IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is one of the most popular English proficiency tests among international students who apply for study abroad education. More than 140 countries accept IELTS as a valid proof of English competency, making it a feasible choice. Because of its popularity and validity, more than 30 lakh students appear for IELTS. Given the high competition, scoring higher than average and securing a spot in your preferred university can be challenging. One way to overcome this is to master the cue cards for IELTS.
IELTS cue cards are given to candidates during the speaking section of IELTS. They contain a topic or question that the candidate must speak about for two minutes. To learn more about these cue cards and how to master them, continue reading our blog!
What Are Cue Cards For IELTS?
You may have noticed in the second sub-section of the reading section that candidates are given a cue card containing a question or topic. They are given 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to speak on this topic. The examiner then asks them questions on this topic and discusses their views for another minute.
This is one of the most important sections of the IELTS exam since you need to think of your answer on the spot and also converse with the examiner on the same. The best way to get ahead of this section is to find the most commonly asked questions on cue cards for IELTS and practise them well.
IELTS Structure
Before we analyse how to master cue cards for IELTS, and their common examples, understanding what they are and how they come into the exam is essential. Thus, let us begin by looking at the IELTS exam structure in brief.
Candidates must be at least 16 years old when taking the exam. There are no other eligibility requirements for the IELTS Exam. It is held up to 4 times every month or 48 times a year. 50+ test centres are available across India. Candidates receive their results within 10 business days. The exam’s validity lasts 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. Refer to the following table for the complete details of the IELTS paper pattern:
| Section | Details | Number of questions | Duration |
| Listening | Four recorded monologues and conversations:A conversation between two people in a routine social situation.A monologue of a social situation.A conversation between 2 to 4 people in training.A monologue on any academic topic. | 4 (10 per monologue/conversation) | 30 minutes |
| Writing | Summarise, explain or describe a table, graph, diagram or chart of at least 150 words.Write a short essay task of at least 250 words. | 2 | – 20 minutes for the first task. – 40 minutes for the second task. |
| Reading | Three reading passages that cover descriptive, argumentative, and factual information. The passages are taken from guides, university material, journals, books, periodicals, etc. | 40 | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | Open-ended questions about the candidate, their school, work, etc.Candidates are given a cue card with a specific question based on which the examiner will ask questions.Further questions are based on the topic in the above task. | 3 | 11 – 14 minutes |
This exam is graded on a scale of 0 to 9, where 9 is the highest. A minimum score of 5.0 is usually necessary to be eligible for any university. For the best universities, you must score at least 7.5 – 8.0. Some of the top countries and their respective average IELTS requirements are summarised below:
- United States of America: 6.5
- Canada: 6.0
- United Kingdom: 6.0
- Australia: 6.5
- New Zealand: 5.5
Top 10 Cue Cards For IELTS
Students can practice ahead of their IELTS examinations with the help of the cue cards they prepare. Here is an at-a-glance list of the top 10 cue cards for IELTS to start with.
- Talk about a time you received good news.
- Describe an outdoor activity that you enjoyed.
- Talk about a situation where you had to wait/your patience was tested.
- Talk about someone you would like to work with.
- Describe a time when you received money or an expensive gift from someone.
- Describe a law that you admire.
- Describe an unusual meal that you tried.
- Describe any activity that you do to maintain your health.
- Describe a tourist location you’re looking forward to visiting.
- Describe someone interesting whom you recently met.
Latest Cue Card For IELTS Speaking
Some of the most recent cue card for IELTS speaking are listed here:
- Describe your favourite book that you like to re-read.
- Describe a good piece of advice you have.
- Describe one of your long-term goals.
- Describe a famous personality you admire.
- Describe an occasion when you had to use a map.
- Describe a spot where you like to go to relax.
- Describe a time when you successfully did something challenging.
- Describe a time when you held someone in need.
- Describe something that routinely helps you to work or study better.
- Describe a useful object in your home that you cannot live without.
- Describe a film that impressed you a lot.
- Describe someone who is good at making people feel welcome.
- Describe a successful person with whom you may have studied or worked before.
- Describe a sports event that you enjoyed watching.
- Describe a difficult task that you completed at work or in college and that you feel proud of.
- Describe something that changed your life for good.
- Describe a bad experience you had recently.
- Describe a time you dealt with false information.
- Describe a speech that you gave to a lot of people.
- Describe an adventure you would like to undertake.
- Describe a field of science that you are interested in.
- Describe a popular invention and how it is useful in everyday life.
- Describe a traditional event of immense significance in your native country.
- Describe something that you have previously complained about but eventually received a positive result.
- Describe a job that you think is interesting.
Common Cue Cards For IELTS
Other than the above 10, there are several q card IELTS that you must practise beforehand to perform well in the exam. These can be divided into different types, like topics based on time, family, person, object, favourites, etc. Explore a detailed list of each of these below:
#1 Cue Cards based on favourites:
- Describe your favourite picture.
- Talk about a song that has significant meaning to you.
- Describe your favourite story or novel.
- Describe a special toy that you played with in your childhood.
- Talk about a restaurant that you like to visit frequently.
- Describe an exciting spot that you like.
- Describe an Indoor Game that you love to play.
- Describe any activities that you like to do.
#2 Cue Cards based on time
- Describe a subject you liked to study in school.
- Describe the top things you would like to buy in the future.
- Describe a stage of your life that enjoyed the most.
#3 Cue Cards based on person
- Talk about someone you admire.
- Describe your favourite leader.
- Describe a family member you like to spend time with.
- Describe an old friend.
- Describe an interesting neighbour you have.
#4 Cue Cards based on family
- Talk about your family.
- Describe a family event you enjoyed in the past.
- Describe a family event you’re looking forward to.
- Describe a family picnic.
#5 Cue Cards based on object
- Describe a picture in your home.
- Describe a gift that required a lot of your time to choose.
- Describe a basic electronic equipment you find useful.
- Describe a time you had to borrow something.
- Describe a house you liked to stay in.
- Describe a product you like to use.
- Describe a piece of clothing you liked that you were gifted.
- Describe a painting or work of art you admire.
#6 Cue Cards based on place
- Describe a place you remember well that is colourful.
- Describe a country you haven’t visited yet but would like to visit.
- Describe a polluted place.
- Describe a water body close to your house.
- Describe a place that you like to visit often.
#7 Cue Cards based on work/study
- Describe a project at work or a homework assignment that you did well at.
- Describe a course you found helpful.
- Describe a piece of work you are proud of.
- Describe your dream job.
- Describe a course or module that you want to learn more about.
#8 Cue Cards based on aspirations/emotions
- Describe an ambition you haven’t achieved yet.
- Describe a paid job that you did and enjoyed.
- Describe a unique experience you had as a part of a team.
- Describe a disagreement you had with a friend.
- Describe a difficult decision you had to make in your life.
- Describe a TV programme that you enjoyed.
- Describe a goal that you have.
- Describe an advertisement you found persuasive.
- Describe a memorable meal.
- Describe a time when you had to be friendly with someone you didn’t like.
How To Master Cue Cards For IELTS?
Mastering how to answer the cue cards for IELTS is an important part of your overall preparation. Since this is a significant sub-section of speaking, practising as much as possible is extremely crucial. Some of the best ways to score well in this section are mentioned below:
- Take a few seconds to read and understand the cue card accurately. The examiners mark your score depending on the relevance of your answer. Any inaccurate response might cost you marks.
- Take the one-minute preparation time to form the answer for your topic and collect your thoughts accurately. Respond with a structured answer in the format referenced by the IELTS guidelines.
- Speak confidently and clearly. Avoid unnecessary content fluff.
- Try to use a varied range of vocabulary, instead of repetitive words.
- Pay heed to the time limit. Do not go over 2 minutes. However, at the same time, remember not to provide a very short answer.
- Practise the above topics thoroughly. All the best!
FAQs
Q1. What is a cue card for IELTS writing or speaking?
Ans: A cue card is a prompt, question or topic given in the speaking section of IELTS that the candidates must prepare on the spot and speak about for 2 minutes. The examiner will then discuss the topic for another minute. It is designed to test the candidate’s ability to speak fluently, form relevant answers, and use varied vocabulary.
Q2. How to solve a cue card in IELTS?
Ans: The first step is to understand the topic and formulate your thoughts. Once you’ve done that, think of any unique points that you may want to add to your answer. It is advisable to practise cue cards as much as possible before appearing for the exam.
Q3. How many cue cards are in IELTS?
Ans: There are roughly 50 possible cue cards that the students could get. They change every 4 months, with 50% of topics being replaced every April, September, and December.
Q4. Is an IELTS score of 7 good?
Ans: An IELTS score of 7.0 is above average and great to be admitted to any popular universities with relatively lower acceptance rates.
Q5. Does the cue card repeat?
Ans: Since cue cards usually get replaced every 4 months, there is a chance that some of them might repeat. However, candidates must be prepared for all possibilities.
Thank you for reading our guide to Cue Cards for IELTS! Which are your favourite topics? Let us know in the comments section below!
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I have done Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts from India and completed my graduation in the year 2022 .I am 22 years old. After graduation, I have done 1 year paid internship from USA .Now, I would like to take occupational experience and learn culinary skills and also do masters in Culinary arts.How can I find the college n best course / country where I can persue studying further