How to Answer IELTS Speaking Part 2?

IELTS Speaking part 2, also known as cue card requires candidates to discuss a given topic for 1-2 minutes. These topics are mostly familiar and associated with everyday knowledge. The task here is to be fluent with English and choosing the appropriate words with correct grammatical representation and sentence construction. Students are graded based on the mentioned parameters.

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IELTS Speaking Test Format

In the IELTS speaking part 2 test, the topic can be on anything, and you have one minute to prepare, including taking notes if required. The examiner will allow two to three minutes of speaking and then ask you a broad follow-up question on the topic, which should be answered briefly. This article will explain the approaches for answering Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, as well as provide three Band 9.0 sample answers.

Thinking before Talking in IELTS Speaking 

Once you are provided with a question, you will be provided one minute time to think about and make notes on the IELTS Speaking topic. This is important so that you can note the important points to speak on. If you think and talk at the same time, it might cause grammatical errors and you might run out of words at one point. You should concentrate on the IELTS speaking questions part 2 keywords and then start answering. This will help to summarize the topic and then speak on IELTS speaking part 2 questions and answers.

Question 1: Describe a favourite store/shop of yours.

Mention the following in your presentation:

• Where the shop is
• What the shop specializes in
• Why you like to shop there

Make the notes of:

• Where the shop is - Location (Near my house), Name of the shop etc.
• What the shop specializes in - What is sold in the shop, anything related to the product, where it is made etc.
• Why you like to shop there - Speak about some positive points about the shop, its employees.

Read More IELTS Speaking Related Articles

• Describe a Difficult Thing You Did Cue Card
• Interesting Conversation Cue Card
• Describe A Time When You Felt Proud Of A Family Member Cue Card
• Describe a Minor Accident that you had in the Past Cue Card
• Describe Something you Received for Free Cue Card
• Describe a Resolution you Made in The New Year Cue Card
• Describe a Crop You are Familiar With Cue Card
• Person You Met Only Once and Want To Know More About Cue Card
• Describe a Crime You Involved In Cue Card
• Describe an Interesting House or Apartment You Visited Cue Card
• Describe a Time you Received a Call from Someone you Do Not Know Cue Card
• Describe an Item You Would Buy if You Receive a Lot of Money Cue Card
• Describe a Time when you Saved Money for Something Cue Card
• Describe a Time you Taught Something New to a Younger One Cue Card
• Describe a Comic Actor Who Is Popular In Your Country Cue Card
• Describe an Event when Someone Denied your Request Cue Card
• Describe a Person Who Once Moved to Live With You Cue Card
• Describe a leader in your country whom you like Cue Card
• Describe an Outdoor Sport you Played for the First Time Cue Card
• Describe a Person You Wanted To Be Similar to When You Were Growing Up Cue Card

Opening Sentence in IELTS Speaking Test

It is very important to speak a good opening sentence in IELTS speaking topics part 2 as it creates a good impression on the examiner. You need to feel confident while talking about the topic. Some good opening statements are

1. Start the sentence with “Well, there are _______
2. I would like to ________
3. In context to the provided topic, I would like to _________

A good opening statement will have a genuinely good impression on the examiner. This will help to get a good band score. After the opening sentence, continue speaking about the passage. These passages are also known as IELTS Speaking Cue Cards.

Paraphrasing in IELTS speaking Test 

Using the same words that were provided in the IELTS speaking questions part 2 might create a negative impression. Hence, use your own words and phrasing the sentence. This shows the examiner that you have your own vocabulary of words. As vocabulary plays a very important role in grading, it will be of additional help in terms of the IELTS Speaking score.

Talk In IELTS SpeakingTest 

It is important not to worry about the time In IELTS Speaking part 2 and keep talking on the topic provided. Do not stop in the middle of the sentence if the time is already up. The examiner will ask you to stop. Please keep in mind that if you stop talking before time or till the examiner asks you, this means that you are out of words. This will create a negative impact on the score.

Going Off-Topic in IELTS Speaking Test 

You are suggested not to go off-topic while you are speaking. This is one of the most common mistakes that students make. You need to collect and remember the points that you are going to speak on. Going off-topic will have a negative impact. Also, the emphatic structure of IELTS speaking should be kept in mind.

More Practice for IELTS Speaking Test 

Students appearing for the IELTS speaking part 2 test can and should prepare themselves before the test. As this is related to speaking, the students can pick any topic from IELTS Speaking Test practice papers and start talking about that. You can record yourself and also keep a check on time to understand the time frame you can talk about the topic. You can also watch some videos of the test online before opting for IELTS speaking part 2 and 3 examinations.

Speaking Speed in IELTS Speaking Test 

Do not speak too fast and do not speak too slow. Maintain a natural flow of speaking while you are attending the test. Speaking too fast can affect your pronunciation, and you might be graded down. Speaking too slow will negatively impact your fluency and coherence. The use of discourse markers while answering the question by the examiner is to show one's fluency and cohesion.

Common Mistakes in IELTS Speaking Part 2 

The candidates generally make the following mistakes while answering in IELTS Speaking Part 2:

• Not speaking for at least 1 minute.
• Being Off-topic- Not speaking specifically about the topic being asked.
• Not talking/ speaking at all
• Becoming nervous

These IELTS Speaking Tips will definitely help you to improve your knowledge on IELTS Speaking test 2 and score a good grade in the test. You should read and listen to a wide range of topics in English. This will help you in the preparation for IELTS Speaking Test and also provide confidence while attending IELTS speaking part 2 and 3 examinations.