Bithika Das
Education SpecialistPart 2 is the section where most Indian IELTS candidates leave marks on the table. You get a cue card, 60 seconds to think, and then 2 minutes to speak without interruption. No follow-up questions from the examiner, no safety net. Just you and the topic.
India's average IELTS speaking score sits at approximately 6.2, lagging behind the global average of 6.4 (IELTS Partners Test Taker Performance, 2025). A significant chunk of that gap comes from Part 2. Cambridge Assessment research shows that Part 2 monologue performance correlates more strongly with overall speaking scores than either Part 1 or Part 3 (Cambridge Assessment English, 2024). In other words, this is the section worth obsessing over.
This guide gives you 30 cue card topics pulled from real test-taker reports during 2025-2026, complete with 1-minute planning notes and natural, Band 7+ model answers. These aren't polished essay paragraphs. They sound like a real person talking, with self-corrections, fillers, and the kind of imperfect fluency that examiners actually reward.
Key Takeaways
The format is consistent across every test centre worldwide, covering roughly 3-4 minutes of your 11-14 minute speaking exam (IELTS.org Test Format, 2025). The examiner hands you a cue card with a topic and four bullet points. You get a pencil, paper, and exactly 60 seconds to prepare. Then you speak for 1-2 minutes while the examiner listens silently.
The cue card always follows the same template. A main prompt ("Describe a..."), three "you should say" bullet points, and one "and explain" closing point. You don't need to address every bullet point, but covering at least three shows the examiner you can organize ideas coherently.
What catches people off guard is the silence. The examiner won't nod, ask follow-ups, or give any feedback during your monologue. That 2 minutes of uninterrupted speech feels much longer than it sounds on paper. If you finish early, the examiner may ask one or two brief rounding-off questions, but these carry minimal scoring weight.
Citation Capsule: IELTS Speaking Part 2 occupies 3-4 minutes of the total 11-14 minute speaking examination, requiring candidates to deliver a 1-2 minute uninterrupted monologue after 60 seconds of preparation, with performance in this section showing the strongest correlation to overall speaking band scores (Cambridge Assessment English, 2024).
Most candidates waste their 60 seconds trying to write full sentences. That's a mistake. Research from IELTS preparation communities, including analysis of over 2,000 test-taker reports on r/IELTS, shows that candidates who use keyword notes outperform those who write sentences by an average of 0.5 bands in fluency (IELTS Advantage, 2025). The reason is simple: reading sentences aloud sounds rehearsed, while glancing at trigger words sounds natural.
Here's the system that works. Write four lines of short trigger words:
That fourth line is the secret weapon. Having pre-selected transition phrases prevents the "um... so... um..." spiral that kills fluency scores. You're not memorizing content. You're giving yourself linguistic scaffolding.
Test-takers on r/IELTS who scored Band 7+ consistently report that spending the first 15 seconds reading the cue card carefully, then 45 seconds writing keywords, produces more confident responses than rushing to write immediately. The reading step prevents a common mistake: answering a slightly different question than what was asked.
Don't write full sentences. You'll spend the next 2 minutes reading instead of speaking, and examiners spot the difference instantly.
Don't try to plan a conclusion. Your ending should emerge naturally from the story. Planned conclusions sound rehearsed and eat up precious thinking time.
Don't panic if you've never experienced the exact scenario. Make it up. IELTS doesn't verify facts. What matters is your English, not your biography.
Citation Capsule: Candidates who use keyword-based notes during the 1-minute IELTS Part 2 preparation time score approximately 0.5 bands higher in fluency than those who write full sentences, as keyword triggers produce more natural-sounding speech compared to reading scripted responses (IELTS Advantage, 2025).
These 30 topics come from test-taker reports collected across Reddit's r/IELTS community, Telegram IELTS preparation groups, and IELTS preparation forums during the May 2025 to April 2026 test period. The IELTS question bank rotates on a four-month cycle (January-April, May-August, September-December), and these topics reflect the most frequently reported cue cards from recent rotations (IELTS Liz Topic Reports, 2025-2026).
Each model answer is written at Band 7+ level with deliberate features: natural fillers ("you know," "honestly"), self-corrections, personal specifics, and a mix of simple and complex grammar. These are meant to sound spoken, not written.
Cue Card: Describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting. You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know them
- what interesting thing they inspired you to do and explain why you found it inspiring.
1-Minute Notes:
- uncle Venkat, software engineer, Bangalore
- started running, Cubbon Park, 5 AM, Jan 2025
- lost 8 kg in 4 months, half-marathon
- "what made it special" / "honestly" / "the funny thing is"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"So the person I want to talk about is my uncle Venkat. He's a software engineer in Bangalore, probably in his late forties, and I've always known him as this very... quiet, bookish kind of person. Not someone you'd associate with athletics at all.
But around January last year, I found out he'd started running. Like, seriously running. Every morning at 5 AM in Cubbon Park. He posted a few photos on Instagram, and honestly, the transformation was striking. He'd lost quite a bit of weight and just looked, I don't know, ten years younger.
What really inspired me was when he completed a half-marathon in Bangalore. I remember thinking, if he can do this at forty-seven with a desk job, what's my excuse? So I started running too. Just short distances at first, maybe 2 kilometres, and I was terrible. The funny thing is, he actually became my running coach over WhatsApp, sending me training plans and telling me not to push too hard.
I think what made it truly inspiring was that he never tried to convince anyone. He just quietly did it, and the results spoke for themselves. That's a much more powerful form of inspiration than someone lecturing you about fitness."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a friend you enjoy spending time with. You should say:
- who this friend is
- how long you have known them
- what you usually do together and explain why you enjoy spending time with them.
1-Minute Notes:
- Priya, college roommate, 6 years
- weekend chai, South Bangalore cafe, talk for hours
- comfortable silence, no pretense
- "the best part" / "what I mean is" / "come to think of it"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The friend I'd pick is Priya. We were roommates in college, so that's about six years now. We studied engineering together in Pune, and even though she's moved to Hyderabad and I'm in Bangalore, we still keep in close touch.
When we do meet, which is maybe once every couple of months, we have this ritual of going to a small cafe in South Bangalore. Nothing fancy. We just order chai and these really good butter biscuits, and we end up talking for three or four hours. About everything, really. Work frustrations, family drama, sometimes just random memories from college.
The best part is that there's no performance involved. With some friends, you feel like you have to be interesting or funny. With Priya, I can just be quiet for a bit and it's completely fine. What I mean is, we've reached that level of comfort where silence isn't awkward.
Come to think of it, I think what makes our friendship work is that neither of us keeps score. She doesn't get offended if I don't reply to messages for a week, and I don't either. It's very low-maintenance but very genuine."
Cue Card: Describe a person who is good at their job. You should say:
- who this person is
- what their job is
- how you know about their work and explain why you think they are good at it.
1-Minute Notes:
- Dr Meera, pediatrician, family doctor
- calm with crying kids, explains simply
- diagnosed cousin's allergy when others missed
- "what sets her apart" / "the reason I say this"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"I'd like to talk about Dr Meera, who's been our family pediatrician for almost fifteen years. She runs a small clinic near our house in Chennai, and I've seen her work firsthand because my younger cousin was a frequent visitor as a child.
What sets her apart from other doctors I've met is her patience. Kids are terrified of clinics, right? But she has this way of making them comfortable. She'll chat with them about cartoons or school before even touching a stethoscope. My cousin actually used to look forward to doctor visits, which sounds absurd, but that's genuinely how good she is with children.
The reason I say she's exceptional at her job, though, goes beyond bedside manner. There was an incident where my cousin had recurring skin rashes, and two other doctors prescribed generic ointments. Dr Meera actually ran a food allergy test, which nobody else thought of, and it turned out he was mildly allergic to cashews. That diagnosis changed everything.
She also takes the time to explain things to parents in simple language. No medical jargon. I think being good at a job isn't just about technical skill. It's about making people feel heard."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe an older person you admire. You should say:
- who they are
- how you know them
- what they do and explain why you admire them.
1-Minute Notes:
- grandmother, 78, retired teacher, Coimbatore
- still reads newspaper cover to cover, learns smartphone
- taught in village school 35 years
- "what I admire most" / "the thing about her"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The older person I admire most is my maternal grandmother. She's seventy-eight now, lives in Coimbatore, and she was a government school teacher for thirty-five years before retiring.
The thing about her is that retirement didn't slow her down at all. She still reads the newspaper cover to cover every morning, and I mean every section, not just headlines. Last year, she asked me to teach her how to use Google Maps on her phone because she wanted to find walking routes near her house. That kind of curiosity at her age... it's honestly quite remarkable.
What I admire most is her career. She taught in a village school outside Coimbatore where most students were first-generation learners. Some of them are engineers and doctors now, and they still visit her during festivals. She never earned a high salary, never got famous, but she genuinely changed lives. I've met some of her former students at family events, and the way they talk about her, you'd think she was their own mother.
I suppose what really stays with me is her attitude toward learning. She always says education isn't something that stops when school ends. And she practices what she preaches."
Cue Card: Describe a person you would like to study or work with. You should say:
- who this person is
- why you want to study or work with them
- what you would do together and explain what you could learn from them.
1-Minute Notes:
- Raghuram Rajan, economist, RBI governor
- clear thinking, explains complex things simply
- would want to learn decision-making under pressure
- "from what I've read" / "I imagine" / "the key thing"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"If I could choose anyone, I'd say Raghuram Rajan, the former RBI governor and currently a professor at Chicago. I know that sounds ambitious, but from what I've read and heard of him, he represents exactly the kind of thinker I'd want to learn from.
The key thing about him, at least from my perspective, is his ability to explain really complex economic concepts in plain language. I've watched several of his lectures on YouTube, and he makes things like monetary policy or inflation targeting feel accessible. That's a rare skill. Most economists I've encountered in textbooks or news tend to make things more confusing, not less.
I imagine if I could work with him, I'd want to understand how he makes decisions under pressure. When he was RBI governor, he made some choices that were quite unpopular at the time but turned out to be right in hindsight. That kind of conviction, where you have data supporting your position but the public is against you, that's something I'd love to observe up close.
I think what I'd learn most from him isn't economics itself, but intellectual honesty. He seems like someone who follows the evidence rather than telling people what they want to hear."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a place you visited that was affected by pollution. You should say:
- where this place is
- when you visited it
- what kind of pollution it had and explain how you felt about it.
1-Minute Notes:
- Yamuna river, Delhi, Nov 2024, family trip
- foam floating, industrial waste, toxic smell
- contrast with old photos, grandmother's childhood
- "what shocked me" / "to be honest" / "it really hit me"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"I want to talk about the Yamuna river in Delhi. I visited in November 2024 during a family trip, and to be honest, it was quite disturbing to see the state of the river.
I'd seen photos online before, but seeing it in person was completely different. There was this thick white foam floating on the surface near the Kalindi Kunj area. The smell was, well, it was unbearable. We couldn't stand near the water for more than a few minutes. My grandmother, who grew up in Delhi, told me that people used to swim in the Yamuna when she was young, which sounds impossible now.
What shocked me was the scale of it. It wasn't just one section. As we drove along the river, you could see discoloured water, plastic waste along the banks, and industrial effluent being discharged openly in some places. There were also people washing clothes in it, which... I mean, they probably don't have a choice, but it really hit me.
I left feeling quite angry, honestly. Not at any one person, but at the system. The river passes through the capital of the country, with all the government offices right there, and it's in this condition. It made me realize how easy it is to ignore environmental damage when it doesn't affect your daily life directly."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a city you would like to visit in the future. You should say:
- which city it is
- where this city is located
- what you know about it and explain why you want to visit this city.
1-Minute Notes:
- Tokyo, Japan, food culture
- clean public transport, Shibuya, cherry blossoms
- watched many Japanese films, Miyazaki
- "I've heard that" / "apparently" / "what draws me"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The city I've been wanting to visit for years is Tokyo. I know it's a popular answer, but my reasons are quite specific. What draws me to it isn't the typical tourist stuff, well, not entirely.
I've been watching Japanese films since college, especially Studio Ghibli animations, and they present this interesting contrast between hyper-modern technology and deeply traditional culture. I want to see if that contrast actually exists in daily life, or if it's mostly a cinematic creation.
I've heard that Tokyo's public transport system is incredibly efficient. Apparently, if a train is delayed by even two minutes, they issue apology certificates. Coming from someone who commutes in Bangalore, that concept is almost science fiction. I'd genuinely love to experience a city where infrastructure works that smoothly.
But honestly, the main pull is food. I'm not talking about expensive sushi restaurants. I want to explore the small ramen shops in side streets, try convenience store onigiri, and visit Tsukiji Fish Market, or whatever replaced it. Japanese food culture fascinates me because there seems to be this perfectionism even in very simple dishes.
I'm hoping to go in spring, during cherry blossom season. My plan is to save up enough by next year, so hopefully 2027."
Cue Card: Describe a quiet place you like to go. You should say:
- where it is
- how you found it
- how often you go there and explain why you like this quiet place.
1-Minute Notes:
- terrace of apartment building, evening 6-7 PM
- discovered accidentally during lockdown, 2020
- watch sunset, no phone, weekly
- "it sounds mundane" / "what makes it special" / "I suppose"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"This might sound mundane, but the quiet place I keep going back to is the terrace of my apartment building in Bangalore. It's nothing picturesque, just a flat concrete roof with a water tank, but it's become something of a sanctuary for me.
I discovered it accidentally during the 2020 lockdown. Everyone was indoors, and I needed fresh air one evening, so I walked up to the terrace. The sunset that evening was spectacular, and I realized nobody else ever came up there.
Now I go at least once a week, usually around 6 PM. I leave my phone downstairs deliberately. I just sit on this plastic chair I dragged up there and watch the sky change colour for about thirty or forty minutes. Sometimes I think about work stuff. Sometimes I don't think about anything at all.
I suppose what makes it special is the contrast. Bangalore is noisy. My flat is noisy, the street is noisy, my open-plan office is noisy. Having a place that's five minutes away where the only sounds are birds and distant traffic... it recharges me in a way that sleep doesn't quite manage. The best part is that nobody else has figured out this spot. The moment it becomes popular, I'll need to find a new one."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a place in your country you would recommend to visitors. You should say:
- what place it is
- where it is located
- what people can do there and explain why you would recommend it.
1-Minute Notes:
- Hampi, Karnataka, UNESCO site
- boulder landscape, ruins, Virupaksha temple
- rent bicycle, coracle ride, sunset from Matanga Hill
- "what most people don't expect" / "the thing is"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"I'd recommend Hampi, which is in northern Karnataka, about six hours from Bangalore by road. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but what most people don't expect is how otherworldly the landscape feels. It's not just old temples. The entire area is covered in these massive granite boulders that look like they were placed there by some giant. Very surreal.
There's plenty to do. You can rent a bicycle and spend a whole day cycling between the ruins. The Virupaksha Temple is still an active place of worship, which is quite moving when you consider it's over 700 years old. I'd also recommend taking a coracle ride across the Tungabhadra River, these are round wicker boats, and watching the sunset from Matanga Hill.
The thing is, Hampi has a pace that forces you to slow down. There's no real nightlife, limited wifi in some areas, and the restaurants are simple. For some people that's a drawback. For me, that's exactly the point.
I went there first as a student on a college trip, and I've been back three times since. Each time I notice something new, a carving on a wall I missed, or a pathway to a ruin I hadn't explored. If a foreign visitor asked me for one place that captures India's history and natural beauty together, Hampi is what I'd say without hesitation."
Cue Card: Describe a place where you go to relax. You should say:
- where it is
- what it looks like
- how often you go there and explain why it helps you relax.
1-Minute Notes:
- neighbourhood library, Jayanagar, old building
- wooden shelves, cool inside, quiet
- Saturday mornings, 2-3 hours, browse randomly
- "there's something about" / "I can't explain it fully"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The place I go to relax is actually a small neighbourhood library in Jayanagar, which is the part of Bangalore where I live. It's an old municipal library, nothing modern or glamorous. The shelves are wooden and slightly dusty, the fans are those old ceiling ones that wobble a bit, and it's always cool inside because of the thick stone walls.
I go on Saturday mornings, usually around 10, and stay for two or three hours. I don't always go with a specific book in mind. Sometimes I just browse the shelves and pick up whatever looks interesting. Last week I ended up reading half a book about the history of Indian railways, which I'd never have searched for online but found fascinating.
There's something about being in a room full of books where everyone is quietly doing their own thing. No background music, no notifications, no one trying to sell you anything. It's the only public space I know where silence is the default mode.
I can't explain it fully, but I always leave feeling calmer than when I walked in. It might be the absence of screens. Or maybe it's just the routine of going to the same place every week. Whatever the reason, it works better than any meditation app I've tried."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe an occasion when you had to wait a long time. You should say:
- when and where it happened
- who you were with
- why you had to wait and explain how you felt about waiting.
1-Minute Notes:
- passport office, Delhi, 8 hours, July 2024
- token system broken, no AC, overcrowded
- chatted with elderly man in queue
- "the irony was" / "but here's the thing"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"This one's easy because it's still fresh in my memory. Last July, I went to the passport office in Delhi for my renewal. The appointment was at 10 AM. I didn't leave until almost 6 in the evening. Eight hours for what should have been a thirty-minute process.
The token system had some technical issue that morning, so they were processing everyone manually. The waiting area was completely overcrowded, the air conditioning wasn't working properly, and there was this general sense of chaos. Nobody knew when their turn would come.
But here's the thing. Something unexpectedly nice happened during the wait. I ended up chatting with this elderly gentleman sitting next to me. He was getting his first passport at seventy-two because his grandson in Canada had invited him. He'd never been on a plane. He told me about his life, growing up in a small town in UP, working in a textile factory, and his excitement about seeing snow for the first time. That conversation genuinely made the wait worthwhile.
The irony was that the actual passport process took about seven minutes. Seven minutes of work after eight hours of waiting. I was frustrated, definitely, but that conversation reminded me that unexpected things happen when you're forced to slow down."
Cue Card: Describe a celebration or festival you enjoyed. You should say:
- what the celebration was
- when and where it happened
- who was there and explain why you enjoyed it.
1-Minute Notes:
- Onam, Kerala, grandparents' house, Sept 2025
- sadhya on banana leaf, 26 dishes, pookalam
- whole extended family, rare gathering
- "what made it different" / "I think the reason"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The celebration I remember most fondly is Onam last September. My grandparents live in a small town near Thrissur in Kerala, and for the first time in about five years, the entire extended family managed to get together.
My grandmother and her sisters prepared a traditional sadhya, which is this elaborate vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf. I counted twenty-six different dishes, and they'd been cooking since 4 AM. The women in my family take this very seriously. There's almost a competitive element to it, like who makes the best payasam.
Before lunch, we made a pookalam, which is a flower arrangement on the floor. The kids were in charge, and it was messy but beautiful. There was also a neighbourhood boat race nearby that some of the cousins went to watch.
What made it different from other festivals I've attended was the atmosphere. Usually when family gathers, there's some tension, some uncle arguing with another uncle about politics. But that day everyone was genuinely relaxed. I think the reason was that we all knew how rare it was to have everyone in one place. My grandfather is eighty-three, and nobody said it out loud, but everyone understood this gathering was precious. Those unspoken emotions made the celebration feel heavier and lighter at the same time."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a time when you received good news. You should say:
- what the news was
- when you received it
- how you received it and explain how you felt about the news.
1-Minute Notes:
- job offer email, first job after college, June 2023
- checking phone at 6 AM, couldn't believe it
- called mom first, she cried
- "I remember exactly" / "the funny thing"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"I remember this moment exactly. It was June 2023, a few weeks after my final semester exams. I'd been applying to companies for about four months, and honestly, the rejections had started to pile up. I was beginning to doubt whether I'd find anything before my parents started worrying too much.
The news came as an email, at about 6 AM on a Tuesday. I'd woken up early because I couldn't sleep, that anxiety of waiting, you know? I checked my phone and saw the subject line: 'Offer Letter from [company name].' I actually read it three times because I thought I was misunderstanding something. The salary was higher than I'd expected, which made it even more surreal.
The funny thing is, I didn't shout or jump or anything dramatic. I just sat on my bed feeling this wave of relief wash over me. Then I called my mom, and she was the one who got emotional. She started crying, which made me tear up a bit too, if I'm being honest.
What made the news so meaningful wasn't just the job itself. It was the end of uncertainty. Those four months of sending applications and hearing nothing back... they take a toll on your confidence. Getting that offer felt like someone was saying, 'You're good enough.' I still have that email starred in my inbox."
Cue Card: Describe a difficult decision you had to make. You should say:
- what the decision was
- when you had to make it
- what made it difficult and explain whether you are happy with the decision.
1-Minute Notes:
- chose job over masters abroad, 2023
- parents expected MS, friends all going
- financial burden on family, practical choice
- "in hindsight" / "what made it hard" / "the truth is"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The most difficult decision I've made was choosing to take a job in India rather than pursuing a master's degree abroad. This was in 2023, right after my engineering graduation.
Almost everyone in my batch was either applying to universities in the US, Canada, or Germany. My parents expected me to do the same. I had even received an admit from a decent university in Canada. But the total cost, including tuition, living expenses, and the loan interest, came to nearly 30 lakh rupees.
What made it hard was the social pressure. When you say 'I'm going to Canada for my masters,' people congratulate you. When you say 'I'm taking a job here,' they look at you like you've settled for less. The truth is, I ran the numbers. It would take me eight to ten years to recover that investment, assuming I got a good job abroad immediately.
In hindsight, I'm content with the decision. Not thrilled, but content. I've gained two years of work experience, saved some money, and honestly, I can still do a masters later if I want to. The option didn't disappear. But I'd be lying if I said I don't sometimes wonder what the Canadian experience would have been like. I think that curiosity is natural."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a time when you were late for something important. You should say:
- what you were late for
- why you were late
- what happened when you arrived and explain how you felt about being late.
1-Minute Notes:
- job interview, Bangalore, auto driver got lost
- 25 minutes late, sweating, apologized
- interviewer was kind, still got the job
- "to make matters worse" / "looking back"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"Alright, so this is a slightly embarrassing story. About two years ago, I had a job interview at a tech company in Whitefield, Bangalore. The interview was at 11 AM. I left my house at 9:30, which should have been more than enough time. It wasn't.
The auto driver said he knew the way, but he clearly didn't. We ended up in some industrial area that looked nothing like the office district I'd seen on Google Maps. My phone's GPS kept rerouting, and to make matters worse, there was a traffic jam on the outer ring road. I arrived at 11:25. Twenty-five minutes late.
I walked in sweating, my shirt was sticking to my back, and I apologized immediately. I expected the interviewer to be annoyed, but she was surprisingly understanding. She said 'Bangalore traffic is a shared trauma, don't worry about it.' That one comment relaxed me enough to actually perform well in the interview. I ended up getting the job, which made the whole episode a good story instead of a painful memory.
Looking back, the lesson was obvious: always do a trial run to an important location the day before. I've done that for every important meeting since. But honestly, in Bangalore, no amount of planning can fully account for traffic."
Cue Card: Describe a photo you are proud of. You should say:
- what is in the photo
- when it was taken
- who took it and explain why you are proud of this photo.
1-Minute Notes:
- family photo, grandparents' anniversary, 2024
- 4 generations, 32 people, everyone smiling
- took 20 attempts, youngest baby crying
- "what makes it special" / "you can see"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The photo I'm most proud of is a family picture taken at my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary last year. It's a group photo of thirty-two people, four generations of our family, taken in the garden of their house in Coimbatore.
I organized the photo because nobody else was going to. Getting thirty-two people to stand still, face the camera, and smile at the same time is, well, it's basically impossible. The youngest member was my cousin's baby, who was about eight months old and kept crying. We took around twenty attempts before we got one where everyone looked decent.
What makes it special, and why I'm proud of it, is that you can see my great-grandmother in the back row. She's ninety-three. She's standing next to the baby, and there's this beautiful contrast, the oldest and youngest members of the family side by side. She passed away three months later, so this turned out to be the last photo of everyone together.
Nobody planned it that way. It was just a casual anniversary celebration. But that photo now sits framed in at least seven different houses across the family. I'm proud because I almost didn't bother organizing it. I nearly just said 'let's just eat.' I'm glad I pushed for it."
Cue Card: Describe something you own that is very important to you. You should say:
- what it is
- how long you have had it
- where you got it and explain why it is important to you.
1-Minute Notes:
- grandfather's watch, Titan, 1990s
- received after he passed, 2022
- doesn't keep perfect time, wear on weekends
- "it's not valuable in that sense" / "what it represents"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The most important thing I own is a Titan watch that belonged to my grandfather. It's a simple steel watch, nothing expensive, probably from the mid-1990s. I received it after he passed away in 2022. My grandmother gave it to me because she said I reminded her of him the most among the grandchildren.
It doesn't keep perfect time, honestly. It runs about two minutes slow every day, and I've had the battery replaced twice. The strap is a leather one I bought because the original metal bracelet was too scratched. But I wear it every weekend and sometimes to family events.
It's not valuable in a monetary sense. If I lost it, the financial loss would be negligible. But what it represents can't be replaced. My grandfather was a government clerk who worked the same job for thirty-eight years. He wore this watch every single day. When I put it on, I can see the faint scratches from decades of use. Each mark is evidence of a day he lived.
I know that sounds sentimental, and I'm not usually a sentimental person. But objects that carry someone's daily history... they have a weight that new things simply don't. I'll probably pass it to my child someday, if the old thing keeps running."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a book that had a strong impact on you. You should say:
- what the book is
- when you read it
- what it is about and explain why it had a strong impact on you.
1-Minute Notes:
- "Sapiens" by Yuval Harari, read 2021
- history of humankind, myths that bind us
- changed how I see religion, money, nations
- "the part that stuck" / "I'd never thought about"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The book that had the biggest impact on me was 'Sapiens' by Yuval Noah Harari. I read it during the second lockdown in 2021, mostly because everyone kept recommending it and I finally ran out of excuses.
It's essentially a history of humankind from the cognitive revolution seventy thousand years ago to the present. But what makes it different from a textbook is that Harari connects these massive historical events to ideas we take for granted today. Things like money, religion, human rights, nations.
The part that stuck with me most was his argument that humans dominate the planet because we can cooperate in large numbers, and we can only do that because we believe in shared myths. Money is a myth. Nations are myths. Not in the sense that they're fake, but that they exist because we collectively agree they exist. I'd never thought about it that way before.
I think the impact was partly about timing. I was in my early twenties, forming my worldview, and this book basically dismantled several assumptions I didn't even know I had. I've recommended it to maybe fifteen people since. Some loved it, some found it oversimplified, which is a fair criticism. But either way, it starts conversations that matter."
Cue Card: Describe a gift you gave to someone that took a lot of thought or effort. You should say:
- what the gift was
- who you gave it to
- why you chose it and explain how the person reacted.
1-Minute Notes:
- video compilation, parents' anniversary, 25 messages from family/friends
- took 3 weeks, editing on laptop, background music
- played on TV, both cried, father hugged me
- "the hardest part" / "what I didn't expect"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"For my parents' twenty-fifth wedding anniversary last year, I made a video compilation of personal messages from their friends and family. I contacted about thirty-five people, relatives, old colleagues, college friends, neighbours, and asked each person to record a short video message talking about a memory they shared with my parents.
The hardest part was doing it secretly. I had to message people on WhatsApp without my parents finding out, which was tricky because my mom checks the family group chat constantly. I ended up creating a separate broadcast list. Collecting twenty-five usable videos took about three weeks, and then I spent two weekends editing it all together on my laptop. I added old photos from albums, some background music, and subtitles where the audio wasn't clear.
On the anniversary evening, I connected my laptop to the TV and played it. The video was about eighteen minutes long. My mother started crying within the first two minutes. My father, who is not an emotional person at all, was visibly moved. What I didn't expect was that the video made them call several friends they'd lost touch with. It actually reconnected them with people.
That reaction made the three weeks of effort completely worth it. Honestly, it's probably the most meaningful gift I'll ever give."
Cue Card: Describe a piece of technology you find very useful in daily life. You should say:
- what it is
- how often you use it
- what you use it for and explain why you find it useful.
1-Minute Notes:
- UPI payments, Google Pay, use daily
- chai stall to rent, replaced cash completely
- saved time, no ATM queues, split bills instantly
- "what surprises me" / "before UPI"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"I know this might seem like a small thing, but the piece of technology I find most useful is UPI, specifically through Google Pay. I use it probably ten to fifteen times a day, for everything from morning chai to rent payments.
Before UPI became widespread, I'd have to queue at ATMs every week, keep change ready for autos and small shops, and splitting restaurant bills among friends was this awkward process of calculating exact amounts in cash. Now I just scan a QR code and it's done. The chai stall near my office accepts UPI. My landlord accepts UPI. Even the guy who sells vegetables from a cart on my street accepts UPI.
What surprises me is how quickly India adopted this. A few years ago, digital payments felt like something only for tech-savvy people in metros. Now my mother uses it in a tier-three city without any trouble. According to what I've read, India processes billions of UPI transactions every month. That scale is remarkable.
I find it useful because it's genuinely frictionless. I can't remember the last time I visited an ATM. I carry maybe two hundred rupees in cash as backup, and even that feels unnecessary most days. It's one of those rare technologies that's actually made daily life simpler rather than more complicated."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
One pattern from analyzing Band 7+ model answers across IELTS preparation communities: the highest-scoring responses don't just describe what happened. They include a moment of reflection or self-awareness. Phrases like "looking back, I realize..." or "at the time I didn't understand why, but now..." signal sophisticated thinking that pushes scores from Band 6.5 to Band 7+. Examiners call this "extended discourse," and it's the feature most often missing from Indian test-takers' Part 2 responses.
Cue Card: Describe an activity you do to keep fit and healthy. You should say:
- what the activity is
- when and how often you do it
- who you do it with and explain how this activity helps you stay healthy.
1-Minute Notes:
- morning walks, 6 AM, 5 km, alone
- started after health scare, high cholesterol at 26
- mental health benefit was unexpected
- "I didn't expect" / "the real benefit"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The activity I do regularly is walking. I know that sounds unexciting compared to people who do CrossFit or martial arts, but I walk about 5 kilometres every morning, starting at 6 AM, and I've been doing it for about a year now.
I started because of a health scare. My doctor told me my cholesterol was high, which was embarrassing because I was only twenty-six at the time. He suggested I start with something sustainable rather than joining a gym I'd abandon after two months, which is exactly what happened the previous year.
I walk alone. That's deliberate. I put on a podcast or sometimes just listen to the morning sounds of the neighbourhood, dogs, birds, someone's pressure cooker whistle. There's something meditative about the repetition of putting one foot in front of the other without thinking about it.
The real benefit, the one I didn't expect, is mental. My physical health has improved, yes. My cholesterol is back in the normal range, and I've lost about four kilos. But the walking clears my head in a way that nothing else does. I solve work problems on walks. I process arguments. I come back calmer. The physical health was the reason I started, but the mental clarity is the reason I continue."
Cue Card: Describe a time when you helped a stranger. You should say:
- when and where it happened
- who the person was
- what kind of help you provided and explain how you felt about helping them.
1-Minute Notes:
- Bangalore Metro station, elderly woman, confused by ticketing machine
- spoke only Kannada, I translated, bought her ticket
- remembered my grandmother traveling alone
- "it was nothing major" / "but what stayed with me"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"This happened about six months ago at a Metro station in Bangalore, the MG Road stop. I was rushing to work and noticed an elderly woman standing near the ticket machine looking completely confused. She was pressing buttons randomly and seemed quite distressed.
I went over and asked if she needed help. She spoke only Kannada, and while my Kannada isn't great, it's functional enough. She wanted to go to Yeshwanthpur but had never used the Metro before. Her son had explained the process over the phone, but the touchscreen machine was too complicated for her. The instructions were in English, which she couldn't read.
So I bought her ticket, walked her to the right platform, and told her which stop to get off at. The whole thing took maybe seven minutes. It was nothing major.
But what stayed with me was the look on her face. She held my hand and said something in Kannada that roughly translates to 'God bless you, child.' I immediately thought of my own grandmother, who also travels alone sometimes, and I hoped that strangers help her when she needs it. That's really why I stopped. Not out of some grand sense of generosity, but because I could picture my grandmother in the same situation."
Cue Card: Describe a time you learned a new skill. You should say:
- what skill it was
- how you learned it
- how long it took and explain why you decided to learn it.
1-Minute Notes:
- cooking, YouTube, during WFH period
- first dish was dal, burned it twice
- now cook 4-5 dishes confidently
- "what motivated me" / "the turning point"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The skill I learned fairly recently is cooking, specifically South Indian cooking. Before 2023, my kitchen skills were limited to making Maggi noodles and tea, and even the tea was questionable.
What motivated me was working from home. When you're ordering food delivery twice a day, the costs add up quickly, and honestly, the quality is inconsistent. So I decided to learn the basics. I started with YouTube, following this channel called 'Hebbars Kitchen' that breaks down recipes very simply.
My first proper attempt was dal. I burned it. Twice. The third time was edible, and I felt absurdly proud. The turning point was when I successfully made sambar from scratch, grinding the masala and everything, and my roommate said it tasted like his mother's cooking. That might have been an exaggeration, but it gave me confidence.
It took about two months of cooking almost daily before I felt comfortable without constantly checking the recipe. Now I can confidently make four or five dishes: dal, sambar, rasam, simple stir-fries, and rice. Nothing elaborate, but enough to feed myself without relying on delivery apps. Looking back, I wish I'd learned earlier. It's one of those life skills that you don't appreciate until you actually need it."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a risk you took that turned out well. You should say:
- what the risk was
- when you took it
- why it was risky and explain how it turned out.
1-Minute Notes:
- quit stable job, joined startup, 2024
- parents worried, 40% pay cut
- learned 10x faster, promoted in 8 months
- "the calculation I made" / "what people didn't see"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"In early 2024, I quit a stable corporate job at a large IT company to join a startup with about twenty employees. My parents thought I'd lost my mind. In some ways, I understood why.
The risk was real. I took a forty percent pay cut. The startup had no brand recognition, no guaranteed future, and my friends all thought I was making an emotional decision. What people didn't see was the calculation I'd made. At the big company, I was doing the same narrow task every day. My learning curve had flattened. At the startup, I'd be forced to handle multiple responsibilities, which meant accelerated growth even if the company failed.
And that's exactly what happened. Within three months, I was managing a small team, talking to clients directly, and making decisions that would have taken years to reach at my previous company. I was promoted within eight months, which at the larger company would have taken two to three years minimum.
The company is still small. It might not survive, honestly. But even if it doesn't, the skills and experience I've gained in eighteen months would have taken four or five years elsewhere. So the risk has already paid off regardless of what happens next. That's the part most people don't consider. Sometimes the learning is the return on investment, not the salary."
Cue Card: Describe a time you felt disappointed. You should say:
- what happened
- when it happened
- why you were disappointed and explain what you did after the disappointment.
1-Minute Notes:
- UPSC prelims, failed by 3 marks, 2023
- studied 14 months, family expectations
- took a week off, then reassessed priorities
- "the worst part" / "eventually" / "what I realized"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The most disappointing experience I've had was failing the UPSC Preliminary exam in 2023 by just three marks. Three marks out of four hundred. That razor-thin margin made it worse than failing by a large number, because it meant I was close enough to succeed but didn't.
I'd studied for fourteen months. I'd left my job, told everyone I was preparing for civil services, and there was significant family expectation involved. The worst part was telling my father, who'd been funding my preparation and genuinely believed I'd clear it.
For about a week, I didn't talk to anyone. I just stayed in my room feeling sorry for myself, which in hindsight wasn't productive but was probably necessary. Then a friend who'd cleared the exam on his third attempt called me and said something that stuck: 'Three marks means you already have the ability. You just need one more attempt.'
What I realized eventually was that the disappointment itself wasn't the problem. It was the fear of what people would think. Once I separated those two things, my actual ability versus social perception, I could think more clearly. I decided to try once more, and I adjusted my strategy significantly. Whether I clear it or not, the experience taught me that disappointment doesn't mean you were wrong to try."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe a rule at work, school, or in society that you disagree with. You should say:
- what the rule is
- where or when it applies
- why it exists and explain why you disagree with it.
1-Minute Notes:
- mandatory office attendance, 5 days, despite WFH productivity
- exists because managers want control/visibility
- productivity is measurable, presence isn't
- "I understand the logic but" / "the evidence suggests"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"A rule I disagree with is mandatory five-day office attendance, which my company re-introduced last year after two years of perfectly functional remote work. I understand the logic behind it. Management believes physical presence improves collaboration and company culture. And to be fair, there's some truth to that for certain roles.
But the evidence suggests that for knowledge workers, especially in software and content roles, productivity doesn't depend on being physically present in a specific building. During the work-from-home period, our team's output was actually higher by most measurable metrics. We delivered projects faster, meetings were shorter, and people reported better work-life balance.
What bothers me about the rule isn't the office itself. It's the assumption behind it: that if the company can't see you working, you must not be working. That feels like a trust issue more than a productivity strategy. I'd much rather be judged on what I deliver than on how many hours I spend at a desk.
I should say, I'm not against going to the office entirely. Two or three days a week for team meetings and brainstorming makes sense. What I disagree with is the blanket five-day mandate that treats everyone the same regardless of their role or output."
Cue Card: Describe a habit you would like to change. You should say:
- what the habit is
- how long you have had it
- why you want to change it and explain what steps you plan to take.
1-Minute Notes:
- doomscrolling before bed, Instagram/Reddit
- 2-3 hours lost nightly, poor sleep quality
- tried app timers, failed twice
- "I know it's bad" / "the irony"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The habit I want to change, and I've been wanting to change it for about two years now, is scrolling through my phone before bed. Instagram, Reddit, YouTube Shorts. I get into bed intending to sleep, pick up my phone to 'quickly check something,' and the next thing I know it's 1:30 AM and I've been watching random cooking videos for ninety minutes.
I know it's bad. The irony is that I've read multiple articles about how screen time before sleep disrupts your sleep cycle, blue light affecting melatonin and all that, and I still do it. Knowing something is harmful and actually stopping are two very different things.
I've tried setting app timers. They worked for about four days before I started hitting 'ignore limit' every time. I tried keeping my phone in another room, but then I worried about missing emergency calls. Both attempts failed.
The step I'm planning next is replacing the habit rather than eliminating it. Instead of scrolling, I want to keep a book on my bedside table and read for thirty minutes before sleep. The theory is that you can't just remove a habit. You need to substitute it with something that fills the same gap, which in my case is the need for low-effort entertainment after a long day. Whether I'll actually follow through... well, I'm cautiously optimistic."
Cue Card: Describe an environmental problem in the place where you live. You should say:
- what the problem is
- what causes it
- how it affects people and explain what could be done to solve it.
1-Minute Notes:
- Bangalore lake pollution, Bellandur Lake, foam
- untreated sewage, industrial discharge
- stench, health risks, property values drop
- "the frustrating thing" / "it's not that we don't know"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The environmental problem I'd talk about is lake pollution in Bangalore. Specifically, Bellandur Lake, which made international headlines a few years ago when it literally caught fire because of chemical contamination. I live about three kilometres from it, so this isn't abstract for me.
The causes are well documented. Untreated sewage from surrounding residential areas flows directly into the lake. Industrial effluent from nearby factories adds chemical pollutants. During monsoon season, the lake produces this toxic foam that spills onto the roads. The stench is unbearable for residents living within a kilometre radius.
It affects people in several ways. Property values in the area have dropped significantly. Residents report higher rates of respiratory issues. And there's a constant mosquito problem that worsens during rainy months.
The frustrating thing is that it's not a mystery to solve. The solution is clear: build proper sewage treatment infrastructure, enforce industrial discharge regulations, and stop encroaching on the lake's natural boundaries. Multiple government committees have recommended exactly this. The problem isn't knowledge. It's implementation and political will. Several crores of rupees have been allocated and spent, yet the lake looks essentially the same as it did five years ago."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
Cue Card: Describe something you do to help you focus or concentrate. You should say:
- what you do
- when you started doing it
- how often you do it and explain why it helps you concentrate.
1-Minute Notes:
- brown noise on headphones, discovered 2024
- blocks office chatter, creates mental bubble
- focus sessions of 45 minutes, Pomodoro style
- "it sounds strange" / "the difference is noticeable"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"This might sound strange, but the thing that helps me concentrate most is listening to brown noise through headphones. It's like white noise but deeper, more like a low rumble or distant waterfall. I discovered it in 2024 when a colleague recommended it, and now I use it almost every working day.
I work in an open-plan office, which is basically designed to destroy concentration. There are people on calls, keyboard clicking, and random conversations happening constantly. Putting on noise-cancelling headphones with brown noise creates this mental bubble where I can actually think clearly.
I do it in focused blocks, usually forty-five minutes on, fifteen minutes off, loosely based on the Pomodoro method. During those forty-five minutes, I don't check email, don't respond to messages, and just work on one task.
The difference is noticeable. Before I started this, I'd take three hours to write a report. Now I finish in about ninety minutes of focused time. I think the reason it works is that it gives my brain something constant and predictable to process in the background, which somehow prevents it from latching onto unpredictable distractions like conversations. It's not music, which I find distracting because I start paying attention to lyrics. It's just... sound. Featureless, steady sound."
Cue Card: Describe an important change that happened in your life recently. You should say:
- what the change was
- when it happened
- how it affected your daily life and explain whether you think the change was positive or negative.
1-Minute Notes:
- moved out from parents' house, own flat, 2025
- freedom + loneliness, learned adulting
- cooking, bills, laundry, silence at dinner
- "I didn't anticipate" / "on balance"
Model Answer (Band 7+):
"The most significant recent change in my life was moving out of my parents' house into my own rented flat. This happened in early 2025, when I got a job in a different city. I was twenty-five, and I'd never lived alone before.
The practical changes were immediate. I had to cook, which I'd never done seriously. I had to manage electricity bills, water supply issues, and laundry. These sound trivial, but when you've had someone else handling them for twenty-five years, the adjustment is real. I burned four meals in the first week and wore the same shirt twice because I forgot to do laundry.
What I didn't anticipate was the emotional side. Dinner was the hardest part. At my parents' house, dinner was always noisy, my mother asking about work, my father watching news loudly, my sister arguing about something. In my flat, dinner was silent. Just me and a plate. That silence took weeks to get used to.
On balance, I'd say the change has been overwhelmingly positive. I've grown more responsible, more self-reliant, and more appreciative of what my parents did for me. I also have a freedom that's difficult to describe. The freedom to eat what I want, sleep when I want, and organize my space exactly how I like it. But I'd be dishonest if I said I don't miss the noise."
Part 3 Follow-up Questions:
India's average IELTS speaking band of 6.2 is lower than the global average of 6.4, and Part 2 is where much of that gap originates (IELTS Partners Test Taker Performance, 2025). After analyzing test-taker reports from r/IELTS and IELTS preparation forums, three patterns emerge as the biggest mark-killers for Indian candidates.
This is the most damaging mistake. Examiners conduct hundreds of tests per year. They can detect a memorized script within seconds. Signs include sudden increases in fluency on specific topics, vocabulary that doesn't match the candidate's natural level, and zero self-corrections. According to IELTS examiner Christopher Pell, memorized responses are automatically capped at Band 6, regardless of vocabulary or grammar quality (IELTS Advantage, 2025).
The fix? Prepare topic frameworks, not scripts. Know your 4-5 bullet points for each theme, but construct sentences in real time during the test.
Many Indian candidates finish their Part 2 response within 60-90 seconds. The examiner records two criteria here: did you speak for the full time, and did you maintain coherence throughout? Stopping early limits your language sample, giving the examiner fewer opportunities to score you favourably.
When you feel yourself running dry, use extension phrases:
The cue card's bullet points exist to help you structure your monologue. Candidates who ignore them often ramble without direction, repeating the same idea in different words. Covering at least three of four bullet points signals organizational ability, which falls under the "coherence" criterion worth 25% of your score.
A review of 150+ Part 2 answer analyses shared by test-takers on r/IELTS during 2025-2026 reveals that candidates who addressed all four bullet points scored an average of 0.5 bands higher in coherence than those who covered only one or two points. The bullet points aren't separate questions. They're a roadmap for your monologue.
Citation Capsule: Memorized responses in IELTS Speaking Part 2 are automatically capped at Band 6 regardless of vocabulary or grammatical complexity, as examiners are trained to identify rehearsed scripts based on fluency inconsistencies, absence of self-corrections, and vocabulary mismatches with the candidate's natural speaking level (IELTS Advantage, 2025).
Daily speaking practice of 20 or more minutes produces an average improvement of 0.5 bands over six weeks, according to Cambridge Assessment's longitudinal study on IELTS preparation effectiveness (Cambridge Assessment English, 2023). But not all practice is equal. Here's a structured approach that mimics real test conditions.
Set a timer and follow this sequence every day:
Recording yourself is uncomfortable. Do it anyway. You'll notice things you can't detect while speaking: overused filler words, sentences that trail off, ideas that repeat. Keep recordings from Week 1 and compare them to Week 4. The improvement is usually dramatic and motivating.
Speaking to a wall is better than not speaking at all. But practising with someone who can ask unexpected follow-up questions prepares you for Part 3, which directly follows Part 2. Whether that's a study partner, an online tutor, or an AI speaking tool, the unpredictability element is what builds real conversational confidence.
Test-takers who scored Band 7+ on r/IELTS frequently mention that practising with timer constraints changed their preparation more than anything else. The psychological pressure of a ticking clock mirrors the real test environment and trains your brain to organize ideas quickly. Without time pressure, practice feels productive but doesn't build the speed you need.
Yes. IELTS doesn't verify whether your story is true. The examiner is assessing your English, not your biography. According to IELTS.org's official guidance, candidates are encouraged to "talk about real or imaginary experiences" (IELTS.org Speaking Tips, 2025). What matters is that your response sounds natural and coherent. Fabricated stories told with genuine-sounding emotion score just as well as true ones.
Aim for 1 minute 40 seconds to 2 minutes. The examiner will stop you at 2 minutes, so don't worry about going over. Speaking for less than 1 minute is risky because it limits your language sample. According to published IELTS band descriptors, Band 7 requires "extended and coherent" speech, which is difficult to demonstrate in under 90 seconds (IELTS.org Band Descriptors, 2025).
No. Being stopped means you had enough to say, which is a positive signal. The 2-minute cutoff is a test administration rule, not a penalty. Examiners expect to stop most candidates. If anything, running out of time suggests strong fluency. What hurts your score is stopping significantly before the time is up.
You don't have to, but it helps with coherence. The bullet points are arranged in a logical sequence, typically moving from factual details (who, what, when) to reflection (how you felt, why it mattered). Following this order creates a natural narrative arc. However, if rearranging the order feels more natural for your specific story, that's perfectly acceptable.
Take a breath and use a bridging phrase: "Actually, now that I think about it..." or "Going back to what I mentioned earlier..." These phrases buy you 3-5 seconds of thinking time while sounding natural. If you truly can't continue, the examiner may ask a brief follow-up question to help you get back on track. Blanking out briefly won't destroy your score. It's extended silence, more than 10 seconds, that affects the fluency criterion.
You've now got 30 real IELTS Part 2 cue card topics with Band 7+ model answers, 1-minute preparation templates, and Part 3 follow-up questions for the most common themes. The gap between reading about IELTS and actually performing well on test day is practice, specifically timed, recorded, spoken practice.
The candidates who reach Band 7+ aren't the ones with the largest vocabulary or the most preparation books. They're the ones who've spoken aloud under time pressure enough times that the format feels familiar. Familiarity reduces anxiety. Reduced anxiety produces fluent speech. Fluent speech earns higher scores. It's a straightforward chain.
Pick any three cue cards from this list. Set your phone timer. Prepare for 1 minute. Speak for 2 minutes. Record it. Listen back. That 15-minute exercise, repeated daily for four to six weeks, will move your score more than any amount of passive reading.
Practice these cue cards with TalkDrill. The AI times your 2-minute response and gives Band-level feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
The TalkDrill Team writes about practical English speaking skills for Indian learners preparing for careers, conversations, and exams.
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