IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the most popular English language proficiency tests among international students applying to study abroad. IELTS is accepted as valid proof of English proficiency in over 140 countries, making it a viable option. Due to its popularity and effectiveness, over 3 million students have taken IELTS. Given the high level of competition, it can be difficult to achieve a higher than average score and secure a place at your desired university. One way to overcome this is to master IELTS cue cards.
IELTS cue cards are given to candidates during the IELTS speaking section. These include topics or questions that candidates have to talk about for two minutes. If you want to know more about these cue cards and how to master them, keep reading the blog.
What is IELTS cue cards?
You may have noticed that in the second subsection of the reading section, candidates are given clue cards with questions or topics. You have 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to speak on this topic. The examiner will then ask you questions about the topic and you will have an additional minute to discuss their opinions.
This is one of the most important sections of the IELTS exam as you will have to think of your answers on the spot and have a conversation with the examiner. The best way to progress through this section is to find the most commonly asked questions on the IELTS cue cards and practice them often.
Structure of IELTS
Before analyzing how to master IELTS cue cards and their common examples, it is essential to understand what cue cards are and how they appear in the exam. So, first let’s take a quick look at the structure of the IELTS exam.
Candidates must be 16 years of age or older at the time of taking the exam. There are no other eligibility requirements for the IELTS exam. It is held four times a month, up to 48 times a year. More than 50 test centers are available across India. Candidates will receive their results within 10 business days. Exams are valid for up to two years.
IELTS is divided into four sections: listening, writing, reading, and speaking. Each section has a different duration, pattern, and number of questions. For more information about IELTS patterns, please refer to the table below.
| section | detail | Number of questions | interval |
| listening | Four recorded monologues and conversations: conversations between two people in everyday social situations, monologues in social situations, conversations between two to four people in training, and on any academic topic. monologue. | 4 (10 per monologue/conversation) | half an hour |
| write | Summarize, explain, or explain a table, graph, diagram, or chart in at least 150 words. Write a short essay assignment of at least 250 words. | 2 | – 20 minutes for the first task. – 40 minutes for the second task. |
| read | Three reading passages covering descriptive, argumentative, and factual information. Text is extracted from guides, university materials, magazines, books, periodicals, etc. | 40 | 60 minutes |
| busy | Open-ended questions about the candidate, school, work, etc. Candidates are given clue cards with specific questions written on them, and the examiner asks questions based on these. Further questions will be based on the topic of the task above. | 3 | 11-14 minutes |
This exam is scored on a scale of 0 to 9, with 9 being the highest. Typically, a minimum score of 5.0 is required to be eligible for admission to the university. For the best universities, you should score at least 7.5 to 8.0. Some of the top countries and their average IELTS requirements are summarized below.
- united states of america: 6.5
- Canada: 6.0
- England: 6.0
- Australia: 6.5
- new zealand: 5.5
top 10 IELTS cue cards
Students can use the prepared cue cards to practice ahead of the IELTS exam. To get started, check out our list of top 10 cue cards for IELTS.
- Tell me about a time when you received good news.
- Describe an outdoor activity you enjoyed.
- Tell me about a situation where you had to wait or where your patience was tested.
- Tell us about the people you would like to work with.
- Describe a time when you received money or an expensive gift from someone.
- Please describe the law that you respect.
- Describe an unusual meal you’ve tried.
- Describe the activities you do to stay healthy.
- Describe a tourist destination that you are looking forward to visiting.
- Describe an interesting person you met recently.
latest Cue cards for IELTS speaking
Some of the latest cue cards for IELTS speaking are listed here.
- Describe your favorite book that you read over and over again.
- Describe some good advice you have given us.
- Describe one of your long-term goals.
- Describe a famous person you admire.
- Describe a situation in which you had to use a map.
- Describe a place you like to go to relax.
- Describe a time when you successfully accomplished something challenging.
- Describe a time when you helped someone in need.
- Describe something that helps you on a daily basis to improve your work or study.
- Describe a useful item in your home that you cannot live without.
- Please describe a movie that made a big impression on you.
- Describe someone who is good at making people feel welcome.
- Describe a successful person with whom you have previously studied or worked.
- Describe a sporting event that you enjoyed watching.
- Describe a difficult task you completed at work or university that you are proud of.
- Describe something that changed your life for the better.
- Describe a recent bad experience you had.
- Describe a time when you dealt with false information.
- Describe a speech you gave to a large number of people.
- Describe an adventure you would like to undertake.
- Please describe the scientific field that interests you.
- Describe popular inventions and how they are useful in everyday life.
- Please describe a traditional event that is very important in your home country.
- Describe a time when you previously complained but finally got a positive result.
- Please describe a job that you find interesting.
General IELTS cue cards
Apart from the above 10 questions, there are some q cards IELTS that you should practice beforehand to get a good score in the exam. These can be categorized into different types, such as topics based on time, family, people, things, favorites, etc. Explore the detailed list of each below.
#1 Cue Card Based on Favorites:
- Describe your favorite photo.
- Tell us about a song that has significant meaning to you.
- Describe your favorite story or novel.
- Describe a special toy you played with as a child.
- Talk about the restaurants you often go to.
- Describe your favorite exciting spot.
- Describe an indoor game you love to play.
- Please describe the activity you would like to do.
#2 Cue cards based on time
- Describe the subject you liked to study at school.
- Please describe the main things you would like to purchase in the future.
- Describe the happiest time of your life.
#3 Cue cards based on people
- Tell me about someone you admire.
- Describe your favorite leader.
- Describe the family you would like to spend time with.
- Describe your old friend.
- Describe your interesting neighbor.
#4 Family Based Cue Cards
- Please tell me about your family.
- Describe a family event you enjoyed in the past.
- Describe a family event you look forward to.
- Describe a family picnic.
#5 Cue cards based on objects
- Describe the photos in your home.
- Describe a gift you spent a lot of time choosing.
- Please describe a basic electronic device that you find useful.
- Describe a time when you had to borrow something.
- Please describe the house you were glad to live in.
- Please describe the product you would like to use.
- Describe a piece of clothing you received as a gift that you liked.
- Describe a painting or work of art that you admire.
#6 Location-based cue cards
- Describe a colorful place that you remember well.
- Describe a country you haven’t visited yet but would like to visit.
- Describe the contaminated area.
- Describe the body of water near your home.
- Please describe your favorite place to visit.
#7 Cue cards based on work/study
- Describe a project you did at work or an assignment you did well.
- Please describe a course that you found helpful.
- Describe a job you are proud of.
- Describe your dream job.
- Describe the course or module you would like to learn more about.
#8 Cue cards based on desires/emotions
- Describe an ambition you have not yet achieved.
- Describe a paid job you enjoyed doing.
- Describe a unique experience you had as part of a team.
- Describe a time when you had a disagreement with a friend.
- Describe a difficult decision you had to make in your life.
- Describe a TV show you enjoyed.
- Please describe the goals you have.
- Please describe an ad that you found to be persuasive.
- Describe a memorable meal.
- Describe a time when you had to be friendly with someone you disliked.
how to master IELTS cue cards?
Mastering how to answer IELTS cue cards is an important part of your overall preparation. This is an important subsection of speaking, so it is very important to practice it as much as possible. Here are some of the best ways to get a good score in this section.
- Take a few seconds to read and understand the cue cards accurately. The examiner will score you according to the relevance of your answers. Inaccurate answers may result in points being deducted.
- Take one minute to prepare and formulate your answer to the topic to accurately summarize your thoughts. Please provide structured answers in the format referenced in the IELTS guidelines.
- Speak confidently and clearly. Avoid wasting unnecessary content.
- Try to use a varied range of vocabulary rather than repetitive words.
- Please pay attention to the time limit. Please do not exceed 2 minutes. However, at the same time, be careful not to provide very short answers.
- Practice the above topics thoroughly. all the best!
FAQ
Q1.What is Cue cards for IELTS writing Or do you talk?
Answer: A cue card is a prompt, question or topic given in the speaking section of IELTS that candidates have to prepare on the spot and speak for two minutes. The examiner will then discuss the topic for an additional minute. This test is designed to test a candidate’s ability to speak fluently, formulate appropriate answers, and use a variety of vocabulary.
Q2. How can I solve the IELTS cue cards?
Answer: The first step is to understand the topic and clarify your thoughts. Once that’s done, think of any points of your own you’d like to add to the answer. We recommend practicing your cue cards as much as possible before taking the exam.
Q3. How many cue cards are there in IELTS?
Answer: There are approximately 50 different cue cards that students can obtain. It changes every four months, with 50% of the topics replaced in April, September, and December.
Q4. Is an IELTS score of 7 good?
Answer: An IELTS score of 7.0 is above average and ideal for admission to popular universities with relatively low acceptance rates.
Q5. Are cue cards repeated?
Answer: Cue cards are typically replaced every four months, so some cards may be repeated. However, candidates must be prepared for all possibilities.
Thank you for reading our guide IELTS cue cards! Which is your favorite topic? Let us know in the comments section below.
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