IELTS Speaking Cue Cards: 74 Practice Topics by Category

Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test gives you a cue card, exactly 1 minute to prepare, and up to 2 minutes to speak — with no do-overs. Below is a complete bank of 74 cue cards across nine categories, each with the four “you should say” bullet points examiners expect you to cover.

Practice tip: use your phone’s stopwatch to time yourself exactly as the real test works — 1 minute to jot down notes, then 1 to 2 minutes to speak without stopping.

How IELTS Speaking Part 2 Actually Works

Part 2 is the middle section of the Speaking test, sandwiched between the introduction (Part 1) and the discussion (Part 3). The examiner hands you a cue card with a topic and four bullet points, along with a pencil and paper for notes. You then get exactly:

1 minute to prepare — you can jot down notes, but you can’t use full sentences or a script.
1 to 2 minutes to speak — the examiner will stop you at 2 minutes even if you haven’t finished, and won’t ask follow-up questions until you’ve spoken for at least a minute.

The four bullet points on a real cue card aren’t optional extras — examiners specifically listen for whether you addressed all of them, so treat them as your outline, not decoration.

How to Practice With These Cards

Pick a card at random — cover the list with your hand and land on one, or ask a study partner to pick for you, to mimic the unpredictability of the real test.
Set a 1-minute timer and jot short notes against each bullet point — single words or short phrases only, exactly as you would with the real cue card and paper.
Set a 2-minute timer and speak without stopping, even if you run out of things to say — many candidates stop after 60–70 seconds in practice, then run out of ideas for real in the exam. Training yourself to fill the full 2 minutes matters more than sounding polished.
Record yourself on your phone if you can, and play it back afterward — check pacing as much as vocabulary. Rushing through a topic in 40 seconds is as much of a problem as running out of ideas.

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All 74 Cue Card Topics

Browse by category or jump straight to one using the links below.

Category

People

Describe a person who has influenced you in a positive way.

You should say:

who this person is
how you know them
what they have done
and explain why this person has influenced you.

Describe a family member you admire.

You should say:

who this person is
what they do
what kind of person they are
and explain why you admire them.

Describe a teacher who has had a big impact on your studies.

You should say:

who this teacher is or was
what subject they taught
what made them memorable
and explain how they influenced you.

Describe a friend you have known for a long time.

You should say:

who this friend is
how you met
what you usually do together
and explain why your friendship has lasted.

Describe someone you know who works in a job you find interesting.

You should say:

who this person is
what their job involves
how you found out about it
and explain why you find their work interesting.

Describe a public figure you would like to meet.

You should say:

who this person is
what they are known for
what you would ask them
and explain why you admire them.

Describe a neighbor you get along well with.

You should say:

who this person is
how long you have known them
what you do together or for each other
and explain why you get along well.

Describe a colleague or classmate you enjoy working with.

You should say:

who this person is
how you met
what you work on together
and explain why you enjoy working with them.

Describe a person who always makes you laugh.

You should say:

who this person is
how you know them
what they do that makes you laugh
and explain why their sense of humor appeals to you.

Describe a mentor who guided you in your career or studies.

You should say:

who this person is
how they guided you
what advice they gave
and explain how their guidance helped you.

Category

Places

Describe a place you visited that you found relaxing.

You should say:

where it is
when you went there
what you did there
and explain why you found it relaxing.

Describe a city you would like to live in.

You should say:

where it is
what it is known for
what the lifestyle is like there
and explain why you would like to live there.

Describe a place near your home that you often visit.

You should say:

where it is
how often you go there
what you do there
and explain why you like visiting it.

Describe a historical place you have visited.

You should say:

where it is
what its history is
what you saw there
and explain how you felt about visiting it.

Describe a natural landscape that impressed you.

You should say:

where it is
when you saw it
what it looked like
and explain why it impressed you.

Describe a quiet place where you like to spend time.

You should say:

where it is
when you usually go there
what you do there
and explain why you find it peaceful.

Describe a shopping area you like to visit.

You should say:

where it is
what you can buy there
how often you go
and explain why you like it.

Describe a room in your home that you like.

You should say:

which room it is
what is in it
how you use it
and explain why you like it.

Describe a café or restaurant you like to go to.

You should say:

where it is
what kind of food or drinks it serves
who you usually go with
and explain why you like it.

Describe a place you would like to visit in the future.

You should say:

where it is
how you learned about it
what you would do there
and explain why you want to visit it.

Category

Objects

Describe an object you use every day.

You should say:

what it is
how long you have had it
what you use it for
and explain why it is important to you.

Describe a gift you received that you liked.

You should say:

what it was
who gave it to you
why they gave it to you
and explain how you felt about receiving it.

Describe a piece of technology you find useful.

You should say:

what it is
how you use it
when you got it
and explain why you find it useful.

Describe something you own that is old but that you keep.

You should say:

what it is
how you got it
why you have kept it
and explain what it means to you.

Describe a book that made a strong impression on you.

You should say:

what the book is about
when you read it
why you chose to read it
and explain how it made you feel.

Describe a piece of clothing you like to wear.

You should say:

what it is
when you bought it
when you wear it
and explain why you like it.

Describe a tool or device that makes your daily life easier.

You should say:

what it is
how you use it
when you started using it
and explain why it makes your life easier.

Describe a photograph that is important to you.

You should say:

what it shows
when it was taken
why you kept it
and explain why it is important to you.

Describe an item you would like to replace.

You should say:

what it is
how long you have had it
why it needs replacing
and explain what you would replace it with.

Describe a piece of furniture you find useful or attractive.

You should say:

what it is
where you got it
how you use it
and explain why you find it useful or attractive.

Category

Events

Describe a celebration or festival you enjoyed.

You should say:

what the event was
when it took place
who you were with
and explain why you enjoyed it.

Describe a wedding or family celebration you attended.

You should say:

whose celebration it was
where it took place
what happened during the event
and explain how you felt about it.

Describe a memorable meal you had with family or friends.

You should say:

what the occasion was
where you ate
what you ate
and explain why it was memorable.

Describe a time you received good news.

You should say:

what the news was
how you found out
who you told
and explain how it made you feel.

Describe an event you attended that you found exciting.

You should say:

what the event was
where and when it took place
who you went with
and explain why you found it exciting.

Describe a public event or performance you watched.

You should say:

what it was
where it took place
who performed
and explain what you thought of it.

Describe a competition you took part in or watched.

You should say:

what the competition was
when and where it happened
who was involved
and explain how you felt about it.

Describe a trip you took that did not go as planned.

You should say:

where you went
what happened
how you dealt with it
and explain how you felt about the experience.

Describe a course or workshop you attended.

You should say:

what it was about
where and when it took place
what you learned
and explain how it benefited you.

Describe a time you celebrated an achievement.

You should say:

what the achievement was
how you celebrated
who was with you
and explain how you felt.

Category

Experiences

Describe a skill you learned that you found difficult at first.

You should say:

what the skill is
how you learned it
how long it took
and explain why it was difficult.

Describe a journey that took longer than expected.

You should say:

where you were going
how you were travelling
why it took longer
and explain how you felt about the delay.

Describe an outdoor activity you enjoy.

You should say:

what the activity is
how often you do it
who you do it with
and explain why you enjoy it.

Describe a time you helped someone.

You should say:

who you helped
what the situation was
what you did
and explain how you felt afterward.

Describe a decision that was difficult to make.

You should say:

what the decision was
what your options were
how you made your choice
and explain why it was difficult.

Describe a hobby you took up recently.

You should say:

what the hobby is
how you started it
how often you do it
and explain why you enjoy it.

Describe a time you learned something about a different culture.

You should say:

what you learned
how you learned it
when this happened
and explain how it changed your understanding.

Describe a change you made that improved your life.

You should say:

what the change was
why you made it
how you made it
and explain how it improved your life.

Describe something you did for the first time that you enjoyed.

You should say:

what it was
when you did it
who you were with
and explain why you enjoyed it.

Describe a piece of advice someone gave you that you found useful.

You should say:

who gave you the advice
what the advice was
when they gave it
and explain why you found it useful.

Category

Media & Entertainment

Describe a TV programme you enjoy watching.

You should say:

what it is
when you usually watch it
who you watch it with
and explain why you enjoy it.

Describe a film you have watched more than once.

You should say:

what the film is about
when you first watched it
why you watched it again
and explain why you like it.

Describe a piece of music that you like.

You should say:

what it is
when you first heard it
who introduced you to it
and explain why you like it.

Describe a website you often use.

You should say:

what it is
what you use it for
how often you visit it
and explain why you find it useful.

Describe an advertisement that you remember well.

You should say:

what it was for
where you saw it
what it showed
and explain why you remember it.

Describe a magazine or newspaper you like to read.

You should say:

what it is
how often you read it
what kind of content it has
and explain why you like reading it.

Category

Nature & Environment

Describe an animal you like.

You should say:

what animal it is
where you have seen it
what it looks like
and explain why you like it.

Describe a plant or tree you find interesting.

You should say:

what it is
where you have seen it
what it looks like
and explain why you find it interesting.

Describe your favorite season or type of weather.

You should say:

what season or weather it is
what you usually do during it
how it makes you feel
and explain why it is your favorite.

Describe an environmental problem in your country.

You should say:

what the problem is
what causes it
who it affects
and explain what could be done about it.

Describe a natural disaster you have heard about.

You should say:

what it was
where and when it happened
what effects it had
and explain how you felt when you heard about it.

Describe a park or garden you have visited.

You should say:

where it is
what it looks like
what you did there
and explain why you enjoyed visiting it.

Category

Education & Learning

Describe a subject you enjoyed studying at school.

You should say:

what the subject was
who taught it
what you learned
and explain why you enjoyed it.

Describe a course you would like to take in the future.

You should say:

what the course is
where you would study it
how long it would take
and explain why you want to take it.

Describe a foreign language you would like to learn.

You should say:

what language it is
how you would learn it
how long it would take
and explain why you want to learn it.

Describe an exam or test you took.

You should say:

what the exam was
when you took it
how you prepared for it
and explain how you felt about it.

Describe a school you attended.

You should say:

where it was
what it looked like
what you remember about it
and explain how you felt about attending it.

Describe something useful you learned outside of school.

You should say:

what you learned
how you learned it
when this happened
and explain why it was useful.

Category

Health & Lifestyle

Describe a healthy habit you have.

You should say:

what the habit is
when you started it
how often you do it
and explain why you think it is healthy.

Describe a sport you enjoy watching or playing.

You should say:

what the sport is
when you started following or playing it
who you usually watch or play it with
and explain why you enjoy it.

Describe a form of exercise you like.

You should say:

what it is
how often you do it
where you do it
and explain why you like it.

Describe a time you were ill.

You should say:

what illness you had
when it happened
how you recovered
and explain how it affected your daily life.

Describe a relaxing activity you do to reduce stress.

You should say:

what the activity is
when you usually do it
how long you spend doing it
and explain why it helps you relax.

Describe a change you made to live a healthier life.

You should say:

what the change was
why you made it
how difficult it was
and explain how it has affected you.

FAQ

How long do I actually get to prepare for an IELTS cue card?

You get exactly 1 minute to prepare, with paper and a pencil provided by the examiner to make notes. You cannot write full sentences or a script — short notes against each bullet point work best.

How long should I speak for in Part 2?

Between 1 and 2 minutes. The examiner will stop you at 2 minutes if you’re still speaking, and won’t move on before 1 minute even if you finish early — so it’s worth practicing until you can comfortably fill the full 2 minutes.

Do I have to cover all four bullet points on the cue card?

You should try to. Examiners use the bullet points to gauge whether you’ve addressed the topic fully, and skipping one is a common reason candidates feel they “ran out of things to say” partway through.

How should I time myself while practicing with this list?

Any phone stopwatch or kitchen timer works — set 1 minute for preparation notes, then 1 to 2 minutes for speaking. Recording yourself on your phone’s voice memo app and listening back afterward is one of the most effective ways to catch pacing and filler-word habits.

Are these the exact topics that will appear in my real test?

No test-prep resource can guarantee the exact topics in your exam, since cue cards are drawn from a rotating bank that changes periodically. Practicing across varied categories — people, places, objects, events, experiences, media, nature, education, and health — builds the flexibility to handle whatever topic you’re given.

Can I print this list to practice offline?

Yes — this page is plain text and prints cleanly; the navigation links and app promotion are hidden automatically when printed, leaving just the topics and bullet points.

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