IELTS Academic · Speaking · S2
IELTS Academic Speaking Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
IELTS Speaking Part 2 is the long turn. The examiner gives you a cue card with a topic and a few points to cover. You have one minute to prepare and make notes, then speak for one to two minutes without interruption. The examiner may finish with one or two short questions on the same topic.
- Preparation
- 1 minute, and you can make notes
- Speaking time
- 1 to 2 minutes; the examiner stops you at 2 minutes
- Cue card
- One topic plus points to guide your talk
- After the talk
- The examiner may ask one or two short follow-up questions
- Assessed on
- Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, Pronunciation
How it works
- 1The examiner gives you the cue card and explains the task.
- 2You have 1 minute to plan; the cue card stays in front of you.
- 3You speak for up to 2 minutes, and the examiner does not interrupt.
- 4At the end, the examiner may ask one or two brief questions, then moves to Part 3.
Sample task
Original sample · not from an official test
Describe a place where you like to study or work. You should say: - where it is - what it looks like - how often you go there and explain why it helps you concentrate.
Show a strong responseHide response
Outline: Notes (1 minute): 'third floor, city library, window desk'; 'quiet, long tables, plants, view of river'; 'three evenings a week, since first year'; 'why: phone rule, other people working, no bed to lie on'. Talk: open with the place, describe it with two concrete details, say how often and since when, then spend the most time on why it helps, with one example of an exam period.
Short keyword notes, one line per point, keep you on track without reading aloud. Spending the most time on the 'explain' point gives natural reasons for extended speech, which helps you reach close to two minutes.
Tips that work
- Write keywords, not sentences, during the minute of preparation.
- Cover every point on the card, but give the 'explain' point the most time.
- Use a real example you can picture; specific details are easier to talk about than general ideas.
- Practise with a timer until two minutes feels normal. Many candidates stop after 50 seconds at first.
Common mistakes
- Stopping well before the examiner asks you to, which gives the examiner less speech to assess.
- Writing full sentences in the preparation minute and then reading them.
- Spending most of the talk on the first point and rushing the rest.
Questions candidates ask
What happens if I stop before two minutes?
The examiner may prompt you to continue or ask a question. Speaking for at least one minute is expected, and keeping going nearer to two minutes gives the examiner more evidence of your range.
Can I talk about something that is not true?
Yes. You are assessed on your English, not on whether the story is true. A real experience is usually easier to describe in detail, but you may adapt it to fit the card.
How can I practise the cue card with timing?
Our Part 2 practice gives you a 1-minute preparation timer, then records up to 2 minutes of speech, and returns AI feedback on your talk. There are 200 practice sets for this exam.
Other IELTS Academic Speaking tasks
IELTS Academic overviewIELTS Academic Speaking: all partsIELTS Academic full mock testsIELTS Academic articles on the blog