IELTS Speaking Part 2 Guide and Tips

• The examiner will give you a cue card with the topic on it, alongside a paper and pencil for you to take notes. The topic will be personal experiences. 
• The examiner will instruct you to talk about the topic and include the points that you can cover in your talk.
• The examiner will give you one minute to prepare for your talk, and you can use the paper and pencil given earlier for you to take notes. 
• After one minute, the examiner will ask you to start your talk. You MUST talk for two minutes. You can refer to the notes you have written.
• After two minutes, the examiner will ask you to stop talking and follow-up questions about your talk. 

Just like the other two parts of the IELTS Speaking test, Part 2 will also have the following criteria:

• Pronunciation:
  • Weightage: 25 %
  • What is being evaluated? They are evaluating how natural you sound when you speak.

• Lexical Resource:
  • Weightage: 25%
  • What is being evalated? They want to find out how excellent and appropriate your vocabulary is.

• Fluency and Coherence:
  • Weightage: 25%
  • What is being evalutaed? They want to find out how organized and clear your speech is.

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy:
  • Weightage: 25%
  • What is being evaluated? They are trying to determine how good and accurate your grammar is. 

Here are the most effective phrases and structure of sentences that you can employ in IELTS Speaking Part 2.

• Opening phrases
• Transition Words

1. Opening Phrases 

While it is true that you should not come with a prepared and memorized speech, having a knowledge of the different opening phrases in your talk won’t hurt. Use one (or more) of these and let the examiner know you came prepared and ready. Remember, how you start your speech will determine the flow of your entire talk. 

Examples:

• I must admit…
• On top of that…
• On the other hand…
• At the same time…
• Come to think of it… 

How to Structure Your Speech or Response?

Since the examiner will not ask you questions, at least in the first part of IELTS Speaking Part 2, you must structure your speech so that the examiner will find what they are looking for. Avoid using simple sentences and, as much as possible, use the different conjunctions and connectors to come up with compound and complex sentences. 

Talk about everything necessary there is to know about the topic you have been given by following the structures below.

Wrong Answer: 

"Her name is Cindy. She is my best friend. We have known each other since we were in pre-school. I trust her because she is a logical and smart person. She is concerned about me. She always looks after me."

Correct Answer: 

"The person I want to talk to you about is my best friend, Cindy. She’s a very dear friend of mine and would you believe we have known each other since we were in pre-school?  


Yes, that’s how long we’ve been friends. I always turn to her for advice because she is a very logical and smart person.  

She always knows what to do, and besides, I know she is concerned for my well-being and won’t make me do something I will regret."

Wrong Answer: 

"My favorite movie is ‘A Few Good Men’. It is a drama movie about lawyers. It stars Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson. I watched it when I was in secondary school. My friend told me to watch it. I like it so much because the actors are good."

Correct Answer: 

"Well, there are many movies I could talk about because I’m a movie geek and I love watching great movies, but I prefer to talk about the movie ‘A Few Good Men’.  

It is an old movie as I remember watching it when I was in secondary school. It stars Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson, among others.  

It is a movie about lawyers – how a new and upcoming lawyer was able to win a case by tackling the honesty and integrity of the US Marines.  

I love this movie so much that until now, I still watch it from time to time. I just love how good the plot and the actors in it are, and Jack Nicholson, in particular, was amazing in that court scene."

Wrong Answer: 

"The place in my town that I frequent is the city park. I learned about this place because my parents used to bring me there when I was a kid. My siblings and I usually go to the park. I love going there because it brings childhood memories."

Correct Answer: 

"Let me tell you about the city park in my hometown. It is one of the places that I go to often. It is located in the city’s center and is just a hundred meters away from the church. A lot of people go there, especially on Sundays.  

As a child, my parents would bring us there, after going to church, and we would play for about two to three hours. I have so many fond memories of that place.  

As a child, we used to go there, my parents, my siblings and I, but now that I am older, I go with just my siblings and sometimes, with my friends. We do not play there anymore like we used to, but I enjoy seeing other families and children doing what my family and I used to do."

Wrong Answer: 

"My favorite season is summer. During summer, the weather is hot and a little humid. It is different from winter and all the other seasons because I can do a lot of outdoor activities during summer. I love the summer season because I can go to the beach."

Correct Answer: 

"It would have to be the summer season which is probably every June to August of every year. 

During the summer season, the temperature ranges from about 18ºC to 24ºC, which for me is perfect, not too cold, not too hot. I can say it is different from the other seasons because, unlike winter, I am not limited to just staying at home. I can also wear comfortable clothes and travel during the summer season.

It is indeed my favorite because I am a beach bum, and I love going to the beach a lot, and in fact, my family and I go to the beach at least twice a year.  

Another thing that I love the most about the summer season is I can do a lot of outdoor activities like biking and camping, which are two of my favorite activities."

3. Transition Words

Fluency and coherence (and cohesion) are part of the criteria you will be marked in IELTS Speaking Part 2. Coherence is the connection of concepts in speech or writing, whereas cohesion is an efficient grammatical linking word that makes one’s speech more connected and logical.

If you want your speech to sound coherent, organized, and connected, you should use transition words. These aid in the organization of your response and the demonstration of clear connections between your ideas. They also aid in the efficient transmission of your message, allowing the examiner to understand the logic of your ideas better.

Here are the things that you should focus on when you take down notes as preparation in the IELTS Speaking Part 2:

• Practice brainstorming and note-taking every day before the test: Note-taking is a skill that takes time to be acquired. It is not simply writing. What you write should help you in your two-minute speech. If you practice note-taking every day, you will be more at ease and confident at the test time because you already know what to do and how to use the notes you have written to your advantage. 

• Take down notes in English and not in your native language: Taking down notes in your native language is like shooting yourself in the foot. You will only have two minutes in your speech, and translating (in your mind) what you have written in English will cost you a lot of time. Additionally, it will affect the flow of your thoughts and, eventually, the coherence of your speech. 

• Filter what you write: You will only be given one minute to prepare for your speech, so you need to choose the words you will write. Do not write the draft of your speech! As much as possible, write only nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Ideally, these key words will already be enough to tell a story. 

• Organize your thoughts: This part of the test is devised to assess your ability to speak continuously without assistance or prompting from an examiner. You will not be given a break once the speaking period begins. As a result, your notes should be thorough and show a logical progression from one thought to the next. Because the overall order of your thoughts is so important for this section of the exam, make sure to pay attention to transitions between your sentences. Write ideas down vertically in the order you want to say them while organizing your notes. This will assist you in staying organized. 

• Write some unknown and rare vocabulary that you may be able to use. During this part of the Speaking test, the examiner will not interrupt you unless your two minutes to talk is over. Some candidates have been so engrossed in talking that they ramble on about the topic but failed to use unusual and rare vocabulary that may have improved their band score. Writing these words down on paper will help you remember them. 

• Use visuals: While you will be provided with a pencil and paper to take notes, there are no guidelines on using them. Use tables, charts, or diagrams to map out your concepts if you are a visual learner. A distinctive visual style might assist you in keeping your speech coherent and accessible rather than developing a plain list of major talking points.

Here are the most effective and proven tips and tricks to help you ace the IELTS Speaking Part 2. 

• Make use of the notes that you have written: You are given paper and a pencil for a reason – to look at them and make them as your guide when you talk. It is okay to look at your notes from time to time to make sure that you do not leave out anything important in your talk. That is why you must write down words that will help you deliver an excellent speech. 

• Paraphrase the topic: You can demonstrate your vocabulary and grammar knowledge to the examiner by paraphrasing. For example, the given topic is ‘Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country.’ Do not say ‘A beautiful place to visit in my country is….’ Instead, you can say, ‘One of the most stunning destinations that most people go to in Indonesia is…’ 

Bonus Tips for IELTS Speaking Task 2:

• Stick to the time limit. 
• Cite examples and personal experiences. 
• Use transition words and adaptable phrases. 
• Stick to the point and do not include unrelated topics. 
• Have your sentences in compound and complex sentences. 

The DOs

• Expand your ideas: It is preferable to develop a main idea thoroughly rather than merely express several main ideas and leave them undeveloped. This will enable you to offer more excellent responses while also allowing you to use your time better. The ‘who, what, why, where, and how’ is a wonderful technique to broaden your main ideas when practicing. This will allow you to build your ideas fast and easily and familiarize yourself with the grammar patterns required.

• Vary your intonation patterns: During the IELTS Speaking Part 2, word and sentence stress is important. Use keywords and sentences to make your voice rise and fall. The primary goal of your speech is to engage your audience; get the examiner interested in what you have to say. It might be beneficial for you to create such an interest because it can cover up any grammar or vocabulary mistakes you make while speaking.

• Speak about personal experiences: Since you will only be given one minute to prepare for your speech, you should speak about a personal experience. In this manner, even if the time is too short, you will still be able to speak as you will only have to recall what you will be sharing from your vivid memory. Speaking about a personal experience makes you more emotional and enthralled while speaking. Being passionate does not give you an additional mark in the IELTS Speaking Part 2, but it will make you say more confidently and, in turn, helps you formulate better sentences. 

• Make sure to answer that last question: There will be around 3 to 4 questions and key points written on the cue card handed to you. The first 2 to 3 questions will usually ask for basic and general information. These may be answerable by ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘where’ questions, while the last question will always be an explanation and answerable by ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions. Do not spend much of your time on the first 2 to 3 key points as it is the last question that matters the most. In this question, the examiner will be able to assess your skills in expressing your ideas clearly and coherently. 

The DON’Ts

• Don’t worry about your spelling: Unlike in the IELTS Writing test, the way you spell the words when taking notes will not matter and will not be marked. It is okay if you want to spell the words shorter because you do not have enough time. However, you have to ensure that you know what words you have written when you refer to the notes during your speech. 

• Don’t speak too quickly: During the IELTS Speaking Part 2, try to speak at a regular, natural pace. Keep an eye on your speed as you begin speaking. Since you might be nervous, you may tend to speak fast at the start of your speech and suddenly stop when you run out of things to say. Do not speak too quickly, as this will lower your pronunciation band score. Furthermore, the examiner might not understand what you are saying, which will affect your overall band score. 

• Don’t panic over your mistakes: Some candidates halfway through their IELTS Speaking Part 2 question made a grammatical mistake and ultimately lost their bearings, resulting in a band score that dropped from a high to a low. When you are nervous or stressed, it impacts your ideas, pronunciation, and fluency, leading to more grammar errors. When you make a mistake, put it out of your mind. There is nothing you can do about it. Do not be alarmed; just keep going.

• Don’t get pressured to cover every bullet point:   The bullet points are there to guide you; if you want to discuss them, go ahead. If there are one or two that you do not like or do not feel comfortable discussing, leave them out and go on to something else. Keep in mind that it states ‘You should say’ rather than ‘You must say’. Make sure what you are talking about is relevant to the overall theme, and you will be okay.

Here are the ways on how to prepare for the IELTS Speaking Part 2 to ensure every second of your time in this part of the test does not go to waste:

• Practice using cue cards: Knowing how to use a cue card plays a vital role in the IELTS Speaking Part 2. Not only will it assist you in remembering the things that you should say, but it will also assist you in the organization of your speech. Before taking the test, make sure that you have mastered the skill of using a cue card. Have a cue card and take notes when you are watching your favorite television show, watching a movie, or reading a newspaper to help you remember the important details from what you have watched or read. 

• Time yourself when you practice:  Using the time to your advantage is one key that will help you get a high band score in the IELTS Speaking test. One minute is indeed a short time for you to prepare for your speech, and so is the two-minute period that you will be given for your speech. You might just be starting to take down notes, and before you know it, you only have ten seconds left. Make sure always to time yourself every time you practice. This will give you an idea of the number of words you can write and say within the given time. 

• Record yourself when you practice:  Another smart technique to prepare for the IELTS Speaking Task 2 is to make an audio or video recording of yourself while having your speech. After that, listen to it and consider and pay attention to the areas you need to improve. Do this as often as you can, and by the time you have to take the test, you will notice a significant improvement in your English-speaking skills. 

• Watch videos of excellent-performing candidates: There have been high-caliber candidates that have been recorded by the British Council and IDP while taking the IELTS Speaking test. Keep an eye on these and pay attention to the responses provided by high-level candidates. Pay attention to the content and the structures of their speech. This way, you will know how to deliver your speech on the day of the test. 

Below are some sample IELTS Speaking Part 2 questions and model answers to help you prepare for the test. 

Model or Sample response:

"The one that I would like to talk to you about is a purse. It is black and is made of leather. The leather quality was so good that would you believe I’ve never changed my purse since then? Well, I have had other bags, which were also gifts from my family and friends, but I chose to still use this purse. In fact, I brought it with me today. It’s one of the oldest things that I own, and I make it a point to take care of it. 

It was a present from my grandmother when I turned 12 and it has been with me for almost ten years now. It is definitely one of my most prized valuables because it reminds me of my grandmother, and she’s gone now. It is one of the few things that makes me remember her and the good times we had together. Another reason why I value this purse so much is that I consider it my lucky charm. I can’t explain but I feel like this purse has proven to give me luck. This purse for sure is something I will treasure forever."

Sample response to the follow-up question:

"I was able to keep this purse for almost a decade now, and since it is made from a good quality of leather, I think I will still be able to keep it for another 5 years and hopefully, longer. I want to keep this purse as long as I can."

Model or Sample response:

"Well, our family has a lot of important traditions but the one that stands out for me is ‘Noche Buena’. It’s celebrated on Christmas Eve. ‘Noche Buena’ actually means Christmas Eve in English. 

We usually celebrate it at our grandparents’ house and my uncles, aunts, and cousins would come too. The elderly would cook and prepare the food while the kids looked for the gifts that my grandparents had for them. They are usually hidden somewhere in the house. 

I have to say this tradition is important for our family because it is one of the few times that our whole family gets together. Some of my uncles, aunts, and cousins live in other cities, so we don’t get the chance to see each other that often. Besides, we have been celebrating it ever since I was a kid and Christmas would not be complete without our yearly ‘Noche Buena’."

Sample response to the follow-up question:

"I would have to say it hasn’t changed that much. We celebrate it merely by having dinner together and exchanging gifts and that’s what we still do every year. One thing that has changed, however, is it is easier to take photos now because of the digital cameras and smartphones that we have." 

Model or Sample response:

"Let me tell you about one of my closest friends, Mary. I met her when I went to Milan to study. It was roughly ten years ago, so we have known each other for a little more than a decade.

We met for the first time through a forum set up by the university for freshmen. It was designed so that people may meet their new classmates and introduce themselves before starting university.

She is both intelligent and humorous, in my opinion. She does, however, have a sarcastic sense of humor, in my opinion. That, I believe, is what drew us together as friends. However, when you get to know her better, you will notice that she's not being confrontational or offensive. She simply does not believe in waffling on the subject. She will tell you straight out what she thinks of you. It is something we both share."

Sample response to the follow-up question:

"Yes, I do. There was a time however when we lost communication for a while because of how busy we both were, but now that our schedule allows it, we make it a point to meet every now and then."

Model or Sample response:

"It was three years ago when I took my first motorcycle trip with my friends to the country's oldest and most ancient village, which is located in the country's northern region. It was the most memorable trip I've ever taken.

There were three of us on the trip: Bill, Frank, and me. On the journey there, we marveled at the beautiful vistas that contrasted with the metropolis we now call home. We arrived in the gorgeous village after a terrific drive, which made me feel ecstatic. We saw several 400-year-old antique buildings built of mud and laterite and looked at community houses. 

After that, we had a delicious meal made with locally and organically grown ingredients. Going to the paddy fields to assist the farmers in harvesting the produce was the highlight of the tour to the village. 

That was our first motorcycle journey outside of the city, as well as our first time in the countryside, so we savored every moment. We hope that we can go on a more extended trip to the countryside down the road if we have more spare time."

Sample response to the follow-up question:

"On a motorcycle? I'd like to take a drive around the mountain ranges. This time, I'd probably invite more of my friends along for the ride and bring enough supplies because it’s going to take at least 8 hours to go there."