At a glance
| Part | What happens | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Short questions about you: home, studies, work, hobbies | 4–5 minutes |
| Part 2 | You get a cue card, one minute to prepare, then speak alone for up to two minutes | 3–4 minutes |
| Part 3 | A discussion of broader questions linked to the Part 2 topic | 4–5 minutes |
1A simple shape for any answer
Answer, reason, example. Asked "Do you like cooking?", say: "Yes, quite a lot, mostly on weekends. It relaxes me after a long week. Last Sunday I tried making biryani for the first time, and it was better than I expected." That is three sentences and it sounds natural.
2Using the one minute in Part 2
Do not write sentences. Write four or five keywords, one for each prompt on the card, and one extra detail you can add if you run out. Speak until the examiner stops you. Stopping at one minute costs fluency marks.
3Common mistakes
- Giving one word answers in Part 1.
- Speaking too fast because of nerves. Slow and clear scores better than fast and unclear.
- Forcing idioms that do not fit the conversation.
- Apologising for mistakes. Correct yourself briefly and carry on.
Lessons in this section
Up next
Speaking cue cards
Part 2 topics with a way to plan them
Written by the AdmitVerse team. Last reviewed on . AdmitVerse is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council or IDP. For official rules and test dates, see ielts.org.