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IELTS Cue Cards With Sample Answers

An IELTS cue card is the task card for Speaking Part 2: a topic with three or four bullet points. You get one minute to prepare and make notes, then speak for up to two minutes without interruption, after which the examiner may ask one or two short follow-up questions. Each card below has a band 9 sample answer and tips.

How to answer an IELTS cue card

  1. Read the topic and every bullet point before you write anything.
  2. Use the minute of preparation to note two or three keywords per bullet point and one example or story.
  3. Open with a sentence that names what you are going to describe.
  4. Work through the bullet points in order, adding detail and a personal example to each.
  5. Finish with the final bullet — usually why it matters to you — and keep talking until the examiner stops you.

IELTS cue cards (55)

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Frequently asked questions

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?

Up to two minutes. The examiner stops you when the time is up, so aim to keep talking for the full two minutes; stopping early limits your Fluency and Coherence score.

How should I use the one minute of preparation?

Write a few keywords for each bullet point rather than full sentences, plus one example or story you can tell. Notes are there to keep you on track, not to be read out.

Do I have to answer every bullet point on the cue card?

The bullet points are a guide rather than a strict checklist, but covering them in order is the easiest way to keep your talk organised and long enough.

What if I have no experience of the cue card topic?

You can adapt the topic or talk about someone else's experience. The test assesses your English, not whether the story is true.