IELTS Speaking Part 2
What happens in IELTS Speaking Part 2
In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test you are given,
- a topic card
- a pen and paper to make notes
- 1 minute to prepare your talk
The topic card will have 3 or 4 bullet points to guide your talk.
You do not have to follow all of these bullet points, they are just a guide.
The ‘Topic Card’, sometimes called a ‘Cue Card’, looks like the one below.
The topic will vary, but the format is always the same.
Watch this video to see a sample answer for the Part 2 Question above
Part 2 is often known as the ‘Long Turn’. This is a really important part of the Speaking Test.
Why?
This is the first chance for you to
- talk over a long period of time without interruptions
- show that you can develop a topic
- show you can speak fluently over longer sentences
How Long is IELTS Speaking Part 2?
IELTS Speaking Part 2 lasts 3 to 4 minutes.
This means, in addition to the examiner talking, you have
- 1 minute to prepare your talk.
- 1 to 2 minutes to talk about the topic.
You don’t have to use the whole 1 minute, but I advise you to do, so you are well prepared.
I recommend you talk for at least 1 minute and 30 seconds.
You can carry on speaking for 2 minutes, but if you stop after 1 minute and 30 seconds, the examiner will ask you a short follow up answer.
Either way, the examiner will stop you speaking after 2 minutes.
You will be given paper and pencil to make notes. You can keep both the task card (cue card) and your notes to look at throughout your talk.
You only given them back after you have finished your Part 2 talk.
Using the 1 minute preparation time
The 1 minute preparation time in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test will go by very quickly.
1) Get your idea quickly
Don’t waste time brainstorming lots of possible ideas to talk about!
Just take the first idea you get, that is good enough, and go with that. Spend no more than 10 – 15 seconds on getting your idea.
2) Get a structure ready
Then spend the remaining 45 seconds on the structure.
You can follow the bullet points, or you can have a slightly different structure if you want.
3) Write down your key points briefly
Knowing the key 2 or 3 things you are going to talk about (and writing them down), will help you focus on your language more when speaking.
Just write 2 or 3 words for each main point.
4) Have your first sentence ready
Before you begin talking, try and have your first sentence clear and ready, so you can make a confident start.
Part 2 really is all about confidence!
Finally, keep the Cue Card or Task Card in front of you.
Remember! You can look at your notes and Cue Card as you are talking.