Picture yourself being randomly asked about a hobby you enjoy. Your task is to share your thoughts and speak without interruption for two minutes. It seems challenging, right? Indeed, it is, but that's what IELTS Speaking Part 2 is all about. Among the three parts of the IELTS speaking section, Part 2 assesses the candidate's ability to speak fluently and clearly on a random topic provided on a cue card. In this section, you can be given any random topic with multiple prompts to help frame your response. So, if you are preparing for IELTS 2025, this writing piece will help you become familiar with the speaking part 2 through a list of trending topics, key strategies, and more.
Table of Contents
1. Books
2. Environment and Conservation
3. Hometown
4. Education and Work
5. Health and Fitness
6. Culture and Tradition
7. Travel and Tourism
8. Personal Information
9. What Is Your Country Famous for?
10. Technology and Media
11. Skill
12. Music
13. Happiness
14. Leisure
15. Animal
16. Study
17. Goal
18. Famous Personality
19. Plant
20. Events
21. Art (object)
22. Communication (event/occasion)
23. Daily Routine (event/occasion)
24. Embarrassment
25. Family
The IELTS speaking part 2 is commonly known as the "long turn", which provides a candidate's opportunity to speak for 1 to 2 minutes without interruption, expressing their thoughts and opinions. The examiner expects students to deliver a response that is well-structured, coherent, and clearly expressed in English. Here is a detailed explanation of Speaking Test Part 2 for better understanding.
The part begins with students receiving a cue card on a random topic, and they must understand the context, prepare and organise their thoughts within 1 minute, and deliver their response in 1 to 2 minutes, covering all points while staying relevant to the topic. The cue card typically includes prompts, often in the form of questions or key points. It allows students to organise their thoughts and create a flow in their response. The structure of the Part 2 cue card is very consistent, having three basic elements-
Once you finish your response, the examiner will ask some follow-up questions, which will relate to your initial response. However, the follow-up question is normally more specific. While responding to the follow-up question in IELTS speaking part 3, you must-
Mastering the IELTS speaking part 2 may seem like a complex task, but with consistent practice, you can be assured of not being too far from your goal. Here are some tactics to use when practising the IELTS speaking part 2.
This was a small overview of the IELTS speaking part 2. The topics given in the cue card are primarily based on the object, person, event, place, or activity. Moreover, it could be about anything; you have to prepare for the topics to answer in a minute. So, let's look at the list of trending IELTS speaking part 2 topics with questions in the next section.
In the IELTS speaking part 2, you will find many topics based on different situations. It could be anything, but to excel, you must be well-prepared to respond confidently to any prompt. Thus, explore the top 10 topics along with IELTS speaking questions that can be asked in the cue card. So, let’s explore the IELTS cue card 2025 topics and their questions.
Describe A Book That Had a Major Influence On You
Describe Which Law On Environmental Protection You Like?
Describe Your Hometown
Describe A Job That You Think Is Interesting
Describe A Healthy Lifestyle You Know
Described A Tradition Followed in Your Country
Describe A Place You Would Like to Visit Once in A Lifetime.
Describe A Person You Admire the Most.
Describe A Popular/ Famous Person in Your Country
Describe an Invention That Has Positively changed the World.
Describe a skill that was difficult for you to learn.
You should say:
Describe your favourite singer or musician.
You should say:
Describe your favourite day of the week.
You should say
Describe an expensive activity that you enjoy doing occasionally.
You should say
Describe an aquatic animal.
You should say
Describe a course that you want to learn
You should say
Describe an ambition that you have had for a long time.
You should say
Describe an Actor or Actress Whom You Admire
You should say
Describe a crop you are familiar with.
You should say:
Describe a war or conflict you know about.
You should say:
Describe a piece of art (an object) that you appreciate.
You should say:
Describe an event/occasion when you had to communicate with someone from a different culture or background.
You should say:
Describe an event that disrupts your daily routine.
You should say:
Describe a time when you felt embarrassed.
You should say:
Describe a member of your family whom you idolise.
You should say:
These are the IELTS speaking topics with questions that can be asked in the cue card. There are many topics, but these are the major ones that are always on trend. Also, if you want a sample of IELTS speaking topics with answers, you can read our blogs based on the IELTS cue card. You will find many topics and samples to answer them.
The IELTS speaking part 2 discusses the cue card topics you will receive. The examiner will evaluate you on four bases: fluency and coherence, lexical resources, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.
Hence, they listen to your long speech for a designated time (1-2 minutes) after a short period of preparation for the cue card. Let’s understand the assessment criteria you will evaluate in detail.
In answering the IELTS speaking topics in part 2, exceptional fluency and coherence are important. The examiner assesses how logically you can speak using the right vocabulary, linking words, and synonyms.
They check students’ capability to speak the answer to IELTS speaking part 2 topics without pause, repetition, or fillers. Also, your ideas must be interlinked.
Another assessment criterion checked by the examiner is lexical resources in IELTS Speaking Part 2. This gauge’s vocabulary range you used to address your answer. Moreover, your ability to use the right words, phrases, and idioms is checked.
It elaborates on your capability to use a wide range of words to express your ideas appropriately. Overall, in IELTS speaking, using a variety of words correctly is the key to acing the section.
Another factor assessed in the IELTS Speaking Part 2 is grammatical range and accuracy. While answering the cue card, candidates have to use a wide range of grammatical structures, including the right tenses, conjunctions, clauses, nouns, and more.
Accuracy is more crucial than simply using complex grammar. In the speaking part 2 task, accuracy and following the right grammar rules are essential and can assist in excelling in the band score.
The last criterion evaluated by the examiner in IELTS Speaking Part 2 is pronunciation. This involves checking the candidate’s ability to pronounce words accurately and clearly, as well as the use of correct intonation and stress.
Thus, pronouncing the clear words in your answer can help the examiner focus on the answers you provide for IELTS speaking questions in cue cards. Hence, better pronunciation can increase the chance of selection.
These are the assessment criteria used to evaluate your skills in the IELTS cue card answer. To assess your weaknesses and strengths, you can take IELTS speaking mock test. It will help you to find the areas that are lacking and will assist you in making improvements. Moreover, your IELTS preparation for this section should be robust enough to achieve a high band score.
Similar to the IELTS speaking part 1, achieving high scores in part 2 is crucial for students. Using the right approach and strategies can help you ace this part while boosting your confidence for test day. Read on to discover some strategies that will help you succeed in IELTS 2025 speaking part 2.
The first key strategy that will help establish your base of success in speaking, Part 2, is the 1-minute preparation time. Utilise this time properly and think logically about what you will respond. During 1 minute, focus on forming keywords or phrases that can help you recall all the points.
When you are asked to begin your speaking part, focus on remaining calm and avoiding a rapid start. When starting your response, ensure you maintain a normal pace, neither too fast nor too slow. Further, to maintain pace, breathe properly between sentences.
The good way to respond in part 2 is to organise your thoughts from a logical beginning to the end. This will help you show the examiner what you aim to say and how well you have understood the topic. For better organisation of thoughts, use examples and transitional words that make the response easy and logical to understand.
Practising consistently is not a strategy, but a proven fact, because it will allow you to manage your time and speak up for 2 minutes without interruption. Practice by recording yourself under time, which will help you notice your speech pace to make the required improvements. Moreover, practising regularly will help you become familiar with various new topics covered in common IELTS 2025 speaking themes. Also, to assess your strengths and improvement areas, take an IELTS speaking mock test and analyse the results thoroughly for future improvement.
To sum up, preparing for the IELTS 2025 speaking part 2 may seem challenging initially. However, with the correct approach and technique, you can ensure your dream band score is not too far. Follow the key strategies, focusing on fluency, grammar, and vocabulary for the best results. Practicing effectively for part 2 also ensures that you are well prepared for IELTS speaking part 3, which is the final phase of the speaking test.
Whether you are preparing for the speaking section or any other IELTS section, expert guidance is necessary to achieve the dream band score. So, why wait? Connect with our IELTS experts for personalized guidance and direction.
1. What is part 2 of IELTS speaking?
Answer: In part 2 of the IELTS speaking section, you will get a cue card with a topic, and you will be asked to talk about the topic for 2 minutes. Before this, you will get one minute to prepare for the cue card.
2. What are the most common topics of IELTS speaking part 2?
Answer: Here are some of the common topics of the IELTS speaking part 2 is:
3. How do I answer IELTS Speaking Part 2?
Answer: To answer IELTS Speaking Part 2 effectively, you can follow these tips.
4. How do you introduce yourself in IELTS speaking?
Answer: To introduce yourself in the IELTS speaking, begin with a polite greeting, state your name, and talk about the institution where you belong. Briefly describe your current occupation, studies, interests, and hobbies. Add why you are taking this exam.
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