Preparing for the IELTS Speaking Part 2 can feel overwhelming, especially with the wide variety of cue card topics you may face. To help you practice more effectively, we’ve created a comprehensive list of IELTS Speaking Cue Cards, organized into themes such as People, Places, Objects, Events, and Hypothetical/Abstract topics. Each cue card includes guiding prompts and ideas to help you structure your answers like a high-band candidate. Whether you’re aiming for fluency, vocabulary variety, or confidence in storytelling, this master list will give you the practice you need to succeed in your IELTS interview.
🧑🤝🧑 People – IELTS Cue Cards
1. A person you admire (not a family member)
- Who this person is
- How you know about them
- What they have done that you admire
- Why you admire them
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people today admire celebrities more than community figures? What qualities make someone admirable?
2. A famous person you would like to meet
- Who this person is
- Why they are famous
- Why you would like to meet them
- What you would ask or say if you met them
👉 Follow-up ideas: Are famous people good role models? How has fame changed in the age of social media?
3. A good friend
- Who your friend is
- How you met
- What you do together
- Why you value this friendship
👉 Follow-up ideas: How do friendships change as people get older? Do you think online friendships are as strong as real-life ones?
4. A family member you get along well with
- Who the family member is
- How you spend time together
- What you have in common
- Why you get along well with this person
👉 Follow-up ideas: Is it important to spend time with extended family? How are family relationships changing in your culture?
5. A person who taught you something important
- Who the person is
- What they taught you
- How they taught it
- Why this lesson was important
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people learn more from teachers or life experiences? What skills should children be taught outside of school?
6. A person who has an interesting job
- Who this person is
- What job they do
- How they got into this career
- Why you find their job interesting
👉 Follow-up ideas: What are the most respected jobs in your country? How is technology changing jobs today?
7. A person who speaks a foreign language well
- Who this person is
- What foreign language they speak
- How they learned it
- Why you find their language ability impressive
👉 Follow-up ideas: Why is learning a foreign language important? Do you think technology will replace the need to learn languages?
8. A person you follow on social media
- Who this person is
- What kind of content they share
- Why you follow them
- How they influence you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do social media influencers have too much power? How is following someone online different from knowing them in real life?
9. A wise person you know
- Who this person is
- How you know them
- What advice or wisdom they gave you
- Why you think they are wise
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do young people listen to older generations? Can wisdom be learned, or only gained with age?
10. A person from your childhood you remember well
- Who this person is
- How you knew them
- What you did together
- Why you remember them well
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do children today spend as much time with friends as in the past? How do childhood friendships affect people later in life?
11. A person who solved a problem in a smart way
- Who this person is
- What problem they solved
- How they solved it
- Why you think their solution was smart
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think creativity is more important than intelligence? How do people usually solve problems in groups?
12. Someone you met recently and want to know more about
- Who this person is
- How you met them
- What your first impression was
- Why you want to know more about them
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people still make new friends easily as adults? How do first impressions affect relationships?
13. A person who inspires you to be better
- Who this person is
- How you know them
- What they do that inspires you
- How they influence your life
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people need role models? Are role models today different from those in the past?
14. Someone who started a successful business
- Who this person is
- What business they started
- How they achieved success
- Why you admire their achievement
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do young people today want to start businesses? What are the risks of entrepreneurship?
15. An environmental activist you admire
- Who this person is
- What they are known for
- What they have done to help the environment
- Why you admire them
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think individuals can make a big difference for the environment? Should governments do more than activists?
16. A person from history you would like to learn more about
- Who this person is
- What they are famous for
- Why they are important
- What you would like to know about them
👉 Follow-up ideas: Is learning history important for young people? Do people in your country know enough about their national history?
17. Someone who has greatly influenced your taste in music/art/film
- Who this person is
- How they influenced your taste
- What kind of music/art/film they introduced to you
- Why their influence was important to you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think friends influence cultural tastes more than family? How has globalization changed people’s tastes in music and art?
🏞️ Places – IELTS Cue Cards
1. A place you visited on vacation
- Where the place is
- When you went there
- What you did there
- Why this vacation was memorable
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people prefer domestic or international vacations? How has tourism changed in recent years?
2. A crowded place you visited
- Where it was
- When you went there
- Why it was crowded
- How you felt in that situation
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people enjoy crowded places? How do cities manage over-crowding in public spaces?
3. A quiet place you like
- Where this place is
- How often you go there
- What you do there
- Why you like it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think people need quiet places in cities? How can urban design create peaceful spaces?
4. A café or restaurant you like
- Where it is
- What kind of food/drink they serve
- How often you go there
- Why you like it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people prefer fast food or traditional food? How is eating out changing people’s lifestyles?
5. A place you remember from your childhood
- Where the place was
- What you did there
- Who you went there with
- Why it is memorable to you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do childhood places influence people later in life? How do childhood memories differ from adult memories?
6. A public place you go to relax (e.g., a park, a library)
- Where the place is
- What facilities it has
- How you spend your time there
- Why it helps you relax
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think public spaces are important for communities? How can cities make better use of public spaces?
7. A city you would recommend to a friend
- What city it is
- Where it is located
- What attractions or activities it offers
- Why you recommend it
👉 Follow-up ideas: What makes a city attractive to visitors? Do people prefer modern or historic cities?
8. A place you would like to visit in the future
- What place it is
- Where it is located
- Why you want to go there
- What you would like to do there
👉 Follow-up ideas: Why do people dream of visiting certain places? Do you think traveling is essential for learning?
9. A place with a lot of water (e.g., a river, beach, lake)
- What place it is
- When you went there
- What you saw and did
- Why you liked or disliked it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Why do people enjoy places near water? How do water-related activities benefit health and tourism?
10. A shop that recently opened in your area
- Where the shop is
- What it sells
- When it opened
- Why people like it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do small shops compete well with supermarkets? How is online shopping changing local shops?
11. A place where you can see wildlife/nature
- What the place is
- What kind of animals or plants you saw
- What activities you did there
- How you felt about the experience
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should people visit wildlife areas? How can eco-tourism help protect nature?
12. A place with historical significance
- What the place is
- Where it is located
- What its historical importance is
- Why it is interesting to you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people in your country care about history? How should governments protect historical places?
13. A place you go to be productive (other than home/school)
- Where this place is
- What you do there
- Why you find it productive
- How often you go there
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people need different environments for studying or working? How does the workplace affect productivity?
14. A place you visited that was different from your expectations
- What the place was
- What you expected before visiting
- What the reality was like
- How you felt about it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people’s expectations affect their travel experiences? Do advertisements sometimes misrepresent places?
15. A market or bazaar you enjoy
- Where the market is
- What is sold there
- What atmosphere it has
- Why you enjoy visiting it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Are traditional markets still popular today? How do markets reflect the culture of a country?
🎁 Objects & Things – IELTS Cue Cards
1. A gift you gave or received
- What the gift was
- Who gave it / who you gave it to
- When it was given
- Why it was special
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think gifts should always be meaningful? How has online shopping changed the way people give gifts?
2. Something you bought that you are happy with
- What you bought
- Where and when you bought it
- How you use it
- Why you are happy with it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people today buy things they don’t really need? How does advertising influence shopping decisions?
3. A photograph you like
- What the photo shows
- Who took it
- When it was taken
- Why you like it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people take too many photos nowadays? How has smartphone photography changed people’s habits?
4. A book you read recently
- What the book was about
- Who wrote it
- Why you read it
- What you learned or enjoyed from it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think people still read books in the digital age? Should children read storybooks or textbooks more?
5. A piece of clothing you enjoy wearing
- What it is
- When and where you bought it
- How often you wear it
- Why it is your favorite
👉 Follow-up ideas: How does fashion affect people’s confidence? Do people in your country prefer traditional clothes or modern ones?
6. A song or piece of music that is meaningful to you
- What the song/music is
- How you first heard it
- Why it is important to you
- How you feel when you listen to it
👉 Follow-up ideas: How important is music in daily life? Do young people and older people like the same kind of music?
7. A website you often use
- What the website is
- How often you use it
- What you do on it
- Why you find it useful
👉 Follow-up ideas: Are websites still popular in the age of apps? How do people make sure websites are trustworthy?
8. An important letter or email you received
- Who sent it
- When you received it
- What it was about
- Why it was important to you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people still write letters? How has email changed communication?
9. A game you played in your childhood (not a sport)
- What the game was
- Who you played it with
- How you played it
- Why you remember it well
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think modern games are better than traditional ones? Should children spend less time on video games?
10. Something you lost and found
- What it was
- When and where you lost it
- How you found it
- How you felt about it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people value lost things more once they are found? How can technology help people track lost items?
11. A special meal you had
- What the meal was
- Who you had it with
- When and where it happened
- Why it was special
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people in your country celebrate with special meals? How has fast food affected traditional meals?
12. A work of art you find beautiful (painting, sculpture)
- What it is
- Where you saw it
- Who created it (if you know)
- Why you find it beautiful
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should everyone study art at school? Do you think art is valued equally across all cultures?
13. A traditional object from your country
- What the object is
- How it is made
- What it is used for
- Why it is culturally important
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should countries preserve traditional objects? How do traditional crafts survive in the modern world?
14. An app on your phone that you find useful
- What the app is
- How long you have used it
- What you use it for
- Why you find it useful
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do apps make people’s lives easier or more dependent on technology? Which apps are most popular among young people?
15. Something you would like to own in the future
- What it is
- Why you want it
- How you would use it
- Why it would be important to you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people desire too many material things nowadays? Is it better to save money or spend it on new possessions?
16. A product that was made in your country
- What the product is
- How it is made (if you know)
- Why it is popular in your country
- Why you find it important
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should people support local products? How do global brands affect local businesses?
🎉 Experiences & Events – IELTS Cue Cards
1. A happy event from your childhood
- What the event was
- When it happened
- Who was involved
- Why it made you happy
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think childhood events shape people’s personalities? Why do people often remember childhood events more vividly?
2. A time you helped someone
- Who you helped
- How you helped them
- Why they needed help
- How you felt afterwards
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people in your country like to help others? Should schools teach children to help others?
3. A difficult decision you made
- What the decision was about
- When you made it
- Why it was difficult
- What the result was
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think young people today face more difficult decisions than in the past? Should people make decisions quickly or take more time?
4. A time you were stuck in traffic
- When and where it happened
- How long you were stuck
- What you did while waiting
- How you felt about it
👉 Follow-up ideas: How can governments reduce traffic jams? Do people in your country prefer public transport or private cars?
5. A memorable journey or trip
- Where you went
- Who you went with
- What happened during the journey
- Why it was memorable
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think journeys are more important than destinations? How has travel changed over the years?
6. A time you learned a new skill (e.g., cooking, driving)
- What the skill was
- How you learned it
- Who helped you learn
- How you felt about the experience
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think learning practical skills is important? Should schools focus more on skills or academic subjects?
7. A party you enjoyed or organized
- What the party was for
- Who attended
- What happened during the party
- Why you enjoyed it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think people celebrate too many occasions? How are parties different today compared to the past?
8. A sports event you watched or participated in
- What the event was
- When and where it took place
- What happened
- How you felt about it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do sports bring people together? Should schools make sports compulsory?
9. A time you used a foreign language
- When and where it happened
- Who you spoke to
- What you said or did
- How you felt about the experience
👉 Follow-up ideas: Is it important to learn foreign languages? How does learning a new language change the way people think?
10. A time you were surprised to meet someone
- Who the person was
- When and where you met
- Why it was surprising
- What happened afterwards
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think chance meetings can change people’s lives? Why do people sometimes lose touch with friends?
11. A time you received good news
- What the news was
- Who gave it to you
- How you reacted
- Why it was important to you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Why is sharing good news important? Do people prefer to share news in person or online?
12. A time you had to adapt to a new situation
- What the situation was
- Why it was new or different
- How you adapted
- What you learned from the experience
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people find it difficult to adapt to change? How can adapting to new situations benefit people?
13. An experience that changed your perspective on something
- What the experience was
- When it happened
- How it changed your perspective
- Why it was meaningful
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people learn more from experiences than from books? Why do some experiences stay in our memory forever?
14. A time you saw something interesting on social media
- What it was
- When you saw it
- Why it was interesting
- How you reacted to it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think social media shows reality? How has social media changed the way people share experiences?
15. A cultural event or festival you attended
- What the event was
- Where and when it took place
- What happened during the event
- Why you remember it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Why are festivals important for cultures? Do you think young people enjoy cultural festivals as much as older people?
16. A time you successfully persuaded someone
- Who the person was
- What you persuaded them to do
- How you convinced them
- How you felt afterwards
👉 Follow-up ideas: Is persuasion an important skill? Do advertisements persuade people too much nowadays?
17. A time technology surprised you
- What the technology was
- When you experienced it
- What happened
- Why it surprised you
👉 Follow-up ideas: How quickly is technology changing? Do you think technology always makes life better?
18. A time you had a disagreement about technology use
- Who you disagreed with
- What the disagreement was about
- How you resolved it
- How you felt afterwards
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people argue about technology often? Should parents limit their children’s screen time?
19. A time you saw waste/wastefulness (e.g., plastic pollution)
- What you saw
- Where and when it happened
- How you reacted
- Why it was wasteful
👉 Follow-up ideas: How can people reduce waste in daily life? Should governments ban single-use plastics?
20. A time you gave someone advice about health
- Who the person was
- What advice you gave
- Why you gave that advice
- How they reacted
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should schools teach health education? Do people in your country take advice about health seriously?
💡 Hypotheticals, Descriptions & Abstract Topics – IELTS Cue Cards
1. A skill you would like to learn
- What the skill is
- Why you want to learn it
- How you would learn it
- How it would benefit you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people prefer learning practical skills or artistic ones? Should schools focus more on life skills?
2. A business you would like to start
- What kind of business it would be
- Where you would set it up
- Why you would like to start it
- How you would make it successful
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do young people in your country like entrepreneurship? What challenges do small businesses face today?
3. A rule you don’t like
- What the rule is
- Where you came across it
- Why you don’t like it
- What you would change about it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do rules make societies better? Should children have fewer or more rules at school?
4. A goal or ambition you have
- What the goal is
- Why it is important to you
- How you plan to achieve it
- How you would feel if you achieved it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people today set long-term or short-term goals? Why is goal-setting important in life?
5. A perfect job for you
- What the job is
- What skills it requires
- Why you would like to do it
- Why you think it suits you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people always find their perfect jobs? How has the job market changed in recent years?
6. A house or apartment you would like to live in
- What kind of house/apartment it is
- Where it would be located
- What features it would have
- Why you would like to live there
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people prefer apartments or houses in your country? How important is location when choosing a place to live?
7. A course you would like to take
- What the course is about
- Where you would study it
- Why you are interested in it
- How it would help you in the future
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think online courses are as effective as traditional classes? Should adults continue studying after university?
8. A movie you would like to make
- What the movie would be about
- Who the main characters would be
- What kind of story it would tell
- Why you would like to make it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should movies always have a message? How does film influence society?
9. A problem you would like to solve in your community
- What the problem is
- Why it exists
- How you would solve it
- How people would benefit from your solution
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think individuals can solve big community problems? How important is teamwork in solving social issues?
10. A law you would like to create or change
- What the law is
- Why you want to change it
- How it would benefit people
- What challenges it might face
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should laws always change with time? Do people always respect the law in your country?
11. A subject you would like to research
- What the subject is
- Why it interests you
- How you would research it
- What you would like to discover
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think research should focus more on science or humanities? How can research benefit society?
12. A historical period you would like to learn more about
- What period it is
- Why it interests you
- What you already know about it
- What you would like to discover
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people learn enough history in school? How important is history in shaping the future?
13. An invention you find useful
- What the invention is
- How it is used
- Why you find it useful
- How it has changed people’s lives
👉 Follow-up ideas: What invention has changed the world the most? Do inventions always improve life?
14. An environmental problem in your country
- What the problem is
- What causes it
- What effects it has
- How it can be solved
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should individuals or governments do more to solve environmental problems? How can education help protect the environment?
15. A change you would like to see in your local community
- What the change is
- Why it is necessary
- How it could be made
- What impact it would have
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do local communities influence people’s lives? How can local people work together to make improvements?
16. An activity you do to stay healthy
- What the activity is
- How often you do it
- Why you started doing it
- How it benefits your health
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people in your country exercise enough? Should governments encourage healthy lifestyles more?
17. Something you do to manage stress
- What it is
- When you usually do it
- How it helps you relax
- Why it is effective for you
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people face more stress today than in the past? What role does technology play in stress management?
18. An interesting story you saw in the news recently
- What the story was
- Where you saw or read it
- Why it was interesting
- What you learned from it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do people still trust the news? How has the way people get news changed?
19. A time you read or heard about a scientific discovery
- What the discovery was
- Where you read or heard about it
- How it affected you
- Why you found it interesting
👉 Follow-up ideas: Should scientific discoveries be shared with the public? Which areas of science are most important today?
20. A podcast or YouTube channel you find interesting
- What it is about
- How often you watch/listen to it
- Why you like it
- What you learn from it
👉 Follow-up ideas: Do you think podcasts are replacing traditional radio/TV? How can YouTube be used for education?
21. A piece of technology that is important to you (beyond a phone/laptop)
- What the technology is
- How you use it
- Why it is important in your life
- How it has changed your lifestyle
👉 Follow-up ideas: Are people too dependent on technology today? What new technologies might we see in the future?
Ultimate IELTS Part 3 Question Bank — Follow-up & General Questions by Topic