IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards 2027: Latest Topics With Band 9 Sample Answers
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Part 2 is the bit of the Speaking test most candidates dread: one minute to prepare, then two minutes of talking with no one to help you. The good news is that the cue cards follow a small set of patterns, and you can prepare for almost every one of them with a single prep framework and a notebook of good ideas.
This page gives you ten of the latest cue cards reported from the late-2026 season (for 2027 preparation), a 1-minute preparation framework, two full Band 9-style sample answers, and a 7-day practice plan. The cue card topics here are drawn from recent candidate recollections — the kind of topics reported by test-takers in late 2026 — and are presented as preparation material, not as official or leak lists. The official IELTS sources do not publish real cue cards: IELTS says Speaking Part 2 tests your ability to talk about a familiar topic at length, and gives you one minute to prepare. Use these cards for practice, not as predictions.
How IELTS Speaking Part 2 Works
The test is a one-to-one interview with an examiner — no recordings, no multiple choice. Part 2 — the long turn — is one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to talk. The examiner hands you a short card with a topic, gives you a minute to prepare, and you speak for 1–2 minutes. You must answer every point on the card, and the more you say — with examples, reasons and details — the better your band for this section. You will also answer a few short questions afterwards.
| Part 1 — Introduction and interview | Part 2 — The long turn (individual long turn) | Part 3 — Two-way discussion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 4–5 minutes | 1 minute to prepare, then 1–2 minutes to talk | 4–5 minutes |
| What it tests | Answering short questions about familiar topics | Speaking at length about a topic, with a clear structure | Discussing ideas in depth — explaining, comparing, speculating |
| Typical questions | "Tell me about your hometown." | "Describe a skill you would like to learn." | "Do you think technology is changing the way children learn?" |
| What examiners look for | Fluency, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation | Fluency and coherence (is the talk organised?), lexical range, grammar accuracy, pronunciation | Ability to develop ideas, give reasons and explain — at a higher level than Part 2 |
| How marks count | Part 1 is about 25% of the Speaking band | Part 2 is about 25% of the Speaking band — and often decides whether a candidate reaches their target | Part 3 is about 25% of the Speaking band |
The table above follows the three broad sections of the IELTS Speaking test, as published by the IDP IELTS help centre. The four scoring criteria the examiners use across all three parts — fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammar range and accuracy, and pronunciation, each 25% of the Speaking band — are the same in every section.
An honest note about the cue cards in this article: "Latest" here means reported by test-takers in late 2026, for 2027 preparation. New cue cards are not published anywhere — IELTS does not share them. The cards below are realistic preparation topics gathered from reports of candidates, not official or leaked questions. This article presents them as exam-style practice, not as predictions of what your card will be.
The 1-Minute Prep Framework: Plan in 60 Seconds
Most candidates waste their preparation minute trying to memorise sentences. That is the mistake. The minute is for choosing what to say — you will be thinking and speaking at the same time, so all you need is a simple skeleton. Use it for every cue card, whatever the topic.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels
Seconds 0–15: Choose your idea. Pick the first sensible idea that comes to mind and commit to
it — do not audition three. Write one word for it and move on: "photography", "my uncle's farm", "the night bus". A good-enough idea said well beats a perfect idea you never start.
Seconds 15–45: Write five keywords, one per bullet. Go through the prompts on the card and write one or two words for each: who, where, when, what happened, why it matters. Five or six words, not sentences — a sentence takes ten seconds to write and you will not read it back. Your keywords are your structure:
Seconds 45–60: Say your first line. Rehearse your opening sentence in your head — "I'd like to talk about…" — so you start fluently. If you waste the last fifteen seconds staring at your notes, the examiner's look will unsettle you. Use the last few seconds to breathe and make eye contact.
While you speak: Check you have covered every bullet on the card. If you get stuck, move to the next bullet — silence is worse than a short answer. End with a summing-up sentence: "So, that's why it meant so much to me." If you are short on time, say your conclusion and stop.
10 Latest IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards (Late-2026 Season, for 2027 Preparation)
These are the ten topics most often reported by recent test-takers. Read the card, use the 1-minute framework above, then compare with how you would have answered. Keep a notebook — each prompt below can be answered with any topic you know well. Do not learn answers by heart.
1. Describe a skill you would like to learn
You should say: what the skill is, when you will start learning it, how you plan to learn it, and explain why you want to learn it.
2. Describe a person who has had a strong influence on your life
You should say: who the person is, how you know them, what they did that influenced you, and explain what you have learned from them.
3. Describe a place you would like to visit in the future
You should say: where it is, how you heard about it, what you would do there, and explain why you would like to visit it.
4. Describe a memorable journey you took
You should say: where you went, who you travelled with, what happened during the journey, and explain why this journey was memorable.
5. Describe a book you have read recently that you enjoyed
You should say: what the book is, who wrote it, what it is about, and explain why you enjoyed reading it.
6. Describe a piece of technology that helps make your life easier
You should say: what the technology is, how you first used it, how often you use it, and explain why it makes life easier for you.
7. Describe a teacher you remember well
You should say: who the teacher was, what they taught you, one thing they did that other teachers did not, and explain why you remember this teacher so clearly.
8. Describe a time when you had to learn something new quickly
You should say: what you had to learn, why you had to learn it quickly, how you learned it, and explain how you felt about it afterwards.
9. Describe a meal you enjoyed recently
You should say: what the meal was, where you had it, who you were with, and explain why you enjoyed the food.
10. Describe a job you would like to do in the future
You should say: what the job is, how you first heard about it, what skills it needs, and explain why you would like to do it.
How to use this list: Take one card a day. Set a timer, use the framework, then talk for two minutes. Record yourself and listen back — you will spot your own hesitations much faster than a tutor can. If a topic feels hard, change one word in it (swap "book" for "film", for example) and practise the same structure again.
Band 9 Sample Answer 1: Describe a Skill You Want to Learn
The card: "Describe a skill you would like to learn. You should say: what the skill is, when you will start learning it, how you plan to learn it, and explain why you want to learn it."
1-minute prep notes:
- skill = photography, portraits of people
- when = start in January, after exams
- how = an evening class + YouTube tutorials + weekends
- why = I already take photos on my phone; want portraits that actually look good
- end = show my family a portrait they like
The 2-minute talk: "I'd like to talk about a skill I've been meaning to learn for a while now, which is portrait photography. It's something I've thought about on and off for a couple of years, but I've never actually got round to it. I'm planning to start in January, once my exams are out of the way, and I've already looked into a few options.
I'd begin with an evening class at the local college, which runs twice a week and teaches you the basics — things like lighting, composition and how to use a camera properly rather than just pointing and hoping for the best. On top of that, I'd watch tutorials online in my own time, and at weekends I'd go out and practise, probably starting with friends and family because they're the only people patient enough to sit still while I work out the settings.
What really appeals to me about it is that it's a creative skill with a practical side. I already take a lot of photos on my phone, but they're mostly quick snapshots, and I'd love to be able to take portraits that actually look good — the kind of photo where someone looks at it and says, that really captures them. I think it would also make me pay more attention to people, because a good portrait means noticing expressions and light, not just pressing a button.
The thing I'm most looking forward to is having something to show for it. I'd love to print a photo I'm proud of and give it to my family — a proper portrait, rather than a phone snapshot. That, for me, would be the point of learning the skill."
Why this works: The talk hits every bullet on the card in order, uses specific details (evening class, composition, lighting) instead of general ones, and links ideas with natural connectors ("on top of that", "what really appeals to me"). No memorised chunks appear — the phrases sound like spoken English, which is exactly what the fluency criterion rewards.
Band 9 Sample Answer 2: Describe a Memorable Journey You Took
The card: "Describe a memorable journey you took. You should say: where you went, who you travelled with, what happened during the journey, and explain why this journey was memorable."
1-minute prep notes:
- journey = night train from Lahore to Karachi
- who = my father, summer holidays
- what happened = the train stopped in the desert, we waited four hours, a stranger shared his food
- why = I learned that people help each other when things go wrong
The 2-minute talk: "I'd like to talk about a journey I took a few years ago, when I was about sixteen. My father and I took the night train from Lahore to Karachi — it was during the summer holidays, and we were going to visit my uncle, who lives near the sea.
The train left at about ten in the evening, and everything was fine for the first few hours. Then, somewhere in the middle of the desert, the train just stopped. At first nobody knew what was happening, and after about an hour the conductor came through and told us there was a problem with the track ahead, and we would have to wait. In the end, we waited for almost four hours, sitting in the dark with the windows open because it was so hot.
What made the journey special, though, was what happened while we were waiting. The man sitting opposite us, who we had never met, opened his bag and shared his food with us — he had dates and biscuits and a flask of tea, and he just passed them around as if we were old friends. My father started talking to him, and for the next two hours we sat there chatting, the heat not seeming to matter so much any more.
Looking back, I think that's why the journey has stayed with me. It wasn't the destination that mattered, although Karachi was lovely — it was the unexpected kindness of a stranger, and the feeling that when something goes wrong, people actually look out for each other. It's a small thing, really, but it taught me something I've never forgotten."
Why this works: The story has a clear sequence (departure, problem, waiting, resolution), a single vivid detail (dates, biscuits, a flask of tea) that makes the talk memorable, and a reflective ending that answers the "why memorable" bullet directly. The vocabulary is natural and precise — "the conductor came through", "an unexpected kindness" — and the talk develops one idea instead of listing several.
Five Mistakes That Cost Candidates a Whole Band
- Memorising whole answers. Examiners can tell — memorised talks sound flat and do not fit the card. Learn ideas, not sentences.
- Talking for less than a minute. A talk under a minute usually misses bullets and reads as under-developed. Aim for 1 minute 45 seconds.
- Repeating the same simple vocabulary. "Nice", "good" and "very" are fine in Part 1, but Part 2 needs more: "peaceful", "breathtaking", "worth the effort".
- Starting with a long pause. Use your first sentence in the first five seconds — the examiner notes confidence from the first breath.
- Ignoring a bullet on the card. You lose marks for Task Response if a bullet is missed. Glance at each bullet as you speak — a quick check is free.
A 7-Day Practice Plan
Day 1–2: Learn the 1-minute prep framework. Practise it on cue cards 1 and 2, recording yourself each time. Focus on the framework, not on the vocabulary: are you writing five keywords and starting with a clear first line?
Day 3–5: Work through cue cards 3 to 6, one per day. After every talk, listen back and note one thing you would improve — then say it again. If you found it easy to fill two minutes, your vocabulary is already strong enough: now add words you want to use. For a steady daily routine, use our 15-minute daily speaking plan.
Day 6: Practise the tough ones — cue cards 7 to 10 — under timed conditions: one minute to prepare, two minutes to speak, no re-recording.
Day 7: Pick two cards at random. Practise both, then take a timed full mock on our free IELTS practice tests page and note your score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these the real 2027 cue cards?
No. The official IELTS sources do not publish cue cards for future tests — they publish the format, the scoring criteria and a few sample cards. The topics on this page were reported by test-takers in late 2026 for 2027 preparation. They are realistic practice material, not leaked or official questions.
How many minutes do I get to prepare?
You get one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to talk. Use the minute for a skeleton of keywords, not for sentences: five keywords at most. The IDP IELTS help page walks you through the same timing.
Can I have extra time to prepare?
No — the timing is fixed. You get one minute to prepare, then up to two minutes to talk. The minute is short, which is why the 1-minute planner above matters more than the words you know.
Should I memorise sample answers?
No. Memorised answers are easy to spot — examiners can tell, and the wording of a sample answer will rarely fit your card. Learn the structure (what to cover, in what order) and practise your own ideas. Use the sample answers on this page to learn how good answers sound, not to copy them.
What if I run out of things to say before two minutes?
Speak about the bullet again, but add details: an example, a reason, a comparison with someone else, or a reaction from another person. A second example is better than silence. Saying "Let me give you an example" buys you time and makes you sound fluent.
Do I lose marks for pausing?
Short natural pauses are fine — everyone pauses to think. Long pauses of five seconds or more, especially near the start, cost you marks for fluency. A short "let me think" is better than silence, and a pause after a complete sentence sounds much better than a pause in the middle of one.
Sources and Verification
- IELTS Speaking test format, Part 2 (long turn) — 1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to talk: IDP IELTS: Part 2 long turn.
- Can you get Band 9 in IELTS Speaking? — the four scoring criteria and what they mean: IDP IELTS: Band 9 speaking.
- The IELTS speaking test format: IELTS.org: Speaking test format.
- IELTS Speaking test format: ielts.org.