Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards
One minute to plan, two minutes to speak — structure beats improvisation.
Use the minute to outline, not write
Jot who, when, where, what happened, how you felt. Five bullet points beat a full script you can't read during the talk.
Cover every bullet on the card
The prompt lists points you should address. Missing one signals poor Task Achievement to the examiner.
Past tense consistency
Most cue cards describe past experiences. Switching tenses mid-story confuses coherence — pick past simple as default for narratives.
Don't stop at 90 seconds
The examiner expects two full minutes. If you finish early, you likely under-developed. Add sensory detail or reflection until interrupted.