IELTS Podcast

Pass IELTS with expert help.

ielts tutor - Ben Worthington | IELTSPodcast

We help students improve their band score by giving expert feedback. Sign up to IELTSPodcast here

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards Example

Cue Card Samples:

For the IELTS Speaking section of your IELTS exam, you are given 1 minute  by the examiner to prepare yourself to talk about a specific topic. This topic will be called a cue. The cue card topic as well as instructions about the topic are written as a guide. Here are some examples of cue cards to help you prepare and know what to expect.

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 1: Describe your favourite genre of music.

1. What is it?
2. Who is your favourite artist in this genre?
3. What does this express about yourself?

  • What is your favourite instrument, voice or sound used in the genre?
  • Do you have a favourite band from this genre?

Cue Card 1 Follow Up Questions.

4. Is this genre related to any other genres?
5. When did you first discover this was your favourite genre?
6. Has this genre influenced your life in any way?

  • Do you play any instruments?
  • Can you play any songs by an artist from this genre?

IELTS Speaking Cue Card 2: Describe your quiet place.

1. What does it look like?
2. Is there anything necessary used to create this place?
3. How much time do you spend there?

  • Where is this place?
  • Is this place somewhere you can visit?
  • Does this place change in appearance?

Cue Card 2 Follow Up Questions.

4. What has this place helped you accomplish?
5. How should an ideal quiet place be set up?

  • Is a quiet place the same as a happy place?
  • If your happy place is different from your quiet place, what is your happy place?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 3: Describe a childhood friend.

1. What did your friend look like?
2. How did you meet your childhood friend? How old were you when you met?
3. Are you still friends?

  • What was the worst fight you guys had?
  • Do you share a secret between you two?
  • Did you two go to school together?

Cue Card 3 Follow Up Questions.

4. What was the happiest moment shared between you two?
5. When was the last time you talked to each other?
6. Where does your friend live now?

  • Does every person have a childhood best friend?
  • Which are more important,
  • What should someone do if they do not know how to make friends?
  • Is shyness becoming more common nowadays?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 4: Describe your favourite social media site.

1. What is your favourite social media site?
2. What do you use it for?
3. How long have you been using the social media site for?

  • How many times a day, week, or month do you log onto this site?
  • Does the site affect you mentally?

Cue Card 4 Follow Up Questions.

4. What is something you don’t like about this site?
5. Are there any perks for setting up an account?
6. How often do you go onto the site?

  • Are social media sites dangerous to use?
  • How many people in total use the same site that you use in the world?
  • Have you witnessed cyberbullying?
  • Does it change your views towards anything?
  • How can you help someone who is being cyberbullied?
  • Which social media sites should you avoid?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 5: Describe your favourite hobby.

1. What is your favourite hobby?
2. How long have you been doing your hobby for?
3. What is the best thing that has come from this hobby?

  • Is your hobby a sport? If yes, which sport is it?
  • Is your hobby an art, craft or trade? If yes, what was the best thing you have made from it?

Cue Card 5 Follow Up Questions.

4. Do you know any friends who share this same hobby?
5. Is this hobby expensive?
6. How long do you plan on keeping this hobby for?

  • How many people have this hobby?
  • How popular is this hobby?
  • Are there any groups, specialists, competitions or clubs for this hobby?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 6: Describe the best moment of your life.

1. What was the best moment of your life?
2. Who was involved in that moment?
3. When did this moment take place?

  • Were any of your friends or family here when this happened?
  • Can the best moment of your life happen again?

Cue Card 6 Follow Up Questions.

4. What was so special about this moment?
5. Would you repeat the moment again if you could?
6. Would you skip this moment if you could? – Is the best moment of your life real? Or something that the brain makes up?

  • Should everyone have a best moment of their lives? Is this moment something that you should deserve to have?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 7: Describe your idol.

1. Who is your idol?
2. Why and how did this person become your idol?
3. How has this person impacted your life?

  • Do you actually believe in idols?
  • Do you think having an idol makes you a better person?
  • Do you idolise yourself?

Cue Card 7 Follow Up Questions.

4. Whom do you idolise the least?
5. What could this person do that would make you consider them to not be your idol anymore?
6. Would you relive the moment when this person became your idol again if you had the opportunity?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 8: Describe your dream job.

1. What is your dream job?
2. Do you already have this job?
3. What does it take to get this job? Is it difficult?

  • Do you have to go to school for you dream job?
  • Are you currently in school for your dream job?

Cue Card 8 Follow Up Questions.

4. Does anyone you know have this job?
5. When did this become your dream job?
6. What will it take to keep the job?

  • Should dream jobs make you a lot of money?
  • Or should dream jobs only make you happy?
  • Does your dream job make enough money for you to live comfortably?
  • Can you ever be too old to work at your dream job?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 9: Describe your dream vacation.

1. What is your dream vacation?
2. Where is your dream vacation located?
3. Have you been on your dream vacation?

  • Will you ever be able to go on your dream vacation?
  • How much will your dream vacation cost?

Cue Card 9 Follow Up Questions.

4. Should everyone be able to go on their dream vacation?
5. Is the vacation supposed to be a reward or something you can do anytime?

  • Explain why this is your dream vacation.
  • Is a dream vacation real?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 10: Describe where you want to retire.

1. Where do you want to retire?
2. Why is this where you want to retire?
3. What memories or activities do you want to do once you retire?

  • Is this place real?
  • Is there a favourite food you will have supplied here?

Cue Card 10 Follow Up Questions.

4. Is the cost of retirement too expensive?
5. Should you be able to retire as a young adult?
6. Did you lose any money from your retirement when the economy fell?

  • How much do you want to save up for retirement?
  • How much does the average person in your country save up for retirement?
  • Is retirement not possible in certain countries or areas?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 11: Public Transport.

1. Describe your favourite mode of public transport.
2. What is your favourite mode of public transport?
3. How often do you use public transport?
4. Explain your feelings towards public transport.
5. What differences do you see between different modes of public transport?

Cue Card 11 Follow Up Questions.

6. When do you most commonly use public transport?
7. What are the benefits of using public transport?
8. Why do you use public transport?
9. Do you suggest others do the same?

IELTS Cue Cards 12: Pets.

1. Describe your pet(s).
2. What kind of pets do you own?
3. How do your pets make you feel?
4. Where did you get your pet(s)?
5. How interactive are you with your pets?

Speaking Cue Card 12 Follow Up Questions.

6. Who takes care of your pets? Are they high maintenance?
7. What do you think of people who don’t take care of their pets?
8. Do you plan on owning another type of pet in the future?
9. Which kind?

IELTS Speaking Cue Cards 13: Technology.

1. Describe how you use technology in your everyday life.
2. How often do you use your mobile phone?
3. Do you use the computer daily?
4. What does technology make easier in your day to day life?

Cue Card 13 Follow Up Questions.

5. How much time do you spend using technology?
6. Can you be more productive with this time?
7. Who pays for your technology habits?
8. What are the most common types of technology you use?

IELTS Cue Cards 14: Reading.

1. Describe what type of effect reading has on you.
2. How do you feel when reading a newspaper/magazine article?
3. Do you read frequently and stay up to date with literature?
4. Where do you read most often?
5. When do you read there?

Cue Card 14 Follow Up Questions.

6. Do others like to read with you?
7. How did you learn to read?
8. Explain the plot of your favourite story/book.

IELTS Cue Cards 15: Grandparents.

1. Describe your grandparents What are your grandparents like?
2. Do your grandparents have special talents?

Cue Card 15 Follow Up Questions.

3. How often do you see your grandparents?
4. Do you enjoy seeing them?
5. How far do you live from your grandparents?
6. How do your grandparents treat you?

For more help with your IELTS speaking, take a look at our speaking course.

We also have free tutorials to help you prepare and improve your confidence here.

IELTS Speaking tutorials: