Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test
The full IELTS Speaking Test takes 11 to 14 minutes.
In today’s free materials we will look at Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test. You will need to show ability to speak at length on a specific topic, and use appropriate language and grammar. Your ideas should be presented in a logical way.
Part 2: Individual Long Turn
In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test, the examiner will give you a Topic Card and will ask you to talk about the topic on the card for one to two minutes. You should aim to talk for the full 2 minutes!
The topic card will be handed to you, and you will also be given a piece of paper and a pencil for making notes. You will have exactly one minute to prepare and make notes before you speak. The examiner will use a timer and will tell you when your time is up.
On the card, you will see the main topic and some related points you can cover in your talk. These extra points help you to expand your answer and talk for the required length of time.
The examiner will tell you when to start your talk and will remind you that they will stop you after 2 minutes.
The examiner may also ask you a question about what you have said before moving on to Part 3.
Example Topic Cards for Part 2
The Topic Cards used in Part 2 cover a wide range of subjects. A few examples follow to give you an idea of how the cards are structured.
Example 1
Describe a crowded place you’ve been to
You should say:
when you went there
where the place is or was
who you went there with
and explain how you felt about the place.
Example 2
Describe an interesting animal you have seen
You should say:
what animal it was
when and where you saw it
who you were with
and explain how you feel about this animal.
Example 3
Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with
You should say:
who this person is
what you usually do together
what kind of person he/she is
and explain why you spend a lot of time with him/her.
Note:
As mentioned earlier, it is very important to try to talk for the full to minutes! It is best to say as much as you can about each part of the Topic Card.
If you can talk for two minutes and the IELTS examiner needs to signal you should stop talking, this is a good thing!
It’s a good idea to base your answer on personal experience as this familiarity should give you more confidence when talking but don’t be afraid to use your imagination!
You can also talk about information that isn’t covered by the prompts on the card to expand your answer. For example, our example Topic Card 1 asks you to describe a crowded place you have been to, but you can extend your answer to say something like “…but actually I prefer peaceful places. The best place I have ever been to was a secluded beach in Vietnam. I loved it because…’ or “I haven’t been to New York yet, but would love to go there one day to experience its vibrant culture. I would really like to visit…”
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