15 IELTS Speaking Cue Cards with follow-up questions (2023)
In this tutorial, we look at 15 IELTS Speaking cue cards with follow-up questions.
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 with follow-up questions to help you prepare and know what to expect.
IELTS Speaking Cue Card 1: Describe your favourite genre of music.
- What is it?
- Who is your favourite artist in this genre?
- What does this express about yourself?
Cue Card 1 Follow-Up Questions
- What is your favourite instrument, voice or sound used in the genre?
- Do you have a favourite band from this genre?
- Is this genre related to any other genres?
- When did you first discover this was your favourite genre?
- 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.
- What does it look like?
- Is there anything necessary used to create this place?
- How much time do you spend there?
- Where is this place?
Cue Card 2 Follow-Up Questions.
- Is this place somewhere you can visit?
- Does this place change in appearance?
- What has this place helped you accomplish?
- 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 Card 3: Describe a childhood friend.
- What did your friend look like?
- How did you meet your childhood friend? How old were you when you met?
- Are you still friends?
Cue Card 3 Follow-Up Questions.
- What was the worst fight you guys had?
- Do you share a secret between you two?
- Did you two go to school together?
- What was the happiest moment shared between you two?
- When was the last time you talked to each other?
- Where does your friend live now?
- What should someone do if they do not know how to make friends?
- Is shyness becoming more common nowadays?
- Does every person have a childhood best friend?
IELTS Speaking Cue Card 4: Describe your favourite social media site.
- What is your favourite social media site?
- What do you use it for?
- How long have you been using the social media site for?
Cue Card 4 Follow-Up Questions.
- How many times a day, week, or month do you log onto this site?
- Does the site affect you mentally?
- What is something you don’t like about this site?
- Are there any perks for setting up an account?
- 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 Card 5: Describe your favourite hobby.
- What is your favourite hobby?
- How long have you been doing your hobby?
- What is the best thing that has come from this hobby?
Cue Card 5 Follow-Up Questions
- 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?
- Do you know any friends who share this same hobby?
- Is this hobby expensive?
- 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 Card 6: Describe the best moment of your life.
- What was the best moment of your life?
- Who was involved in that moment?
- When did this moment take place?
Cue Card 6 Follow-Up Questions
- Were any of your friends or family here when this happened?
- Can the best moment of your life happen again?
- What was so special about this moment?
- Would you repeat the moment again if you could?
- 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 Card 7: Describe your idol.
- Who is your idol?
- Why and how did this person become your idol?
- How has this person impacted your life?
Cue Card 7 Follow-Up Questions.
- Do you actually believe in idols?
- Do you think having an idol makes you a better person?
- Do you idolise yourself?
- Whom do you idolise the least?
- What could this person do that would make you consider them to not be your idol anymore?
- Would you relive the moment when this person became your idol again if you had the opportunity?
8: Describe your dream job.
- What is your dream job?
- Do you already have this job?
- What does it take to get this job? Is it difficult?
Cue Card 8 Follow-Up Questions.
- Do you have to go to school for your dream job?
- Are you currently in school for your dream job?
- Does anyone you know have this job?
- When did this become your dream job?
- 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?
9: Describe your dream vacation.
- What is your dream vacation?
- Where is your dream vacation located?
- Have you been on your dream vacation?
Cue Card 9 Follow-Up Questions.
- Will you ever be able to go on your dream vacation?
- How much will your dream vacation cost?
- Should everyone be able to go on their dream vacation?
- 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?
10: Describe where you want to retire.
- Where do you want to retire?
- Why is this where you want to retire?
- What memories or activities do you want to do once you retire?
Cue Card 10 Follow-Up Questions.
- Is this place real?
- Is there a favourite food you will have supplied here?
- Is the cost of retirement too expensive?
- Should you be able to retire as a young adult?
- 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?
11: Describe your favourite mode of public transport.
- What is your favourite mode of public transport?
- How often do you use public transport?
- Explain your feelings towards public transport.
- What differences do you see between different modes of public transport?
Cue Card 11 Follow-Up Questions.
- When do you most commonly use public transport?
- What are the benefits of using public transport?
- Why do you use public transport?
- Do you suggest others do the same?
12: Describe your pet(s).
- What kind of pets do you own?
- How do your pets make you feel?
- Where did you get your pet(s)?
- How interactive are you with your pets?
Cue Card 12 Follow-Up Questions.
- Who takes care of your pets? Are they high maintenance?
- What do you think of people who don’t take care of their pets?
- Do you plan on owning another type of pet in the future?
- Which kind?
Cue Card 13: Describe how you use technology in your everyday life.
- How often do you use your mobile phone?
- Do you use the computer daily?
- What does technology make easier in your day-to-day life?
Cue Card 13 Follow-Up Questions.
- How much time do you spend using technology?
- Can you be more productive with this time?
- Who pays for your technology habits?
- What are the most common types of technology you use?
Cue Card 14: Describe what type of effect reading has on you.
- How do you feel when reading a newspaper/magazine article?
- Do you read frequently and stay up to date with literature?
- Where do you read most often?
- When do you read there?
Cue Card 14 Follow-Up Questions.
- Do others like to read with you?
- How did you learn to read?
- Explain the plot of your favourite story/book.
Cue Card 15: Describe your grandparents
- What are your grandparents like?
- Do your grandparents have special talents?
Cue Card 15 Follow-Up Questions
- How often do you see your grandparents?
- Do you enjoy seeing them?
- How far do you live from your grandparents?
- 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
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards about People
- IELTS Speaking Idioms
- How to give your opinion in the speaking exam
- Making notes for speaking part 2
- How to speak about your hobbies in part 1
- How to get band 9 in your IELTS Speaking
- Tips for IELTS Speaking Part
- IELTS Speaking vocabulary to help you prepare
- Band 9 pronunciation for IELTS Speaking
