Latest Cue Cards Jan to Apr 2023

Now the million-dollar question is: What benefits will this latest cue card list provide us? And the answer is” numerous”; this list offers unabated support to strengthen your confidence and gives you a blueprint on how to prepare your cue cards to fetch your desired band score in IELTS Speaking. This page contains the latest cue-card topics with sample answers that will lead your preparation toward an impressive growth trajectory. The covered topics are the recent ones asked at various locations worldwide in actual exams.

So, those who plan to take the IELTS exam betwixt January 2023 to April 2023 must prepare these cue cards with determination, dedication, and discipline to achieve the desired band score. We have prepared this cue card list by putting the heaps of experience at our disposal, and we staunchly believe this cue card is merely a prediction. Therefore, we want to clarify that prediction is guesswork, and the examiner can ask questions as per her choice in the Real Exam.

Considering the above points, we advise the learners to leave no stone unturned while practising or preparing for their test. Moreover, it is essential to go beyond the conventional domain while preparing.

This latest cue card list is a must-have for adequate preparation; learners must still pay sufficient heed to samples from Cue Cards Sep to Dec 2022.

Those who have higher aims and wish to fetch a band score of 8+ in the Speaking module must consider two things: firstly, they must refrain from memorizing the entire sample answer and use it to take ideas. Secondly, our content writers have written these sample answers with proper research, but you must prepare yourself so that if the exam cue card is out of the list, you should feel satisfied.

Latest Cue cards Jan to Apr 2023 complete questions.

1.Describe a person with whom you like to study or work with.
You should say:

Who is that person?
Why would you like to study with him/her?
What will you study?

2.Describe a daily routine that you enjoy.

You should say:

What it is?
Where and when you do it?
Who do you do it with?
Explain why you enjoy it.

3.Describe a place you visited where the air was polluted.

You should say:

Where the place is?
When you visited?
Why the air was not good?
And explain how you felt about the place.

4.Describe an actor or actress whom you admire.

You should say:

Who he/she she is?
What he/she looks like?
What kind of movies he/she appears in?
And explain why you admire this actor/actress.

5.Describe a person you would like to study or work with.

You should say:

Who is that person?
Why would you like to study with him/her?
What will you study?

6.Describe a time when you were late.

You should say:

When it was?
Why you were late?
How you felt about being late?

7.Describe an advertisement that you don’t like.

You should say:

When it was?
Why you were late?
How you felt about being late?

8.Describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting.

You should say:

Who the person is?
For what he/she inspired?
Why he/she inspired?
How did you feel about it?

9.Describe a website which helped you to do something / website you visit often/ use regularly.

You should say:

Which site is it?
How did you know about it?
How did it help?
Why do you visit it often?

10.Describe a piece of good news you heard from others.

You should say:

What it was?
When you received this news?
How you received this news?
Why you feel it was a good news?

11.Describe a place where there was a lot of noise.

You should say:

When this happened?
Where it was?
Why there was a lot of noise?
Explain what you did when you heard the noise?

12.Describe something you taught to your friend/relative.

You should say:

What you taught him/her?
When it was?
How long it was for?
And explain how you felt about it.

13.Describe your experience when you changed your school/college” or Describe an experience about moving to a new school or house/ Describe your first day at school

You should say:

Why did you change your school/college?

When was it?

Was that helpful?

What were the consequences after that?

14.Describe a place/ country in which you would like to live/ work for a short period of time

You should say:

Where you would like to live/work?
What you want to do there?
When would you like to go there?
Why you want to live there

15.Talk about an interesting old person you met recently

You should say:

Who is this person?
How you met him?
How you know him?
What you do with this person (optional)?
Why you found him interesting?

16.Describe a piece of technology that you find difficult to use.

You should say:

When did you get it?
What did you get it for?
How often do you use it?
How do you feel about it?

17.Describe a historical period you would like to know more about.

You should say:

What period do you want to know about?
Why do you want to know about it?
How do you think you can know about it?

18.Describe an unusual meal that you had.

You should say:

When did you eat it?
Where did you eat it??
With whom you had the meal?
Why do you think it was unusual?

19.Describe an achievement/success you are proud of.

You should say:

What you did?
When did you do it?
How did you feel about it?
Why did that achievement make you proud?

20.Talk about a thing you complained about something but finally got a good result.

You should say:

What did you complain about?
Who you complained to?
When it happened?
What was the result and why you were satisfied with the result?

21.Describe when someone gave you something you really wanted /a gift your received.

You should say:

Who gave it to you?
What was the thing?
When you received it?
Why you needed it?
How you felt about it?

22.Describe a development in your country like shopping centre, park etcetera.

You should say:

What is the development?
When did you hear about it?
How did it influence you?

23.Describe a development in your country like shopping centre, park etcetera.

You should say:

What is the development?
When did you hear about it?
How did it influence you?

24.Describe a person you met at a party and enjoyed a conversation with.

You should say

Who was the person?
What topics did you discuss?
How did you feel?

25.Describe an area in your home where you feel relaxed.

You should say:

In which area/room do you feel relaxed?
Why do you feel relaxed there?
What do you do to feel relaxed?

26.Describe a situation when you enjoyed free time/ Describe something you did in your spare time during childhood

You should say:

When it was?
Where you were?
What you did?
How you felt about it?

27.Describe a course that you want to learn / study you would like to do in future.

You should say:

What this course is?
When you want to learn it?
Where you can learn it?
And explain why you want to learn it?

28.Describe a character from a movie.

You should say:

Who is this character?
When did you watch the movie?
What was the character?

29.Describe an English class/lesson that you enjoyed.

You should say:

What was taught in the class?(Past Tense)
When did you take the class?(Past Tense)
Where it was?(Past Tense)
What did the teacher do that made you enjoy it?(Past Tense)

30.Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded.

You should say:

What it was?(Past Tense)
How did you complete it?(Past Tense)
Why it was difficult?(Past Tense)
And how you felt about doing it?(Past Tense)

31.Describe an object you find particularly beautiful (For example, a painting, sculpture, piece of jewellery/furniture, etc.).

You should say:

Where the artwork/object is?(Present Tense)
How it was made?(Past Tense)
What it looks like?(Present Tense)
And explain why you find it particularly beautiful?(Present Tense)

32.Describe a time you used your cellphone/smartphone to do something important.

You should say:

What happened?(Past Tense)
When it happened?(Past Tense)
How important the cellphone/smartphone was?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt about the experience?(Past Tense)

33.Describe an important thing you learned, not at school or college.

You should say:

When did you learn it?(Past Tense)
How did you learn it?(Past Tense)
Why did you think it was important to learn it?(Past Tense)
How you felt when you learnt it?(Past Tense)

34.Describe something that surprised you and made you happy.

You should say:

What it was?(Past Tense)
Who did this?(Past Tense)
How you found out about it and what you did?(Past Tense)
And explain why it surprised you and made you happy?(Past Tense)

35.Describe a photo that you are proud of.

You should say:

When did you take this photo? (Past Tense)
What is the photo about?(Present Tense)
Why you feel proud of the photo?(Present Tense)

36.Describe a problem you had while shopping online or in a store.

You should say:

When it happened?(Past Tense)
What you bought?(Past Tense)
What problem you had?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt about the experience.(Past Tense)

37.Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste (e.g. in a park, on the beach, etc.).

You should say:

Where and when you saw the plastic waste?(Past Tense)
Why there was a lot of plastic waste?(Past Tense)
What you did do after you saw it?(Past Tense)
And explain what your thoughts were about this.(Past Tense)

38.Describe a time when you needed to search for information.

You should say:

What information you needed to search for?(Past Tense)
When you searched for it?(Past Tense)
Where you searched for it?(Past Tense)
And explain why you needed to search for it.(Past Tense)

39.Describe a person you know who is from a different culture.

You should say:

Who he/she is?(Present Tense)
Where he/she is from?(Present Tense)
How you knew him/her?(Past Tense)
And explain how you feel about him/her.(Present Tense)

40.Describe a time you made a decision to wait for something.

You should say:

When it happened?(Past Tense)
What you waited for?(Past Tense)
Why you made the decision?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt while waiting.(Past Tense)

41.Describe a time when you received money as a gift.

You should say:

When did you receive it? (Past Tense)
What did you do with it? (Past Tense)
How did you feel about it?(Past Tense)

42.Talk about a TV show you like to watch.

You should say:

What is the program about?(Present Tense)
When do you watch it?(Present Tense)
Who do you watch it with?(Present Tense)
Why do you like to watch it?(Present Tense)

43.Describe a person who you believe dresses well.

You should say:

Who this person is?(Present Tense)
What kind of dresses he/she wears?(Present Tense)
How do you know him/her?(Present Tense)

44.Describe a person who likes to grow plants.

You should say:

Who the person is?(Present Tense)
How do you know the person?(Present Tense)
What types of plants does he/she grow? (Present Tense)
Why does he/she grow plants?(Present Tense)

45.Describe a time you had a disagreement with someone.

You should say:

Who was the person?(Past Tense)
Why did you have the disagreement ?(Past Tense)
Was the issue resolved? If yes, how?(Past Tense)

46.Describe a house/apartment that someone you know lives in.

You should say:

Whose house/apartment this is?(Present Tense)
Where the house/apartment is?(Present Tense)
What it looks like inside?(Present Tense)
And explain what you like or dislike about this person’s house/apartment?(Present Tense)

47.Describe a place where you go to do outdoor activities or play a sport.

You should say:

Where is it located?(Present Tense)
What activities you can do at this place?(Present Tense)
How often do you go there?(Present Tense)
Why do you like this place?(Present Tense)

48.Describe a city you would recommend as a nice place to live (not your hometown).

You should say:

What it is?(Present Tense)
Where it is?(Present Tense)
What you know about this place?(Present Tense)
And explain why you recommend it as a nice place.(Present Tense)

49.Describe a time when someone asked for your opinion.

You should say:

Who asked for your opinion?(Past Tense)
Why he/she wanted to know your opinion?(Past Tense)
What opinion you gave?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt when he/she asked for your opinion.(Past Tense)

50.Describe a time when you missed an appointment.

You should say:
When and where it happened?(Past Tense)
What the appointment was for?(Past Tense)
What happened when you missed it?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt about the appointment?(Past Tense)

51.Describe a time you were busy.

You should say:

When did it happen?(Past Tense)
Where were you?(Past Tense)
What did you do?(Past Tense)
And explain why you were that busy?(Past Tense)

52.Describe a childhood friend.

You should say:

Who this person is?(Present Tense)
How you became friends with this person?(Past Tense)
What kinds of things you like to do with this person?(Present Tense)
Explain why you like him/her.(Present Tense)

53.Describe a time when you shared something with others

You should say
What you shared?(Past Tense)
Who you shared with?(Past Tense)
Why you shared it?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt about sharing it?(Past Tense)

54.Describe a story or a novel that was particularly interesting to you.

You should say:

What story or the novel was?(Past Tense)
Where you came to know about it?(Past Tense)
When you read it?(Past Tense)
Explain how you felt about it?(Past Tense)

55.Describe a movie you would like to watch again.

You should say:

When you saw this movie?(Past Tense)
With whom you saw this movie?(Past Tense)
What the movie is about?(Present Tense)
Why do you want to watch this movie again?(Past Tense)

56.Describe a time when you were stuck in a traffic jam.

You should say:

When and where it happened?(Past Tense)
How long you were in the traffic jam?(Past Tense)
What you did while waiting?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt when you were in that traffic jam.(Past Tense)

57.Describe an invention that has changed how people live.

You should say:

What it is?(Present Tense)
How has it changed people’s lives?(Present Tense)
What benefits did it bring?(Past Tense)
And explain if it is more important for older or younger people.(Present Tense)

58.Describe a family member whom you would like to work with in the future.

You should say:

Who the person is?(Present Tense)
Have you ever worked with the person before?(Past Tense)
What kinds of work you would like to do with the person?(Future Tense)
And explain how you will feel if you can finally work together.(Future Tense)

59.Talk about an important river or lake in your country or hometown.

You should say:

What it is?(Present Tense)
How has it changed people’s lives?(Present Tense)
What benefits did it bring?(Past Tense)
And explain if it is more important for older or younger people.(Present Tense)

60.Talk about a traditional object of your country or Talk about a traditional product of your country that you bought.

You should say:

What is it?(Present Tense)
How is it made?(Present Tense)
When did you try it for the first time?(Past Tense)
Why do you like it?(Present Tense)

61.Describe a positive change in your life.

You should say:

What the change was?(Past Tense)
When it happened?(Past Tense)
How it happened?(Past Tense)
And explain why it was a positive change.(Past Tense)

62.Talk about an important/Special event you celebrated.

You should say:

What was it?(Past Tense)
When did you celebrate?(Past Tense)
Where did you celebrate?(Past Tense)
Who was with you?(Past Tense)
Why was It special?(Past Tense)

63.Describe a time when you observed stars.

You should say:

When you observed the stars?(Past Tense)
Where and with whom you went with?(Past Tense)
What you observed?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt when you saw the stars.(Past Tense)

64.Describe a plant, vegetable or crop that you are familiar with.

You should say:

What it is and where it grows?(Present Tense)
How you became familiar with it?(Past Tense)
What you like or dislike about it?(Present Tense)
And explain why this is important for your country.(Present Tense)

65.Describe a friend you like to talk with

You should say:

Who he is?

What you like to talk about?

Why do you like to talk with him?

And explain how you feel about him.

66.Describe an interesting neighbour

You should say:

How long you have known this neighbour?(Present Tense)
What sort of person he/she is?(Present Tense)
How often you see him/her?(Present Tense)
And explain what kind of relationship you have with him/her OR explain why you consider this person to be an interesting neighbour?(Present Tense)

67.Describe a competition you would like to take part in.

You should say:

What kind of competition it is?(Present Tense)
What would you do in this competition?(Future Tense)
Why does this competition interest you?(Present Tense)

68.Talk about a special day which was not that expensive or on which you didn’t have to spend a lot of money.

You should say:

What was the occasion?(Past Tense)
Where you went?(Past Tense)
Who did you celebrate with?(Past Tense)
Why it didn’t cost you much?(Past Tense)

69.Descirbe something that helps you concentrate.

You should say:

What it is?(Present Tense)
When you do it?(Present Tense)
How did you learn about it?(Past Tense)
How it helps you concentrate?(Present Tense)

70.Describe an activity you do to keep fit.

You should say:

What the activity is?(Present Tense)
When and where you usually do it?(Present Tense)
How you do it?(Present Tense)
Explain why it can keep your fit?(Present Tense)

71.Describe something that saves your time.

You should say:

What it is?(Present Tense)
When you usually do it?(Present Tense)
Why do you do it?(Present Tense)
And explain why you think it saves your time.(Present Tense)

72.Describe something important that you lost.

You should say:

What it was?(Past Tense)
How you lost it?(Past Tense)
Why was it important to you?(Past Tense)
How you felt when you lost it?(Past Tense)

73.Describe an interesting thing you have learned from a foreign culture.

You should say:

What it is?(Present Tense)
How you learnt it?(Past Tense)
Why you learnt it?(Past Tense)
and explain how you think it will help others?(Future Tense)

74.Describe an occasion when you got positive feedback for work that you did.

You should say:

What you did?(Past Tense)

When was it?(Past Tense)
Why you got positive feedback?(Past Tense)
How you felt about it?(Past Tense)

75.Describe a quiet place you like to spend your time in.

You should say
Where it is?(Present Tense)
How you knew it?(Past Tense)
How often you go there?(Present Tense)
What you do there?(Present Tense)
And explain why you like the place?(Present Tense)

76.Describe a popular/well-known person in your country.

You should say:

Who this person is?(Present Tense)
What he/she has done?(Present Tense)
Why he/she is popular?(Present Tense)
And explain how you feel about this person?(Present Tense)

77.Describe a time when you helped a child.

You should say:

When it was?(Past Tense)
How you helped him/her?(Past Tense)
Why you helped him/her?(Past Tense)
And how you felt about it?(Past Tense)

78.Describe Something That Surprised You

You should say

What it was?
Who did this?
How you found out about it and what you did?
And explain why it surprised you and made you happy?

79.Describe an occasion when you lost something.

You should say:

What you lost?(Past Tense)
When and where you lost it?(Past Tense)
What you did to find it?(Past Tense)
And explain how you felt about it?(Past Tense)

80.Describe a creative person whose work you admire.

You should say
Who he/she is?(Present Tense)
How do you know him/her?(Present Tense)

What creative things he/she has done?(Present Tense)
And explain why you think he or she is creative?(Present Tense)

81.Describe a Difficult Decision that You Made

You should say:

What the decision was?
When you made the decision?
How long did it take you to make the decision?
And explain why it was a difficult decision to make?

82.Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired.

You should say:
What it is?(Present Tense)
How it was broken?(Past Tense)
How you got it repaired?(Past Tense)
And how you felt about it?(Past Tense)

83.Describe an ambition that you haven’t achieved.

You should say:
What it is?(Present Tense)
Why you haven’t achieved it?(Present Tense)
What you did?(Past Tense)
And how you felt about it?(Past Tense)

84.Describe a time when you organized a happy event successfully.

You should say:
What the event was?(Past Tense)
How you prepared for it?(Past Tense)
Who helped you to organize it?(Past Tense)
And explain why you think it was a successful event?(Past Tense)

85.Describe something you received for free.

You should say:
What it was?(Past Tense)
Who you received it from?(Past Tense)
Where you received it?(Past Tense)
And how you felt about it?(Past Tense)

86.Describe a famous person that you are interested in

You should say
Who this person is?(Present Tense)
How you know about this person?(Present Tense)
What sort of life they had before they became famous?(Past Tense)
How this person became famous?(Past Tense)
And explain why you like this person?

87.Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood.

You should say:
What was the toy?(Past Tense)
Who gave it to you?(Past Tense)
How often did you play with it?(Past Tense)

88.Describe a time you moved to a new home/school.

You should say
When you moved?(Past Tense)
Why you moved?(Past Tense)
Where you moved?(Past Tense)
How you felt about it?(Past Tense)

85.Describe a person you only met once and want to know more about

You should say:
Who he/she is?(Present Tense)
When you met him/her?(Past Tense)
Why do you want to know more about him/her?
And explain how you feel about him/her?

86.Describe a resolution you made in the new year

You should say:

What is the resolution?(Present Tense)
How will you complete it?(Future Tense)
How you feel about it?(Present Tense)
Why you made this resolution?(Past Tense)

Other Important Cue Card

1.Describe a joke that made you laugh

You should say:

Who told you joke?
When and Where?
What the joke was?
Why did you find it interesting?

2.Describe an occasion when you walked barefoot for long hours

You should say:

When it was?
Where it was?
Why did you walk without shoes?
How did you feel about it?

3.Describe a mobile phone application you used to learn a new skill

You should say

What is it?
When did you use it for the first time?
How it helped you?
How do you feel about it?

4.Describe a park which has changed a lot in recent years

You should say:

Where it is?
When did you visit it for the first time?
What changes have happened
Are these changes good or bad?

5.Describe a time when you decorated your home

You should say

When was it?
Why you decorated it?
What did you do for decoration?
How did you feel about it?

6.Describe a Popular Place for Sports

You should say

Where it is?
When you went there?
What you did there?
And explain how you felt about this place.

7.Describe a Flower you received as a Gift

You should say:

When was it?
Why was it gifted?

8.Describe an occasion when someone said something positive about your work

You should say

who the person was

what the positive comment was

how you reacted to the comment

and explain how you felt about it.

9.Describe a time when you had a bad experience with your teacher

You should say:

When it was?
What type of meeting it was?

10.Describe a meeting in which you were a speaker

You should say:

When it was?
What type of meeting it was?

11.Describe an interesting tv program about science

You should say:

What science topic this TV programme was about?

When did you see this TV programme?

What did you learn from this TV programme about a science topic?

And explain why you found this TV programme interesting.?

12.Describe a Rule you like to Follow

You should say:

What it is?
Why do you like it?

13.Describe a Bad Weather Experience

You should say:

What sort of bad weather it was?

When did it happen?

Where you were then?

14.Describe your Favorite Beverage

You should say:

What it is?
Do you buy it or prepare it at home?
And explain why this is your favourite drink.

15.Describe an International Problem

You should say:

What it is?

What are the effects of this problem?

What are the causes of this problem?

16.Describe a time when you invested money and got good returns

You should say:

When was it?
Where you invested?
How much return did you get?
How did you feel about it?

17.Describe a time when you used headphones for long hours

You should say:

When was it? and Where was it?
Why did you use headphones?
How was the experience
How did you feel about it?

18.Describe a time when you provided support to an animal

You should say:

When and where did you provide support?
What support did you provide?
How did you feel about it?

19.Describe a time when you studied at your friend’s home for an exam IELTS Cue

You should say:

In which area/room do you feel relaxed

Why do you feel relaxed there

What do you do to feel relaxed

20.Describe a place which you showed to a foreigner in your hometown

You should say:

When was it?
What did you show him?
Why did he like it?

21.Describe a time when you took a break from work/study

You should say:

When was it?
Why you took a break?
What did you do during that time?
Why did you like/dislike it?

22.Describe something that you lost in a public place

You should say:
What did you lose?
How you lost it?
Where you lost it?
And explain how you felt about it.

23.Describe a food court you know

You should say:

Where it is?

What types of food does it offer?

How often do you visit it?

What it looks like?

24.Talk about a Tv series you remember

You should say:
Talk about a Tv series you remember
What series is it?
Who are the characters?
What do you like/dislike about it?

25.Describe something which cannot be learned at school

You should say:

What the skill is?
Why it cannot be learned at school?
Why it is important?
How can we learn it?

26.Describe a Person who Works on Space Exploration

You should say:

Who the person is?
How you know about him/her?
What exactly he/her does?
How do you feel about it?

27.Describe a lesson you learnt

You should say:

What it was?
What exactly happened?
What lesson did you learn?

28.Describe a Musical Instrument that you Learnt/Play

You should say:

What is the name of the instrument?
How it works?
How you learnt it?
And why it is your favourite?

29.Describe a Tourist Attraction of your Country

You should say:

What this attraction is?
Where it is located?
When and why you visited there?
And did you like it?

30.Describe a Friend Whose Talks You Find Interesting

You should say:

What is the name of the friend?
What he talks about?
Why his talks are interesting?

31.Talk about a recent outing you had

You should say:

Where you went

Who was there with you

What you did

and explain why you remember this outing.

32.Describe a time when you did running

You should say:

When was it?

Where was it?

How challenging was it?

How did you feel about it?

33.Describe a time when you did a lengthy calculation without using a calculator

You should say:

When was it?

Where was it?

How did you?

How did you feel about it?

34.Describe the international music you like

You should say:

What is it?

When did you listen to it for the first time?

Why do you like it?

35.Describe a water sport that you find challenging to try

You should say:

What is it?

How is it done?

Why do you think it is difficult?

36.Describe a Science class you enjoyed

You should say:

When was it?
Where was it?
What was taught in the class?
Why did you like it?

37.Describe the place of great scenic beauty that you recently visited

You should say:

What place did you visit?
When did you visit it?
What did you see?
Why did you like it?

38.Describe a situation when you laughed at the wrong moment

You should say:

When was it?

Where was it?

Why did you laugh?

Why was it the wrong moment to laugh?

39.Describe an occasion when you spent time by yourself

You should say:

When was it?

Where was it?

Why were you alone?

What did you do?

How did you feel about it?

40.Describe your favourite number

You should say:

What number it is?
When did it become your favourite?
Why do you like it?

Top ten issues students face while speaking cue card

The IELTS Cue Card is an integral part of the IELTS speaking test. In this task, the test-taker must speak on a topic for 1 to 2 minutes. Below are the issues that students might encounter while preparing for the IELTS Cue Card:

Topic Selection: Students might need help selecting a suitable topic on which they could speak. It is usually a daunting task to choose an exciting and relevant topic.
Time Management: The students must speak on The IELTS Cue Card for 1 to 2 minutes. Students may need help planning their time and usually, stop in between and talk only for part of the period.
Vocabulary: To have a decent score on The IELTS Cue Card, the students must use a range of language to communicate their viewpoints. Students often need help picking the right words to express their views efficiently.
Pronunciation: A good score in IELTS Cue Card thrives primarily on pronunciation. Numerous students need help with pronunciation and need help to convey their viewpoints efficiently.
Fluency: Many students speak intermittently and must maintain the flow to speak fluently. Due to this, they need more cohesion, making it easier for the listener to decipher the central idea of the answer.
Grammar: Grammar has enormous significance in the IELTS Speaking test. Students find it challenging to frame grammatically flawless sentences, which often decline their scores.
Confidence: Speaking in the actual test requires a boatload of confidence. Many students lose confidence and exhibit nervousness or anxiety during speaking.
Cultural Differences: Students from divergent cultures may need help deciphering the topic or showcasing their views in a culturally apt way.
Lack of Practice: Students must undergo rigorous practice while preparing for IELTS Cue Cars—those who refrain from indulging in regular practice struggle to speak fluently and confidently during the test.
Misunderstanding Instructions: Students may need to draw correct inferences from the instructions or the requirements of the IELTS Cue Card. It usually leads to the selection of inappropriate topics, due to which the student loses the task response.

How to frame a cue card?

For some students preparing for cue cards is a daunting task, and according to them, they
can’t speak on any random topic for one to two minutes. From the outside, it seems
challenging, but when you dig deep, you realize that it is not an uphill task.
The only issue which could make you miss the target is a lack of preparation. The students
must leave no stone unturned to prepare for speaking tasks with determination, dedication
and discipline. Their central focus should be on framing the correct answers for questions in
the guesswork. The probable list contains about 80-90 cue cards

An IELTS student gets 1 minute to prepare for a cue card in speaking test part 2.

The candidates have numerous doubts regarding the effective use of this time.

In reality, the IELTS Speaking cue card is a daunting task for most students as they have to speak on a topic for 1 to 2 minutes.No doubt they get one minute for preparation, but test seekers usually do not plan to outline the content for speaking.

Due to this reason, working according to a plan is a prudent approach to passing your IELTS speaking test with flying colours.

The test seeker must not leave any stone unturned to use the 1 minute time by quickly garnering ideas on the given Cue Card topic. The first and foremost step is to draw a list of relevant keywords that you can use effectively in your speaking test.

After that, outline the content you would like to use for your cue card, and it is advisable to quote any personal experience because that helps you to frame the sentences easily. Although one minute seems to be less time to make bullet points for the cue card, with planning, students can do that with tremendous ease.

When students have enough ideas for 80-90 topics of cur card, then they can handle any
question with tremendous ease. There is no denying this conviction that practice is the key,
and by doing regular speaking drills, a learner can expect a paradigm shift in her/her
performance.
The best way to prepare for IELTS speaking is to work under the aegis of a seasoned
trainer. Many learners try to learn on their own: however, that is an imprudent approach
because students require the unabated support of teachers to correct their mistakes. In case
the help of a coach is not available, getting input from some senior who is good at the
The English language is a worthwhile proposition

Tips to crack IELTS Speaking with flying colours

Greet the examiner with a vibrant smile on your face. It is intuitively true that a smile improves our face value. Moreover, it brings enthusiasm and an optimistic attitude. The positivity we have is contagious, and we transfer it to whosoever we meet. Therefore, it is vital to greet the examiner with a smiling face.

Wait for the examiner to tell you to sit. Waiting for the examiner to say you to seat yourself is a prudent approach. Once the interviewer invites you, sit firmly and slide back in the chair instead of resting on the edge.
Sit with a good posture and maintain eye-to-eye contact. There is no denying this conviction that our body language plays a pivotal role in creating a good impression in the interviewer’s mind. Therefore we need to be mindful of our posture, and we should have proper eye-to-eye contact with the examiner. These small steps lead to a colossal impact and help us get the desired score.
Speak naturally, and do not try a fake Kentucky accent. Speak naturally, and do not try a fake Kentucky accent. A few students have this uncanny knack for using a fake accent while taking their IELTS speaking test. They think that going beyond the conventional domain would help them pass the interview with flying colours. To their dismay, this is incorrect. We should speak with our natural accent to create a good impression in the examiner’s mind.

Do not give answers in plain yes or no. Leave no stone unturned to provide lengthy answers. Most students tend to answer in plain yes or no. It seems easy but ineffective practice because it irritates the examiner. While replying, you need to elaborate on your stand, as it helps the interviewer to assess you properly.
Understand the questions before replying. It is worthwhile to listen to the question attentively. Many students complain of getting low scores despite giving their best performance. The prominent reason for this is improper task response.
You should pay heed to what the examiner asks and try to understand the question by carefully listening to the words between the lines. A misunderstanding could make you give a wrong reply which could directly affect your score.

For cue cards, make prudent use of the one minute available for the preparation.

For preparation for the cue card topic, the examiner provides one minute to the students. Making judicious use of that time is a must-have to score good marks. The best technique the students can adopt is to draw a mind map.

Although the student has to keep eye-to-eye contact with the examiner, occasional glances at the mind map are advisable. It helps the candidates to speak with the flow.

Do not stop in between the cue card. Wait for the examiner to stop you. In the IELTS speaking test, you should have enough content to express your ideas. And when you stop in between, you fail on task response, and the examiner can deduct marks for this lapse. Therefore it is advisable to wait for the examiner to interrupt you.

Do not focus on what the examiner writes on his/her paper because that would hamper your concentration. While taking your IELTS speaking test, your central focus must be listening to the questions carefully and giving appropriate answers. The examiners, in between, write your assessment in their papers. It would be best to refrain from peeping into the examiner’s papers. That is often considered terrible behaviour on your part.
Stay on the topic. Like the IELTS writing test, coherence and cohesion are significant parameters in the speaking test. Therefore, it is imperative to stay on the topic: however, there is no harm in giving a background story.

Checklist for cue card preparation during the exam

1. Identify the tenses for all questions.

A cue card is a set of questions asked in different tenses. It is worthwhile to look at all the questions carefully so that you answer the question as per the protocol. A slight change in the tense structure could make you lose points on the Task Response” and jeopardize your overall score.

For example, look at the below cue card topic.

“Describe your favourite number.“

What number is it?

When did it become your favourite?

Why do you like it?”

In this topic, the 2nd question is in the past tense, and the rest are in the present tense, so considering this point while answering is a wise approach.

2. Make an outline

In the second step, frame an outline to cover all the points in two minutes. The best way is to cover all questions in one minute and utilize the last minute for answering the cue card topic. In this case, if the examiner is convinced with your answers, she may tell you to stop after one minute.

3. Write a few vocabulary words

It is unequivocal to say that good vocabulary plays a pivotal role in enhancing your IELTS speaking score. Before beginning the cue card, it is worthwhile to write a few relevant vocabulary words on the sheet so you can use them adroitly while delivering your answer. For example, if the cue card is about rain, you can write “Torrential rain” or “Intermittent Rain,” depending upon your answer.

4. Frame a good introduction

Giving an effective introduction to your cue card answer serves two purposes. Firstly, it creates a good impression in the examiner’s mind, and secondly, it empowers you to speak for two minutes with tremendous ease. Therefore framing a good introduction is a must-have to pass your speaking test with flying colours.

5. Carry a smile on your face.

Although exams are always stressful, it is vital to carry a smile on your face for your speaking test because it is contagious and creates positive vibes for the examiner.

Tips to score well in the IELTS Speaking Test

There are several points that you need to keep in consideration to improve your score on the IELTS speaking test:

Practice: You will become comfortable and confident with rigorous training in speaking English. To achieve this, you must practice speaking with native English speakers or utilize language learning applications or blogs to communicate effectively with other learners.
Acquire new vocabulary: It is a fact that the more vocabulary you know, the more quickly you can frame and exhibit your ideas. Leave no stone unturned to get familiar with new words and phrases regularly.
Work on your pronunciation: Good pronunciation is vital for effective communication. You can work on your pronunciation by listening to podcasts of native speakers and following them.
Use good grammar: Flawless grammar is a must-have for creating an excellent first impression in the examiner’s mind. Make earnest efforts to learn correct verb tenses, sentence structure, and word order.
Do adequate preparation for the test: It is unequivocal to say that familiarizing yourself with the structure and content of the IELTS speaking test is of utmost importance. Revising the frequently asked questions is a prudent approach.
Speak with confidence: It is gospel truth that having faith is key to success in the IELTS speaking test. The best way to build it is to practice speaking in a group and stay calm and relaxed during the interview so you can handle all the questions adroitly.

Frequently asked questions about IELTS cue cards:

1. What are IELTS cue cards?

IELTS cue cards are the second part of the IELTS Speaking test. During the cue card task, the examiner gives a topic and asks the student to speak on that for 1-2 minutes. The interviewer provides the interviewer with a prompt card having the topic mentioned on it, and the candidates have to prepare their responses by utilizing the information provided on the prompt card.

2. How many cue cards are there in the IELTS Speaking test?

The student gets only one cue card task on which they must speak in the IELTS Speaking test. The personal interview occurs before the cue card.

3. What topics are covered in the IELTS cue cards?

The topics covered in the IELTS cue cards are general ones from our day-to-day lives, such as Describing your favourite celebrity. The central focus of the examiner is to test your potential to speak on a wide range of topics in the English language.

4. How do I prepare for the IELTS cue cards?

The first and foremost thing is to engage in rigorous speaking practice covering various topics. You can also go through specific issues, usually in the IELTS cue cards, such as your school, workplace, interests, and friends.

5. How much time do I have to prepare for the IELTS cue cards?

The examiner gives you 1 minute to frame your answer to the IELTS cue card. The prudent approach during that time is to look closely at the prompt card and make bullet points about what you wish to cover. Use this time wisely to structure your thoughts, speak your response, and pass the test with flying colours.

Latest Cue Cards Jan to Apr 2023

Latest Cue cards Jan to Apr 2023 complete questions.

Other Important Cue Card

Top ten issues students face while speaking cue card

How to frame a cue card?

Tips to crack IELTS Speaking with flying colours

Checklist for cue card preparation during the exam

Tips to score well in the IELTS Speaking Test

Frequently asked questions about IELTS cue cards:

Other important links