IELTS Cue Card Preparation Strategy: Pattern, Topics & Test Samples
International English Language Testing System ( IELTS )
Talk to ExpertA good IELTS Cue Card preparation is important for success in the Speaking test. One should develop a strategy that includes practicing common topics, enhancing vocabulary, and structuring your responses clearly. Familiarize yourself with various themes, use relevant examples, and practice speaking aloud to build confidence.
The IELTS Speaking test is an important part of the IELTS exam, where you show your speaking skills in English. One of the most challenging parts is the Cue Card section. In this section, you get a topic and have to speak about it for two minutes. To excel in this section, having a solid IELTS preparation strategy is essential.
A successful approach involves understanding the structure of the IELTS Cue Card, practicing common topics, and developing effective speaking techniques. If you are seaching for best and simple IELTS cue cards, we have listed top IELTS Cue cards for you. This article will cover common IELTS Speaking Cue Card topics and provide sample answers to help you prepare. We will cover the exam pattern, some examples, and finally the preparation strategy. In addition to this, we will also cover IELTS Speaking Cue Card samples with answers.
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
The Speaking section of the IELTS examination is divided into three parts:
- Introduction and Interview
- Individual Long Turn
- Discussion
Q: What is the duration of IELTS speaking section?
The overall duration of the IELTS speaking section is 11-14 minutes. Knowing the test format and practising frequently are necessary to prepare for the IELTS Speaking portion. Start by comprehending the three sections that make up the test's structure. Regularly practise speaking English to increase your confidence and fluency. Work on increasing your vocabulary and hone your exam-taking skills as well. Ask for input from native speakers or linguists to pinpoint areas that need work. During the exam, pay attention to honing your pronunciation and managing your time efficiently. Finally, on test day, maintain confidence and composure. You can improve your performance in the IELTS Speaking section by paying attention to these pointers.
Q: What is the duration of Cue Card section in IELTS?
The overall duration of the Speaking Cue Card section is about 3-4 minutes. It's critical to successfully practise for the IELTS Cue Card section. Learn how the cue card activity is structured before you participate. You will be assigned a topic, one minute to prepare, and two minutes to speak. Within the time allotted, practise brainstorming and organising your thoughts. Practise speaking on diverse themes while pacing yourself to improve your speaking abilities. Create a test environment simulation using cue cards or prompts. As you practise, concentrate on your vocabulary, coherence, and fluency. To pinpoint areas that need improvement, ask others for their opinions. You can increase your performance in the IELTS Cue Card part by regularly and efficiently practising.
Q: What are some of the topics for IELTS Cue Card?
IELTS Cue Card topics fall under 6 main heads: places, people, things, situations, work, and study. Some of the IELTS Cue Card topics under these heads include: house, family, food, book, birthday, workplace, study area, etc.
Q: Do I need to use difficult IELTS vocabulary for the cue card section?
No, you don't have to use challenging IELTS vocabulary in the cue card part. While a wide vocabulary is helpful, it is more necessary to concentrate on conveying your ideas and thoughts clearly. It is advised to utilise terminology you are familiar with that is clear and succinct. Making blunders or becoming confused can result from using complicated jargon that you are unfamiliar with. It is preferable to utilise words that you are comfortable and capable of using correctly. However, it can improve your language score if you are able to use some higher-level terminology in a natural and suitable way. Showcasing your ability to speak clearly and eloquently is the most crucial component.
Q: What resources should I start with for IELTS Cue Card preparation?
For IELTS Cue Card preparation, you must start with the official IELTS website and the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS. Here are some other tips:
IELTS preparation resources like as cue card topics and speaking practice exercises, are widely available on websites and mobile apps. These systems frequently offer feedback and scores to aid with performance evaluation.
Your vocabulary and fluency will improve if you regularly listen to English podcasts, watch English films or TV shows, and read English articles, both of which are crucial for the cue card phase.
Q: What are the various subjects in IELTS exam?
IELTS subject means the 4 component of the test. The IELTS test is divided into four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
Q: How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?
Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.
- Know the exam pattern
- Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
- Solve previous year question papers
- Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
- Revise regularly
- Figure out weaker areas and learn them well
With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.
Q: How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
What is an IELTS Cue Card?
In the IELTS Speaking test, a Cue Card is a prompt that asks you to talk about a specific topic. You will have one minute to think about what you want to say, and then you need to speak for about two minutes. After your speech, the examiner may ask you some follow-up questions related to your topic.
IELTS Speaking Test Part-2 (IELTS Cue Card) Pattern
Students, who are in the starting phase of their IELTS preparation, often ask, “What are speaking cue cards in IELTS speaking?” Let us find the answer to this question in detail. This part is named Individual Long Turn. The pattern is mentioned below:
- The examiner will provide you with a Task Card, more commonly known as an IELTS Cue Card, along with a few sheets of paper and a pencil.
- The IELTS Cue Card will include a prompt, 3 dot points, and an additional sentence.
- The prompt is the topic on which you have to talk about. The 3 dot points are supposed to be covered in your talk. In addition, the additional sentence is a follow-up question related to that topic.
- You will be given 1 minute to prepare your notes and then the examiner will ask you to talk for 1-2 minutes.
- Overall, this part lasts for 3-4 minutes and is designed to test your skills and ability to speak on a particular topic. The examiner is trying to judge how coherently and clearly, you can organize your thoughts and ideas.
| Main Heads |
Topics for IELTS Speaking Cue Cards |
|---|---|
| Places |
House, Country, Tourist Destination, City, Hotel, Building, etc. |
| People |
Family, Famous Person, Your inspiration, etc. |
| Things |
Food, Book, Film, Goals, Gift, etc. |
| Situations |
Birthday, Wedding, When you helped someone, An important decision in your life, etc. |
| Work |
Workplace, Project you would like to do |
| Study |
Your field of study, Course you would like to pursue |
IELTS Cue Card Topics
Cue Card IELTS: In this section of the article, we will cover some important IELTS Cue Card topics and their related questions:
| IELTS Cue Card Topics |
Cue Card Questions |
|---|---|
| House |
|
| Office |
|
| Study |
|
| Country |
|
| Tourist Destination |
|
| Food |
|
| Goals |
|
| Film |
|
| Book |
|
| Event |
|
| Personality |
|
| School/College |
|
| Media |
|
Part 2 of the Speaking Test, i.e. the IELTS Cue Cards, is followed by Part 3, which is linked, to Part 2. Even though this article will cater to Part 2 of the Speaking Test, we have mentioned a few details about Part 3 so that you have a fair idea of how things work.
Common IELTS Speaking Cue Card Topics
Here are some popular Cue Card topics along with sample answers:
- Describe a Person Who Has Influenced You
- Sample Answer:
"One person who has influenced me a lot is my grandmother. She has always been there for me and taught me the value of hard work. Because of her, I try to be a better person every day." - Describe a Place Where You Would Like to Relax
- Sample Answer:
"I would love to relax at the beach near my home. The sound of the waves and the warm sun make it a perfect place for me. I usually go there with my family during summer vacations, and we enjoy swimming and having picnics." - Describe a Long-Term Goal You Would Like to Achieve
- Sample Answer:
"A long-term goal I have is to start my own business. I want to create products that are good for the environment. This goal will help me fulfill my dreams and also help society." - Describe Something in Your Country That You Are Interested In
- Sample Answer:
"One thing in my country that interests me is our festivals, especially Diwali. It is celebrated with lights, sweets, and family gatherings. Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, and it brings everyone together." - Describe a Job You Would Not Like to Do in the Future
- Sample Answer:
"I would not like to work as an accountant because it involves sitting at a desk all day. I prefer jobs where I can interact with people and be active." - Describe a Sportsperson That You Admire
- Sample Answer:
"I admire Serena Williams, a famous tennis player known for her strength and determination. She has won many championships and inspires many young athletes with her hard work." - Describe A Situation When You Helped Someone
- Sample Answer:
"Once, I helped a classmate who was struggling with math. He felt overwhelmed, so I tutored him after school. We worked together for several weeks, and he improved his grades significantly." - Describe An Unusual Holiday You Had
- Sample Answer:
"An unusual holiday I had was when I went camping in the mountains with friends instead of going to the beach. We hiked during the day and set up tents at night under the stars. It was an adventure filled with fun." - Describe Your Favourite Book or Movie
- Sample Answer:
"My favorite book is 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho. It tells the story of Santiago, a shepherd who dreams of finding treasure in Egypt. This book inspires me to follow my dreams." - Describe A Crowded Place You’ve Been To
- Sample Answer:
"A crowded place I've been to is Times Square in New York City during New Year’s Eve. There were thousands of people celebrating together, and the energy was amazing with music and fireworks."
IELTS Speaking Test Part-3 (Discussion) Pattern
In this part of the examination, you will discuss with the examiner on the topic that was covered in Part 2. This will involve a back-and-forth conversation with the examiner. For instance, if in Part 2 you were asked to describe your stay at a hotel, the discussion in Part 3 might involve something on hotel management. This is more of an abstract discussion where you are judged on your ability to express your opinions and your skill to explain a broader topic. Part 3 usually lasts for about 4-5 minutes.
IELTS Cue Card Topics with Answers (Cue Card 2025)
As mentioned above, there are 6 major heads under which the topics asked on the IELTS Cue Card fall. Let us look at some of the examples:
Example 1: ‘People’ question on the IELTS Cue Card
Sample Answer:
Since childhood, I have been involved in sporting activities, particularly basketball. The athlete that I admire the most is Kobe Bryant. He has been an inspiration, not only for me but also for all those who believe that success can be based on hard work rather than luck.
Kobe is a famous and decorated basketball player who is famous for his extremely successful career at the Los Angeles Lakers. He has won many NBA championships and MVP awards. Besides being a famous basketball player, he is also a motivational speaker. His work ethic and discipline have inspired all those who wish to achieve something in their careers.
Since I have been following basketball for the past many years, I have seen NBA matches where Kobe has played. Besides the matches, he appears in many commercials and ad films. His inspirational videos and speeches are available on YouTube. Whenever I need motivation, I always look at his videos to boost my motivation levels.
His achievements as a player, as a coach, and as a motivational speaker are unparalleled in the field of sports. He has won so many NBA championships and MVP awards because of his hard work, dedication and discipline. These qualities set him apart from others because he has never claimed that his success is due to his talent alone.
His willingness to put in the extra hours of work, his dedication and love towards his profession, and the extraordinary results that he has achieved because of these qualities have made me his great admirer. Whenever I watch him play or speak, I feel inspired and empowered. His qualities and attributes make him a great leader and a source of inspiration for many.
Must Read:- Common Mistakes in IELTS Speaking and How to Fix Them!
Example 2: ‘Things’ question on the IELTS Cue Card
Sample Answer:
I am going to talk about a meal that I had while I was travelling to New Delhi. I am diet-conscious so it becomes difficult for me to find the right kind of food while I am on the move. However, this meal was extremely healthy and delicious. It was a vegetable salad with grated cottage cheese on the top.
I had this meal while I was travelling to New Delhi for an important meeting. On the way, there was a small and cosy coffee shop where I had stopped for a while. The owner of the café was a very polite person who happened to be the cook. Though I was not expecting much to be honest, the meal was beyond my expectations.
I do not remember the name of the cook, who also happened to be the owner of the café, but I definitely remember his hospitality and the ambience of the café. I asked him about the secret of this recipe, to which he replied that the secret was in the freshness of the vegetables. All the vegetables were brought fresh from the market.
The freshness of the salad and the wonderful hospitality still make me remember that experience.IELTS Cue Card – Preparation Tips
Now that you have a complete idea about the IELTS Cue Card topics, first, let us understand what you should be doing on the day of the test:
- You should focus on the main topic of the task card and use the bullet points as a source of help. Your content should be focused on the main topic, rather than the bullet points.
- Vocabulary: Do not unnecessarily complicate your discussion. Use high-level words only if they are necessary. For e.g., if you want to use the word “flattery”, avoid using its synonyms like “blandish”. Do not use complicated words forcefully just to impress the examiner; he/she will spot it. However, if the words are necessary, go ahead!
- Be coherent: Whenever you answer, make sure that you are answering the question and not going haywire. When you are preparing the notes based on the Cue Card, make sure that there is a clear structure. Do not make the examiner feel that you are not able to organize your thoughts.
- Pronunciation: You will do better if you focus on clarity rather than a made-up accent. It is more important for the examiner to understand clearly, what you are speaking.
- Do not stop speaking until the examiner instructs you to do so. With practice, you will get better at organizing your thoughts and presenting them in a time-bound manner.
Now, let us understand what you should not do:
- Do not give memorized answers. The examiner will spot this immediately. Another way for the examiner to know that you have memorized is through Part 3 of the Speaking Test, which comes next.
- Do not get obsessed with the bullet points, or else you might run out of ideas. These bullet points are only meant to help you answer the question.
As it has been mentioned earlier that Part 3 is linked to Part 2, here are some bonus tips for you as far as Part 3 (Discussion) is concerned:
- Be a well-read person: Since this part will involve a discussion between you and the examiner, it might be a bit more abstract. If you are a well-read person, it will always help you speak more naturally on a topic.
- You can give real examples to substantiate your answer. For example, if the discussion is about Space Technology, you can mention SpaceX or NASA.
- Do not give very short or single-line answers. If you do so, you are proving to the examiner that you cannot carry out a detailed discussion on a topic, and that you have been providing only memorized answers so far.
- Do not skip any questions. You must try to answer all the questions that pop up during the course of the discussion. IELTS is meant to judge your English and your ability to communicate, it is not a test of knowledge.
Let us look at some of the resources that you will need for preparing your Part-2 of the Speaking Test, or Cue Card.
- Visiting the ielts.org: It is the official IELTS website. Irrespective of the section, that you want to prepare for, you must start with this website. It will give you in-depth knowledge of the test pattern. You can also go through the sample questions and read the official IELTS practice material.
- The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS: This book must form the base of your preparation. The official website and the official guide should be read and revised thoroughly.
- IELTS Speaking Strategies by Rachel Mitchell: This book provides strategies, explanations, structures, tips, and tricks. It will help you prepare for all the 3 Parts of the Speaking Test.
- Collins Speaking for IELTS: The book is well structured and has a good balance of theory, examples, and tips.
- Recorder: You can find a sufficient number of topics in the books mentioned above and on the internet. You should speak on these topics and record what you are speaking. You will get an understanding of how you speak and what areas need improvement. You can choose topics from newspapers and journals as well. Reading newspapers and journals will help you gain knowledge that might prove to be useful in Part 3 of the Speaking Test.
- Cambly App: You can connect with native speakers via one-on-one video chat. This will help you improve your listening and speaking skills both as you will be accustomed to the language and accent.
Students need to take their IELTS Speaking Cue Cards preparation seriously. With dedicated efforts and 2-4 months of preparation, students can achieve a good score on the IELTS exam.
Raushan Kumar is a skilled writer and a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. He oversees various aspects of studying abroad, including educational opportunities, entrance exams, colleges, latest new... Read Full Bio
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