IELTS Speaking cue cards

Original Part 2 practice cards, grouped by Speaking cycle — each with the task card in the real exam format, a preparation strategy, a model answer, the Part 3 discussion that follows, and useful vocabulary.

The other parts of the test: Part 1 questions and answers · Part 3 questions and answers · all Speaking topics

September 2026 to January 2027 cue cards

62 original Part 2 cards for the cycle running now. Pick one and practise it the way the exam runs: one minute to prepare, up to two to speak.

Card sets by cycle

Current cycleSeptember 2026 to January 2027The current cycle. These are original CD IELTS Prep practice cards written in authentic Part 2 style, built from the topic families circulating in the September 2026 to January 2027 window. They are original practice material, not predictions, recalled questions or leaked exam content — practise the shape of the answer rather than memorising one, because the card you get will not be the card you rehearsed.62 cue cards EndedMay to August 2026This cycle has ended — the current set is September 2026 to January 2027. These cards stay published because the topic families repeat and the practice is still good, but if you are sitting the test now, start with the current cycle. They were always original CD IELTS Prep practice cards, never real, recalled or leaked exam questions.20 cue cards

Practice material by topic family

Open the full practice library

Every card comes with an idea bank, topic collocations shown in full sentences, a model answer with a note on why it works, an example set of one-minute notes, and the Part 3 discussion that follows it in the test.

People and relationshipsCards about a person you know, admire, learned from, or rely on.14 cards PlacesCards about a place you go, a place that changed, or a place you would return to.16 cards Objects and possessionsCards about something you own, kept, bought, wear, or find useful.9 cards Events and experiencesCards about something that happened to you — a day, a wait, a problem, a decision.15 cards Activities and habitsCards about what you do regularly — sport, cooking, study, routines, goals.11 cards Media, technology and cultureCards about a film, book, song, podcast, app, or something cultural you follow.12 cards Abstract and idea-led promptsCards with no obvious object or story — a rule, an opinion, a change you would like.5 cards

September 2026 to January 2027

62 cards

May to August 2026

20 cards

How strong candidates use Part 2

Use the minute for notes, not sentences

Write one or two words per cue point, never full sentences. Sixty seconds is enough to plan a beginning, a middle, and an ending — not to script an answer you then struggle to remember.

Anchor every point to something real

A specific place, person, or moment is always easier to talk about than an invented generality. Real details carry natural vocabulary and keep you fluent when nerves rise.

Speak until you are stopped

Two minutes is longer than it feels. Slow down, expand each point with a reason or example, and let the examiner end the turn. Finishing early is the most common self-inflicted problem in Part 2.

Practise Part 2 with real exam timing — one minute to prepare, two minutes on the clock.

Open the speaking simulator Practice Part 2

Common questions about cue cards

Are these real IELTS cue cards?

No. Every card here is an original CD IELTS Prep practice card written in the standard Part 2 format. Nobody outside the test maker sees real cards before test day, so be cautious of any site that claims to have them. What genuinely helps is practising with cards that match the real format: a Describe prompt, cue points under “You should say”, a final point beginning “and explain”, one minute to prepare, and one to two minutes of speaking.

How often do IELTS Speaking topics change?

The pool of Speaking topics is refreshed gradually across the year, with new cards typically appearing at the start of January, May, and September while others stay in rotation. That is why candidates talk about cycles such as May to August. We refresh this library on the same rhythm so you always have a current, clearly dated set to practise with.

What exactly happens in Part 2 of the Speaking test?

The examiner gives you a task card with a Describe prompt and its cue points, plus paper and a pencil. You have exactly one minute to prepare and make notes, then you speak for one to two minutes. The examiner stops you at two minutes, may ask one or two short rounding-off questions, and then moves into the Part 3 discussion on the same theme, which lasts four to five minutes. Part 2 takes three to four minutes in total.

Do I have to cover all the cue points?

Covering the points keeps your answer organised, but the examiner does not tick them off and you are not penalised for missing one. Fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation are what you are scored on. Use the points as a spine for your story rather than a checklist to rush through.

How can I practise Part 2 on my own?

Work exactly to the real timing: set a one-minute preparation timer, make brief notes, then record yourself speaking for two minutes without stopping. Listen back once for hesitations and once for vocabulary range. The CD IELTS Prep speaking simulator runs this timing for you and keeps your recordings so you can hear your progress.

CD IELTS Prep is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with IELTS, IDP, the British Council, or Cambridge. Every card in this library is original practice material.