Speaking Part 2: The Cue Card

Master "The Long Turn." You have 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to speak. Use our comprehensive bank of 2026 topics to practice your fluency.

1. The PPF Method

Struggling to reach 2 minutes? Use the Past-Present-Future method. Talk about how the topic used to be in the past, how it is now, and what you expect in the future.

2. Make a Mind Map

During your 1-minute prep, don't write full sentences. Write keywords for the bullet points and one "high-level" idiom you plan to use.

3. Tell a Story

The examiner isn't checking facts. They are checking English. If you don't have a real experience, invent a story! Stories are easier to speak about fluently.

Person

Describe a member of your family you get on well with.

You should say:

  • Who it is
  • What relationship you have to them
  • What that person is like
  • And explain why you get on so well.
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Person

Describe an old person you know.

You should say: Who they are, how old they are, what they are like, and explain why you like this person.

Person

Describe a person you know who is kind.

You should say: Who it is, how you know them, what sort of person they are, and why you think they are kind.

Place

Describe a place that you find peaceful.

You should say:

  • Where it is
  • When you first went there
  • What you do there
  • And explain why you like it.
Place

Describe a place near water.

You should say: Where it is, how you get there, what you can do there, and explain why you like it.

Place

Describe a journey that didn’t go as planned.

You should say: Where you were going, how you were travelling, what went wrong, and what you would do differently.

Object

Describe a piece of art you like.

You should say: What the work of art is, when you first saw it, what you know about it, and why you like it.

Object

Describe a book you have recently read.

You should say: What kind of book it is, what it is about, who would enjoy it, and why you liked it.

Object

Describe a photograph you like.

You should say: What is in the photo, when it was taken, who took it, and why you like it.

Event/Activity

Describe some good news you recently received.

You should say: What the news was, how you received it, who gave it to you, and why it was good news.

Activity

Describe something you do to relax.

You should say: What it is, where you do it, when you first did it, and why you find it relaxing.

Event

Describe an unexpected event.

You should say: What it was, when it happened, who was there, and why it was unexpected.

Practice Part 2 Live with a Tutor