enjoy.
• Describe a historical place in your country.

Objects and technology

• Describe a useful app or website you use.
• Describe a piece of technology you find difficult to use.
• Describe something you bought but rarely use.
• Describe a gift that took you a long time to choose.
• Describe a photograph that means a lot to you.
• Describe an item of clothing you like wearing.

Events and experiences

• Describe a difficult decision you made.
• Describe a time you were busy but enjoyed it.
• Describe a time you helped someone.
• Describe a memorable journey you took.
• Describe a time you tried something for the first time.
• Describe an achievement you are proud of.
• Describe a celebration you enjoyed.

Activities and interests

• Describe a skill you would like to learn.
• Describe a hobby you took up recently.
• Describe a book that influenced you.
• Describe a film or TV programme you would recommend.
• Describe a sport you enjoy watching or playing.

Ideas, goals and feelings

• Describe a time you felt proud of someone else.
• Describe a goal you have set yourself.
• Describe a piece of advice you received.
• Describe a habit you would like to change.
• Describe a time you were surprised.

For Part 1 and Part 3 questions on the same themes, see the full IELTS Speaking questions and topics bank.

Three model answers

These answers were written by our editorial team to show the features examiners reward at higher bands: developed ideas, linking, a range of vocabulary and tenses, and natural self-correction. No written answer can be "certified" at a band. Bands are awarded for spoken performance, including pronunciation. Use these to study structure, not to memorise. Each is roughly two minutes at a natural speaking pace.

1. Describe a person who has inspired you

You should say: who this person is, how you know them, what they have done, and explain why they inspire you.

Model answer:

"I'd like to talk about my aunt, Farah, who's a nurse in a big public hospital back home. I've known her my whole life, obviously, but I only really got to know her as an adult when I stayed with her for a few months while I was studying.

What struck me then was her routine. She'd work a twelve-hour night shift, come home, sleep for a few hours, and then spend the afternoon studying for a postgraduate qualification in intensive care nursing. She was in her forties at that point, and plenty of people told her it was too late to go back to studying. She did it anyway, and she finished the course in two years while working full-time.

The reason she inspires me isn't really the qualification itself. It's the way she handled setbacks. She actually failed one of her exams the first time. I remember her being upset for about an evening, and then the next morning she'd already rewritten her study timetable. There was no drama, she just adjusted and carried on.

I think about that a lot now, especially when I'm preparing for something difficult, like this test, to be honest. I tend to want everything to go perfectly first time, and she showed me that progress is mostly about what you do the day after something goes wrong. If I'm half as persistent as she is by her age, I'll be very happy."

Why it works:

• It opens with a direct answer, then gives specific detail (night shifts, two years, a failed exam) instead of general praise.
• It spends most of its time on the "explain why" bullet, with a clear turning point ("The reason she inspires me isn't really…").
• It uses a range of tenses naturally: past habit ("She'd work…"), past perfect ("she'd already rewritten…"), present reflection, and a conditional ending.
• It uses less common but natural phrases ("handled setbacks", "she just adjusted and carried on") rather than forced idioms.

2. Describe a place you would like to visit again

You should say: where it is, when you went there, what you did there, and explain why you would like to go back.

Model answer:

"The place I'd most like to go back to is Hoi An, a small old town on the central coast of Vietnam. I went there in 2023 with two university friends, right at the end of a fairly rushed two-week trip, and honestly, it was the part of the trip that made the whole thing worthwhile.

The old town is built along a river, and it's full of narrow streets with yellow-painted merchant houses, some of them a couple of hundred years old. In the evenings, the whole riverside is lit by silk lanterns, and people float small paper lanterns with candles on the water. We spent most of our time just wandering, eating street food and cycling out to the rice fields and the beach in the mornings.

The reason I'd like to go back is that I didn't really give it the time it deserved. Because it was the last stop, we were tired and slightly distracted, checking flights and so on, and I left with the feeling that I'd only seen the surface. What I'd love to do next time is stay for at least a week, take one of the cooking classes there, and maybe have a suit made, because the town is famous for its tailors.

I think it's also because the pace of the place suits me. Back home everything is quite fast and noisy, and Hoi An felt unhurried in a way that made me notice small things. So going back would be partly about the place and partly about remembering to slow down."

Why it works:

• It sets the scene quickly (where, when, who with) and then moves on.
• The description uses precise, visual vocabulary ("yellow-painted merchant houses", "silk lanterns") instead of "beautiful" over and over.
• The "why go back" section has two separate reasons: unfinished business, and the pace of the place. That is more developed than a single reason.
• Future and conditional forms appear naturally ("What I'd love to do next time…", "going back would be…").

3. Describe a difficult decision you made

You should say: what the decision was, when you made it, what you had to consider, and explain how you felt about it afterwards.

Model answer:

"A difficult decision I made was turning down a job offer about two years ago. At the time I was working as a junior accountant, and a larger firm offered me a position with noticeably better pay. On paper it was an easy yes.

What made it difficult was what came with it. The new job involved a long commute, around ninety minutes each way, and it was in audit, which I'd done briefly before and genuinely didn't enjoy. My current manager had also just started giving me more responsibility, and I'd been told I'd be considered for a promotion within a year, though nothing was guaranteed.

So I had to weigh up certain money now against an uncertain opportunity later, plus three hours a day of my life on a train. I made a list of pros and cons, which didn't help much because the money kept winning, and in the end what decided it was a conversation with a friend who'd made the opposite choice. She took the higher salary and was miserable within six months.

Afterwards, I felt nervous for a while, I'll admit, because I kept wondering whether I'd made a naive choice. But I did get the promotion about ten months later, and more importantly I still enjoy my work. Looking back, I think the main lesson was that a decision that looks obvious on paper usually isn't, because the paper leaves out how you'll actually spend your days."

Why it works:

• It explains the trade-off clearly, which gives the examiner reasoning to assess, not just events.
• It links ideas logically ("What made it difficult was…", "So I had to weigh up…", "in the end what decided it was…").
• It handles feelings honestly ("I felt nervous for a while, I'll admit"). That sounds natural rather than rehearsed.
• It ends with a general reflection, which leads naturally into the kind of discussion that Part 3 continues.

How to practise Part 2 properly

1. Pick a card and set a timer. One minute of notes, then talk out loud until the two minutes are up, even if it feels awkward.
2. Record it and listen back for three things: long pauses, words you repeated, and where you ran out of ideas.
3. Do the same card again straight away. The second attempt is almost always smoother, and that difference is the skill you are building.
4. Rotate through every category above at least once before test day. The vocabulary for "a person" or "a place" transfers across many cards.
5. Practise the follow-up. After your talk, answer a Part 3 question on the same theme. See Part 3 questions and answers.

FAQ

Can I choose a different cue card? No. The examiner gives you the task card. That is why practising whole families of topics matters more than predicting exact cards.

Do I have to cover every bullet point? The bullets are there to help you. Covering them is the easiest way to keep talking, but you are assessed on the four criteria, not on ticking off bullets.

What if I finish before two minutes? Keep going if you can. Add an example, a comparison or a reflection. If you stop, the examiner may ask a question, but long silences affect your Fluency and Coherence score.

What happens if I'm still talking at two minutes? The examiner will stop you. That's normal and doesn't count against you.

Can I write notes? Yes. The examiner gives you a pencil and paper during your one minute of preparation.

Should I memorise model answers? No. Examiners are trained to recognise memorised responses. Use model answers to learn structure and phrasing, then build your own answers out loud.

Practise cue cards with a live AI tutor

Sprechify's 30-day IELTS Speaking course spends a full week on Part 2: the structure, people, place, object and event cards, recovering from a blank, and timed cue-card pressure. A live voice AI tutor gives you feedback on all four Band Descriptors after each long turn and asks the Part 3 follow-ups. See how it works.

Related reading: IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions and answers · IELTS Speaking idioms and phrases · Common IELTS Speaking mistakes