A complete model answer and preparation guide for this IELTS Speaking cue card topic. Includes key vocabulary, follow-up questions, and examiner-approved response strategies.
Originally published September 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see a sample cue card question, high-level answer and feedback.
Describe an activity that you like to do in your free time after work or study
You should say –
What you do
Where you do it
When you do it
Who you do it with
And explain why you like to do this activity.
You will have to talk about the topic for 1-2 minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say and may make notes during that time.
Model Answer
I’d like to talk about walking my dog, we recently rescued a dog who was found by our neighbour by the side of the road. At the time he was only around 4 weeks old and quite ill, he was covered in fleas, had a belly full of worms and various skin conditions. He soon became healthy after many vet visits and now has grown into a large healthy dog, who has a routine of walks at certain times every day to burn off his energy. We started his walking routine slowly when he was little, as he was scared of the park at first. He soon loved to go there and looks really happy with the freedom he has to be able to venture out on his own.
I normally walk him around my village in the morning before work for around 45 minutes. Then in the afternoons after work at around 7 pm we will visit the park, so he can run free. He loves to be able to run around and explore the park, meeting up with other dogs and playing. He enjoys running after people jogging and cycling, showing them that he can go faster than them. He also likes to have his photograph taken with tourists when they are posing next to monuments in the park. I really enjoy seeing him look so happy when he has the freedom off the leash to run as fast as he can and to play with other dogs.
In my opinion, walking with my dog is great exercise, as we walk together (or run) daily for at least 2 hours. This is good for both of us, as he can burn off his energy and I can also keep fit. I also think that getting away from my desk and breathing in the fresh air is beneficial for my health and to clear my mind. It helps to keep my mental health in check, by taking these walks and having the time to think about things. I will continue to walk my dog every day, taking him with me to various locations on the island, as he also enjoys the beach and the town park, but these areas are busy in the summer months, so he will have to wait until the autumn.
Feedback
This is a high-level answer, as there are concrete words being used to tell a story (the story of the dog and the relationship to the activity). Words and phrases are used to describe thoughts and feelings. The bullet points have been covered with the extra information given (examples), which extends the answer.
IELTS Cue Card Topics
People:
Describe a person you once lived with
Describe your favourite politician
Describe your most favourite Math teacher
Describe a teacher from the past whom you remember
Describe one of your relatives whom you like
Describe a famous person you know from your country
Places:
Describe an unusual building you have visited
Describe a cafe/restaurant you have recently visited
Describe your favourite park in your city
Describe a place where you would like to travel to
Describe a place near water where you enjoyed visiting
Describe a garden or a public place you remember visiting
Describe a house or an apartment you would like to live in
Describe your favourite library
IELTS Describe a cyber cafe in your locality
Describe a building/structure with architectural interest
Describe a city you have visited and liked
Describe your favourite shopping mall
Describe a picnic spot or a recreational public spot
Describe a river or a sea you have visited
Describe a shopping center you often go to
Experiences:
Describe an important event in your life
Describe an exam that was very hard for you
Describe an event when someone denied your request
Describe a time when you missed a bus/ train/ aeroplane
Describe a time when you trusted a stranger
Describe a time when you had to wait in a long queue
Describe a night when you could not sleep
Describe a birthday celebration you have attended recently
Describe a competition/contest you have entered
Describe your first day at work or study
Describe a training session
Describe an unusual or interesting thing you did recently
Describe a gift that you gave to someone recently
Describe a room where you stayed for a long time
Describe an outdoor activity that you did for the first time
Describe a funny incident that happened to you
Describe how you would organize a surprise party for your friend
Describe a nation you know well
Describe an occasion or event when you were congratulated
Describe an irritating neighbour in your locality
Describe a trip you have taken recently
Describe a holiday you have recently celebrated
Interesting story you heard when you were a child
Describe a place where you like to go to often
Describe a life-changing experience
Describe a worth-watching theatrical performance
Describe a memorable childhood experience
Describe a sporting event you attended
Describe a bad weather experience you have had
Describe a library that you visited
Describe a happy event of your life
Feelings:
Describe a memorable experience
Describe a peaceful place that you like
Describe the most beautiful natural scenery
Describe a stressful day at school/ university/ work
Describe an interesting holiday destination
Habits and Likes:
Describe a subject you would study
Describe an indoor game that you enjoyed as a child
Something that you want to learn more
Describe the age or stage you enjoyed most
IELTS Academic Reading Sample The history of the biro
Describe someone who is your online friend
Describe your favourite bird
Describe one of your favourite books from your childhood
Describe your favourite subject in your academic life
Describe one of your favourite electronic media
Describe one of your typical days
Describe the best holiday you ever had
Describe the environmental pollution in your city
Describe a practical skill you have
Describe something useful you learned from a member of your family
Describe your favourite animal
Describe your holidays
Describe your favourite season in your country
Describe your favourite music band
Describe a thing which is important to you
Objects:
Describe a successful company you know
Describe a paid job you did or someone you know did
Describe something interesting you learnt from the internet
A gift you have received that was important to you
Describe something you have that you no longer use
Describe a method that helps you to save money
A situation when others didn’t tell you the whole truth
Describe a magazine you think is interesting
Talk about the most important benefit of the internet
Describe the job/ career you have or hope to have
Describe a pet that you or someone you know once had
A product you bought and was dissatisfied about
Describe a foreign country you have planned to visit
Describe an important invention
Describe a traditional meal
Describe a national festival in your country
Describe the most useful household appliance
We hope you found this post helpful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. Let us know in the comments or on the Facebook page if you have any questions. The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, and then follow us onInstagramand Pinterest. We offer essay correction services, mock exams, and online courses. If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can help you achieve your desired band score faster.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
A complete model answer and preparation guide for this IELTS Speaking cue card topic. Includes key vocabulary, follow-up questions, and examiner-approved response strategies.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, you will see a sample cue card question, high-level answer and feedback.
Model Answer
I think it’s important to exercise every day or at least three times per week, so I like to walk every morning and swim as often as I can. I learned to swim when I was at school and since then regularly visited the indoor pool, then when I moved to Spain I was going swimming nearly every day in the summer months. In the winter I like to go to an indoor pool, as it is heated and of course protects you from the elements outside.
There are many beaches close to my house, with crystal clear waters, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and hotels with large swimming pools, so I have a good choice of places to visit for a swim. I like to go to the pool when it is quiet, or the sea when it is calm. The clear salt waters are good for your health and it’s great to swim alongside the fish.
I used to go to a lot of classes in the UK, including Zumba and body combat. I had an accident during a body combat class and broke a bone in my foot, which meant that swimming and cycling were the only options open to me for a while. My doctor encouraged me to go swimming regularly, as he said the salt water would help my foot to heal and obviously to keep up my exercise routine. I really enjoyed swimming, so just kept doing it even after my foot had healed. Swimming keeps me fit and healthy as it is an all over body workout, using all of the muscles it is a great way to do cardiovascular exercise.
Feedback
This is a strong answer, as there is background given and the topic has been fully discussed.There are various tenses and structures used, for the past and present. The notes have prompts and keywords so that the topic could flow and include all of the given points from the cue card.
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
In this post, see the top 6 speaking part 2 tips that will help you to achieve a band score 7 or above.
The IELTS Speaking Test Part 2 lasts 3-4 minutes.
After part 1 the examiner will give you a card or booklet with your question and related ideas you need to talk about.
1 minute >> You will be given 1 minute to make notes.
1-2 minutes >> You will talk about for 1-2 minutes about the topic on the cue card/booklet.
1-2 minutes >> After you have finished speaking, the examiner will ask you one or two questions relating to what you have just talked about.
The cue card the examiner gives to you will look something like this >>
Some students admit to finding this part of the test difficult as they have to give a monologue for 1-2 minutes. They sometimes run out of ideas or start repeating themselves. Practising and developing a strategy can help to make sure that you have success in this area.
Read on for our top 6 tips for getting a high-level band score >>
SPEAKING Test Part 2 TIPS
TIP 1 >> Think of Ideas
When the examiner gives you the cue card during your speaking test, read the topic and the bullet points and think of ideas. It is better to think of a couple of relevant ideas, rather than too many ideas.
The bullet points on the cue card are there to help you to think of ideas so that you can develop an answer. However, you do not have to use those bullet points as a guide and can talk about anything you want in relation to the topic.
The cue card will give you the main topic, then list several bullet points below, stating ‘you should say‘ this means that it is optional. It is up to you, whether you wish to use those bullet points as a guide to help you, and add further information, or not. If there are any bullet points you do not wish to talk about, you may leave them out and talk about something else. As long as all of your ideas are related to the main topic and relevant, then you will still be able to gain a high-level band score.
TIP 2 >> Develop A Strategy
When planning your part 2 monologue, developing a strategy can help you to deliver a high-level answer.
When answering the question, try to be as honest as possible, telling the examiner your thoughts, feeling and opinions. Use examples from your past experiences and be sure to give your opinion. You are allowed to make up information for your monologue, but make sure that you are really confident about what you are saying, as this may lead you into difficulties.
Being honest about your thoughts, feelings, opinions and own experiences is the best way to expand on the topic and give plenty of information to the examiner.
TIP 5 >> Extend Your Answers
When giving your answer, try to make sure that it is not too short – think of ideas that will allow you to talk about the topic confidently for 1-2 minutes.
You can expand your answer by adding more detail and giving examples. Whatever topic you get, you will be able to think of something relevant and share your own thoughts, feelings, opinions and experiences. You can also give relevant examples that can support your points.
Think about the who, what, when, where and how, then think of the details, where you went, who you went with, how you got there, etc.
The answers in part 2 should not be too long either if the examiner feels as though you have gone over your time, they will stop you and ask an extension question.
TIP 6 >> Practice
Practice as much as possible with your native speaking IELTS teacher, a partner or friend. Take a look at past cue cards (see the other posts in this section) and practice answering those questions, making use of the 1-minute note taking time. Whatever you do, don’t memorise any answers, the examiner will see through this and they can give you a low score.
Time yourself and see how much you can say in 1-2 minutes, you may need to develop your answer further or learn to be more concise.
A good way to listen for errors is to record yourself speaking. Listen to your recording and notice any errors you have made, including grammar mistakes, pronunciation, intonation and fluency. Keep practising and use the posts in this section to help you.
I hope that all of these tips have been useful to you in your IELTS practice and preparation, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below >>
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
Expert tips and strategies for this part of the IELTS Speaking test. Includes sample responses and key vocabulary for Band 7+.
Originally published August 2017. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
This post will look at strategies for giving a high-level part 2 answer.
In part 2 the examiner will give you a cue card that could ask you to talk about any subject. this will normally include something about your daily life and own experiences. The talk you give should be honest and show the examiner your ability to use English well.
When giving your talk, try to make sure that it is not too short – use the 1 minute allowed to make notes to your advantage, looking at the keywords and using them as prompts.
Strategy
When working on a strategy for answering part 2, you need to think about how to extend your answer as much as you can, so that you don’t run out of ideas and things to say.
Include the following in your answers, so that you can develop more ideas as well as including the bullet points on the cue card (if you want);
Introduce the topic – I’d like to talk about……
Give some background information (describe it in physical terms)
The Past – say something about what you used to do / something you saw last year, etc (depending on the topic)
Give your thoughts and feelings
Include an example
Say something about the future – What will you do in the future / where would you like to visit, etc (depending on the topic)
If you practice with past cue cards and find yourself running out of ideas while talking, look at your notes and refer back to an earlier point, expand on it and keep talking, while you think of other things to say.
Cue Card Example
The bullet points on the cue card above ask obvious questions about the topic. However you don’t need to follow this to just the bullet points on the card, you can say whatever you want about the chosen topic. Some students follow the bullet points and get a high score, while others have said they ran out of ideas.
Here are some ideas/questions to answer, that you could include when making notes and planning your answer for this cue card >>
Introduce the activity (what it is) extend your answer and explain.
The location (where) – explain
Have you always done it? (When) have you just started doing it recently?
Describe – give a good description of the activity (include here who you do it with)
Give your opinion (why you like to do it).
Will you continue to do it in the future?
Model Answer
I’d like to talk about walking my dog, we recently rescued a dog who was found by our neighbour by the side of the road. At the time he was only around 4 weeks old and quite ill, he was covered in fleas, had a belly full of worms and various skin conditions. He soon became healthy after many vet visits and now has grown into a large healthy dog, who has a routine of walks at certain times every day to burn off his energy. We started his walking routine slowly when he was little, as he was scared of the park at first. He soon loved to go there and looks really happy with the freedom he has to be able to venture out on his own.
I normally walk him around my village in the morning before work for around 45 minutes. Then in the afternoons after work at around 7 pm we will visit the park, so he can run free. He loves to be able to run around and explore the park, meeting up with other dogs and playing. He enjoys running after people jogging and cycling, showing them that he can go faster than them. He also likes to have his photograph taken with tourists when they are posing next to monuments in the park.
In my opinion, walking with my dog is great exercise, as we walk together (or run) daily for at least 2 hours. This is good for both of us, as he can burn off his energy and I can also keep fit. I also think that getting away from my desk and breathing in the fresh air is beneficial for my health and to clear my mind. It helps to keep my mental health in check, by taking these walks and having the time to think about things. I will continue to walk my dog every day, taking him with me to various locations on the island, as he also enjoys the beach and the town park, but these areas are busy in the summer months, so he will have to wait until the autumn.
Feedback
This is a high-level answer, as there are concrete words being used to tell a story (the story of the dog and the relationship to the activity). Words and phrases are used to describe thoughts and feelings. The bullet points have been covered with the extra information given, which extends the answer.
Practice
Practice as much as you can with past cue cards and develop a good strategy for answering in 1-2 minutes. Practice with your speaking partner or native speaking IELTS teacher, who will help you to improve.
Have you been practising? Does this strategy help you? Let us know in the comments >>
We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test. If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.
The best way to keep up to date with posts like this is to like us on Facebook, then follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
If you need help preparing for the IELTS Test, join the IELTS Achieve Academy and see how we can assist you to achieve your desired band score. We offer an essay correction service, mock exams and online courses.
