The IELTS Speaking test assess your use of spoken English. This test lasts 11-14 minutes where you will discuss various topics with an IELTS examiner. In this blog, we provide a curated collection of the most common and challenging IELTS speaking cue cards that you're likely to encounter in the IELTS speaking test. Whether you're preparing for the exam or simply aiming to sharpen your speaking skills, our comprehensive list of cue card questions offers invaluable practice and insight into the test format.
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This section of the IELTS exam evaluates the candidate’s speaking ability in the language. The examiner will see how well you express your opinions and communicate information related to daily life. It is interactive in nature and lasts 11 minutes to 14 minutes. It is divided into three parts, which are as follows.
This was a brief overview of the IELTS speaking section. Now, let us dive into the details of cue cards.
Also Know: How to Introduce Yourself in IELTS Speaking?
As you know, cue card is the second task of the most popular language proficiency test, IELTS. A Cue Card contains a topic or question you must talk about for 2 minutes, followed by a discussion with the examiner for another minute. It is a card containing a hint or a prompt with specific instructions or questions related to the topic. Wondering what a cue card looks like? Have a look at the image below.
The above image shows how it looks and what you have to do. The cue card is represented in the rectangle, and on the right side are the instructions to follow while you attempt speaking part 2 of the IELTS test.
In order to get the desired band score on the IELTS exam, the candidate must clear all the sections and tasks. One must practice well to do this. Here is the cheat sheet containing 45 trending questions for the year 2025. Have a look.
These are the trending cue card questions of 2025. Now, let's examine the various questions that can be asked in the IELTS speaking cue cards.
In this section, we have listed down the 20 topics along with 5 questions each that are frequently asked in the cue card for IELTS speaking part.
In these cue cards, you will be asked about your experiences with different technology.
In the following list, you will find the cue cards related to music and movies.
In these cue cards, you will be asked about your opinion on popular faces.
Have a look at the list of questions related to reading and books.
Below are skill based questions for the cue card round of the speaking test.
Below is the question list about happiness.
Below is the list of questions in IELTS speaking cue cards relating to leisure.
Below are the few questions that can be asked in the cue card part of the speaking test in the category ‘Animal’.
Here, the cue card questions are related to the topic “study”.
These are the cue cards in which you will be asked to discuss different goals.
The list of questions asked elated to sports in the cue card round of the speaking test.
Here are a few questions related to everyone’s favourite topic ‘social media’.
Below is list of 5 questions related to travel for the cue card round of the speaking test.
Find the questions related to the most favourite and memorable place of an adult.
Here, you will find questions related to the cities and countries for speaking part 2 of the IELTS exam.
Let us know the commonly asked question about shopping in the cue card section.
Know the questions about plants that appear in the cue card Topics.
Take a gist of the work related questions in the IELTS speaking cue card.
The cue cards where the appearing candidate will answer the questions relating to their hobbies.
The events play a crucial role in one’s life. Have a look at the questions related to event that happens commonly.
The IELTS cue card section is a scoring segment of the IELTS speaking test. Usually, you get 11 to 15 minutes in which you get to read the cue card, think, and respond accordingly. There are certain criteria to evaluate your performance:
Your speech's fluency and relevancy are judged according to the pace of your tone, redundancy of words, and the number of pauses. In addition to this, the amount of interruptions also counts.
Your vocabulary needs to be refined and should not look like a sham at the same time. Yet, you can select a wide range of words if you are well aware of their meaning and usage.
This is to assess if you know where to emphasize and where to lower your tone while speaking. This is done to convey the thoughts well through pace, tone, rhythm, and emphasis of words.
Lastly, the correct usage of tenses, phrases, and parts of speech is very crucial. Therefore, you will not be able to deliver your message properly if you fail to use any of these in an informed manner.
There are many common mistakes that a candidate makes while attempting the IELTS cue cards section. One of them is not understanding the prompt properly, which can result in a lack of relevance to the answers to the questions raised. Moreover, using slang and informal language leads to low scores. Now let us know some tips to ace this section of the test.
The first and foremost thing is to read the prompt very carefully. Also, only reading will not work; make sure you understand properly. You are given a minute, which you should use wisely. Take this time to brainstorm ideas to make your answer stand out. You should note down the keywords to answer it. Moreover, group your ideas and categories. Lastly, opt for the most relevant and interesting idea.
The candidate must structure their answer well in a logical and organized manner. Look at the basic structure you can follow:
As you know rich vocabulary helps you in acing the test. Use appropriate language and words to secure your desired band score. You can mix simple and complex sentences. Also exercising a vocabulary range including synonyms and antonyms will be a supporting hand to clear it.
Confidence and fluency are the two key skills required to clear the cue card for the IELTS speakingsection.The candidate can engage in intra-personal communication (talking to self). You must record and listen to it back to identify the areas of improvement. Also, clarity must be ensured by speaking clear and moderate sentences.
Since time management is crucial in all sections, it is also in IELTS Cue Cards. You must strategize your section for productivity optimization. For instance, you can use the one-minute preparation time to organize and brainstorm your thoughts. In the next two minutes, you must concentrate on two to three key points related to the topic.
Practice makes a man perfect. It is applicable in all aspects of life, and so is it in acing the IELTS test. You should enhance your preparation with the IELTS Speaking Mock Test. Also, practice with your study buddy or a teacher. Recording yourself and hearing it can also help you ace the test.
One of the easiest ways to ace a test is by seeking expert advice. You can prepare for the exam with online IELTS classes, where professionals will help you develop strategies. The study plans and feedback sessions are personalized and help the aspirants ace the test.
These are a few tips that you can follow to clear speaking part 2 and secure the desired band score. In this blog, you learned about the trending topics of the cue cards and the frequently asked questions in the second task of the speaking section of the IELTS exam.
A. The speaking test has three parts. The first one revolves around you and your family. The second is the cue card round, and the third is the follow-up questions from part two.
A. Candidate Task Card and Individual Long Turn are the other two names of the cue card round. It is the second task of the speaking section of the IELTS exam.
A. The cue card has one topic and 3-4 subsequent questions. At the end, there will be 2 questions for rounding off.
A. Yes, you should. Although there are four questions in this round, you are not obliged to answer all of them. The answer would be much more organized and coherent if you added all the points given on the cue card.
A. No, there is no option to add for the cue card. The examiner will give you the prompt, and you will have to answer accordingly.
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