🔶 Part 1 — Tutorial

How to Answer IELTS Speaking Part 2 — Step by Step

Step 1 — Understand the Cue Card: The first thing you should do is read the cue card carefully and slowly. Spend 5–10 seconds identifying the task sentence (for example, “Describe an important decision you made”). Underline the verbs such as “describe,” “explain,” or “talk about.” These action words tell you what the examiner expects. If you ignore or misinterpret them, you risk going off-topic. Reading attentively ensures you know exactly what information to include and prevents unnecessary hesitation later.

Example: If the task is “Describe a time when you helped someone,” you must prepare details about who the person was, what help you gave, how the person reacted, and why this was meaningful.

Step 2 — Make Quick Notes: During your 1-minute preparation, never try to write full sentences. This wastes time and will sound unnatural if you read them word for word. Instead, note down 6–8 keywords in bullet form. Arrange them in order: introduction → setting/time → main actions → feelings → conclusion. Keywords act like road signs; they guide your talk without limiting you. Candidates who use only their memory often panic and stop too early. Having notes keeps you secure and fluent throughout the 2-minute talk.

Example keywords for “Helping someone”: classmate → exam week → shared notes → explained concepts → grateful smile → felt proud.

Step 3 — Begin Confidently: A smooth introduction makes a strong impression. Avoid long pauses, fillers, or “I don’t know.” Instead, restate the topic naturally. Your first sentence shows the examiner that you understood the task and are ready. Add a little background (time, place, or situation) so your answer flows into the main story. Think of the opening as the “doorway” into your response — once you step inside, the rest will feel easier.

Example introduction: “I’d like to talk about a time when I helped one of my classmates prepare for an important exam last year.”

Step 4 — Develop the Story: Spend most of your speaking time giving details. Cover each bullet point but don’t stop there — expand with examples, explanations, and emotions. Use sequencing connectors such as “first of all,” “later on,” “afterwards,” “in the end.” This not only structures your talk but also demonstrates coherence. To raise your band score, include descriptive language, comparisons, or small anecdotes. The more vivid your story, the more engaging your speech becomes. Remember: Part 2 rewards both fluency and richness of content.

Step 5 — Conclude with Reflection: Use the last 15–20 seconds to show what the experience meant to you. Reflection demonstrates that you can evaluate events, not just describe them. It can be about lessons learned, personal feelings, or long-term impact. A thoughtful ending makes your talk sound complete, even if the examiner interrupts you. Avoid trailing off with “that’s it.” Instead, round off with a personal opinion or insight.

Example conclusion: “Overall, this experience was very meaningful because it not only strengthened my friendship with my classmate but also made me realise how rewarding it is to support others.”

Universal Fill-in-the-Gap Template (Sentence by Sentence)

1. I would like to talk about ___(topic)___.

2. It happened ___(when/where)___.

3. At the beginning, ___(background information)___.

4. One important point is that ___(main detail)___.

5. Moreover, I remember ___(specific example or short story)___.

6. Another significant aspect was ___(second idea with explanation)___.

7. Finally, what impressed me most was ___(personal reaction or reflection)___.

8. Overall, I believe that ___(concluding opinion/lesson learned)___.

By mastering this structure, you guarantee that your answer is clear, fluent, and well-organised. Even if the topic changes, this universal method allows you to adapt quickly and deliver a strong Band 7+ performance every time.

🔷 Part 2 — Task (Cue Card + Timers)

New Cue Card — IELTS Academic Speaking Part 2

Title: IELTS Academic — Speaking Part 2: Describe an important decision you made

Cue Card

Describe an important decision you made.

You should say:

  • what the decision was,
  • when and where you made it,
  • what factors you considered,
  • and explain why this decision was important for you.
Timers (Customisable)

Default: Preparation 60s • Speaking 120s

Preparation — Countdown

Use this time to plan your talk.

Time: 60s
Speaking — Timer & Recorder
Time: 120s

Recorder: (allows playback & download)

Download

Tip: You can start the speaking timer and the recorder together or separately.

Submission
Send via
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🟣 Part 3 — Sample Answer

Model Answer (Band 7–8) — “Describe an important decision you made”

Written Sample Answer

I would like to talk about an important decision I made two years ago — choosing to study abroad for my master’s degree. At that time, I was working in my home country, but I felt I needed new challenges and wider perspectives.

At first, it wasn’t an easy choice because staying at home meant financial security and closeness to my family. However, I considered the long-term benefits of studying in another culture, such as improving my English, building an international network, and gaining access to better job opportunities.

One important point is that I spent weeks comparing universities, scholarships, and living costs. Moreover, I remember talking with my parents and mentors, who reminded me that real growth often requires stepping outside of my comfort zone.

Another significant aspect is that I eventually chose the Netherlands as my destination because of its high-quality education and welcoming atmosphere for international students. Making the application was stressful, but receiving the acceptance letter was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Finally, what impressed me most about this decision was how much it changed me. I became more independent, adaptable, and confident. Overall, I believe it was a life-changing choice because it opened doors for my career and helped me grow as a person.

Sample Answer — Audio

Play the sample to observe natural pacing, intonation, and linking devices.

Why This Answer Works (Step-by-Step)
1) Fluency & Coherence

1. The answer follows a clear structure: introduction → background → supporting details → conclusion.

2. Smooth connectors such as “at first,” “however,” “moreover,” and “finally” create natural flow.

3. The candidate avoids long pauses or fillers, which gives an impression of confidence.

4. Short personal stories (parents’ advice, receiving the acceptance letter) make the talk engaging and coherent.

2) Task Fulfilment & Development

5. Every bullet point is addressed: what the decision was, when/where, what factors were considered, and why it mattered.

6. The candidate expands each point with explanations and consequences, not just short statements.

7. Including both advantages and difficulties shows balance and depth of thought.

8. The reflection at the end (“life-changing choice”) rounds off the talk effectively.

3) Lexical Resource

9. Vocabulary is topic-appropriate: “financial security,” “international network,” “stepping outside of my comfort zone.”

10. Collocations such as “long-term benefits” and “life-changing choice” show strong lexical range.

11. Synonyms (decision → choice, opportunity, option) avoid repetition.

12. Idiomatic language (“opened doors,” “stepping outside of my comfort zone”) raises the lexical level naturally.

4) Grammatical Range & Accuracy

13. Past tense narrates the decision and present tense explains its importance, showing control of time frames.

14. Complex sentences with “although,” “because,” and relative clauses add precision.

15. Conditional structures (“if I had stayed at home, I would not have grown as much”) could also be added for variety.

16. No major grammar errors appear, which supports Band 7+ accuracy.

5) Pronunciation & Delivery (for recording)

17. Key words (“decision,” “independent,” “life-changing”) should be stressed clearly.

18. Short thought groups make the delivery natural and easy to follow.

19. Rising intonation on connectors (“at first,” “however”) signals transition smoothly.

20. Falling intonation at the end of the conclusion signals closure confidently.

🟢 Part 4 — Vocabulary

Part 4 — Vocabulary (Key Words)

decision /dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ (BrE) · /dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun (countable/uncountable)

Word Pattern: make/take a decision | decision about/on + noun

Definition: a choice made after considering options or possibilities.

Example: “Choosing to study abroad was the most important decision of my life.” → (means the most significant choice I made).

Synonyms: choice, resolution

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “do a decision” ✘. Correct collocation: “make a decision.”

consequences /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwənsɪz/ (BrE) · /ˈkɑːn.sə.kwensɪz/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: plural noun

Word Pattern: face/deal with the consequences | consequences of + noun/verb-ing

Definition: the results or effects of a particular action or decision.

Example: “He accepted the consequences of leaving his stable job for further study.” → (means he faced the results of that decision).

Synonyms: outcomes, results

Common Mistakes: Some learners confuse “consequence” with “sequence.” A consequence is a result, not an order of events.

opportunity /ˌɒp.əˈtjuː.nə.ti/ (BrE) · /ˌɑː.pɚˈtuː.nə.t̬i/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun (countable)

Word Pattern: have/seize/miss an opportunity | opportunity to + verb

Definition: a chance or situation that makes it possible to do something.

Example: “Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to meet people from around the world.” → (means I had the chance to do it).

Synonyms: chance, possibility

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “an opportunity for do” ✘. Correct: “an opportunity to do.”

consider /kənˈsɪd.ər/ (BrE) · /kənˈsɪd.ɚ/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: verb

Word Pattern: consider + noun/verb-ing | consider whether/if

Definition: to think carefully about something before making a decision.

Example: “I had to consider the financial costs before deciding to study abroad.” → (means think carefully before deciding).

Synonyms: think about, weigh up

Common Mistakes: Learners confuse “consider about” ✘. Correct: just “consider” without “about.”

life-changing /ˈlaɪfˌtʃeɪn.dʒɪŋ/ (BrE) · /ˈlaɪfˌtʃeɪn.dʒɪŋ/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: adjective

Word Pattern: life-changing + noun (decision/experience/event)

Definition: having such a strong effect that it completely changes someone’s life.

Example: “Deciding to move abroad was a life-changing experience for me.” → (means it transformed my life significantly).

Synonyms: transformative, pivotal

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes write “life-changed” ✘. Correct adjective form is “life-changing.”

🟠 Part 5 — Phrases & Expressions

Part 5 — Phrases & Expressions

weigh up the pros and cons /weɪ ʌp ðə ˌprəʊz ən ˈkɒnz/ (BrE) · /weɪ ʌp ðə ˌproʊz ən ˈkɑːnz/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: verb phrase

Word Pattern: weigh up the pros and cons of + noun/verb-ing

Definition: to carefully think about the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision.

Example: “I had to weigh up the pros and cons of leaving my job to study abroad.” → (means I considered both the good and bad sides).

Synonyms: evaluate, consider carefully

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “weight the pros and cons” ✘. Correct verb is “weigh.”

make or break /ˌmeɪk ɔː ˈbreɪk/ (BrE) · /ˌmeɪk ɔːr ˈbreɪk/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: idiom (adjective phrase)

Word Pattern: a make-or-break + noun (decision/moment/opportunity)

Definition: something that will either ensure success or cause failure.

Example: “It was a make-or-break decision for my future career.” → (means it was critical to success or failure).

Synonyms: decisive, crucial, all-or-nothing

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “make and break” ✘. The correct form is “make or break.”

at the crossroads /æt ðə ˈkrɒs.rəʊdz/ (BrE) · /æt ðə ˈkrɑːs.roʊdz/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: idiom (prepositional phrase)

Word Pattern: be at the crossroads of + choice/situation

Definition: to be at a point in life where an important decision must be made.

Example: “After graduating, I was at the crossroads of choosing between work and further study.” → (means I had to decide between two major paths).

Synonyms: turning point, critical moment

Common Mistakes: Learners may say “in the crossroads” ✘. Correct preposition is “at.”

second thoughts /ˌsek.ənd ˈθɔːts/ (BrE) · /ˌsek.ənd ˈθɔːts/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: noun phrase (usually plural)

Word Pattern: have second thoughts about + noun/verb-ing

Definition: to start doubting a decision you have already made.

Example: “I had second thoughts about moving abroad when I realised how expensive it would be.” → (means I started to doubt my decision).

Synonyms: doubts, reconsideration

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “two thoughts” ✘. The fixed phrase is “second thoughts.”

open doors /ˌəʊ.pən ˈdɔːz/ (BrE) · /ˌoʊ.pən ˈdɔːrz/ (AmE)

Part of Speech: idiom (verb phrase)

Word Pattern: decision/choice + opens doors for + someone

Definition: to create new opportunities or possibilities.

Example: “This decision opened many doors for me in my career.” → (means it created new opportunities).

Synonyms: create opportunities, pave the way

Common Mistakes: Learners sometimes say “open the door for” in general ✘. Correct idiom: “open doors” (plural) to mean opportunities.

🔺 Part 6 — Interactive Exercise

Part 6 — Interactive Exercise

Each attempt shows 10 random questions from the 25-question pool. After you choose an answer, a detailed explanation will appear. Use Retry to load a new random set.