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 May 2023 to September 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 Jan to Apr 2023.

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.

Why do test seekers find it challenging to speak on the Cue Card topic for two minutes?

Numerous IELTS takers find it formidable to speak on the cue card for 2 minutes because it requires them to think fast, arrange their views, and sustain coherence and fluency throughout their address. Here are a few causes why this assignment can be challenging:

Time Pressure: There is no denying this conviction that two minutes may appear short, though constantly speaking without breaks or indecisions can feel like a lengthy period. The stress of communicating within a precise time limit can make some test-takers feel nervous or rushed, impacting their capacity to represent themselves.
Lack of Preparation: The test seekers get the cue card topic only a few seconds before they begin speaking. This limited time for preparation can make it tough to assemble thoughts, develop ideas, and arrange them coherently. With sufficient practice, test-takers may load the entire two minutes with appropriate and thorough info.
Limited Vocabulary: Some test-takers may need help locating the right words or phrases to convey their opinions. When they do not have vocabulary related to the assigned topic or are uncertain about word usage and pronunciation, it can inhibit their ability to communicate fluently and confidently for the whole duration.
Nervousness and Anxiety: Speaking in a test atmosphere, particularly under timed situations, can lead to apprehension and fear. Test-takers may feel self-conscious, concerned about making errors, or worried about being evaluated by the examiner. These emotions can impact their fluency, coherence, and all-around performance.

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 to select 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.