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5 tips for IELTS Part 2 (cue cards)
Students 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.
- 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…
- 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
- 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).
- 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.
- 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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