5 tips for IELTS Part 2 (cue cards)

ielts-speakingStudents often tell me that they worry about Part 2 in the IELTS speaking exam because they don’t have enough to say. The key, as with everything in IELTS, is more practice. Make sure that you get good at this part – don’t worry about it.

Here are some ideas for practising this part of the speaking test. I’ve used these with students and they really make a big difference.

  1. Firstly make sure you start with an introduction this tells the examiner exactly what you will talk about and gives a frame for your little talk: e.g. ‘the XYZ I’m going to talk about is../the XYZ I want to tell you about is…
  2. If you have 3 things to say about each point on the card you will get the about the right length for the short talk and not dry up – so in your preparation choose 3 things for each point on the card
  3. Imagine the event/item/person etc. in your head when you prepare, using a real story means that you will be able to talk about it more easily and make it interesting. Give some interesting details (but not too many).
  4. You don’t have to follow the card BUT the card helps you to get a logical structure to your talk and it is there to help you. If you follow it you will have a beginning, a middle and an end.
  5. Finally practise, practise, practise – if you were asked to give a short speech at a friend’s wedding or special party you would practice wouldn’t you – even in your own language. So make sure you have adequate preparation for this. Record yourself and keep recording over and over until YOU are happy with your performance – this really works, you’ll see improvement!

One vital thing is to get going straight away. I have seen as a teacher and as an examiner so many times where students hesitated at the beginning and just got going when the 2 minutes was up. Put all the good stuff at the beginning NOT at the end where you might get stopped and the examiner will never hear it!

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