IELTS BY ED 🎯
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Long Turn — Cue Card
You receive a topic card and have 1 minute to prepare. Then you speak for 1–2 minutes. This is the section that most determines your overall band. Preparation time is critical.
Exam Format — Part 2
Prep time:1 minute (with pencil + paper)
Speaking time:1–2 minutes
Examiner: Will stop you at 2 minutes
Follow-up:1–2 quick questions after
How to use your 1 minute of preparation time
Most candidates waste their prep time by trying to write full sentences. Band 7 candidates use a proven planning structure.
The SPEEL Structure for Part 2
S — Setting (where/when/who)
P — Points from the card (cover all bullet points)
E — Emotion (how you felt)
E — Example / specific memory
L — Link to final question on card
Topic: Childhood neighbourhood — Notes in prep minute:
S: small coastal town, southern end of city, near market / P: mixed community — older residents, young families; quiet streets, close-knit / E: safe, free, nostalgic now / E: riding bikes to the harbour with friends after school / L: wouldn't live there now — too quiet, want city access
✗ Band 6 Answer (Part 2)
"The neighbourhood I grew up in was nice. There were many houses and families there. It was a good place for children. People knew each other and it was safe. I played outside sometimes. I don't think I would like to live there again because I prefer the city now."
Vague vocabulary: nice, good, many
Simple sentences only — no complex grammar
Barely covers the bullet points
No specific memory, no emotion, no imagery
Runs out of material well before 2 minutes
✓ Band 7 Answer (Part 2)
"I grew up in a fairly compact neighbourhood on the southern edge of the city — not far from the harbour actually, which made it feel quite unique. It was the kind of community where most people knew each other by name. There were a lot of elderly residents who'd lived there for decades, alongside younger families like mine. What I remember most vividly is the sense of freedom — we used to ride bikes down to the waterfront after school, which looking back, was quite special. If I'm being completely honest, I'd find it too quiet now — I've gotten used to having everything within walking distance — but for raising children, I can't imagine a better place."
Covers all bullet points smoothly
Strong vocabulary: compact, vividly, waterfront, unique
Conditional and past perfect tenses used naturally
Specific memory makes it vivid and personal
Final sentence links to the cue card question naturally
Key Part 2 strategies
Write keywords, not sentences
In your 1-minute prep, write 5–8 keywords only. Writing sentences wastes time and makes you read instead of speak. Keywords trigger your thoughts naturally — and your speech will sound more fluent as a result.
Cover all bullet points
Examiners tick off the bullet points on the card as you speak. Missing one doesn't automatically reduce your score, but covering all four in a natural flow demonstrates coherence and task completion.
Aim for 1 min 30 sec minimum
Stopping at 60 seconds is a red flag. If you finish the bullet points early, expand your example: add more detail, add a contrasting point, or reflect on how things have changed. Never stop and say "I'm done."
Include emotion and sensory detail
Descriptions that include how something felt, looked, smelled, or sounded score higher on Lexical Resource because they require richer vocabulary. "It smelled of salt and old wood" is far stronger than "it was near the sea."
Useful language for Part 2 — extending your answer
What I remember most vividly is…Introducing a specific memory
Looking back on it now…Adding a reflective perspective
What made it particularly special was…Elevating a description
If I'm being completely honest…Introducing an opinion naturally
It had a certain quality that's hard to describe…Showing lexical range through reflection
As far as [topic] goes…Transitioning to the final question
I suppose what struck me most was…Adding nuance and personal reflection
In hindsight, I can see that…Showing grammatical range (past tense + reflection)
The Part 2 truth: You don't need to tell the real story. You can adapt, exaggerate, or partly invent details — as long as you speak fluently and naturally. The examiner is not fact-checking. They are scoring how you speak.
ieltsbyed.com
You receive a topic card and have 1 minute to prepare. Then you speak for 1–2 minutes. This is the section that most determines your overall band. Preparation time is critical.
Exam Format — Part 2
Prep time:1 minute (with pencil + paper)
Speaking time:1–2 minutes
Examiner: Will stop you at 2 minutes
Follow-up:1–2 quick questions after
How to use your 1 minute of preparation time
Most candidates waste their prep time by trying to write full sentences. Band 7 candidates use a proven planning structure.
The SPEEL Structure for Part 2
S — Setting (where/when/who)
P — Points from the card (cover all bullet points)
E — Emotion (how you felt)
E — Example / specific memory
L — Link to final question on card
Topic: Childhood neighbourhood — Notes in prep minute:
S: small coastal town, southern end of city, near market / P: mixed community — older residents, young families; quiet streets, close-knit / E: safe, free, nostalgic now / E: riding bikes to the harbour with friends after school / L: wouldn't live there now — too quiet, want city access
✗ Band 6 Answer (Part 2)
"The neighbourhood I grew up in was nice. There were many houses and families there. It was a good place for children. People knew each other and it was safe. I played outside sometimes. I don't think I would like to live there again because I prefer the city now."
Vague vocabulary: nice, good, many
Simple sentences only — no complex grammar
Barely covers the bullet points
No specific memory, no emotion, no imagery
Runs out of material well before 2 minutes
✓ Band 7 Answer (Part 2)
"I grew up in a fairly compact neighbourhood on the southern edge of the city — not far from the harbour actually, which made it feel quite unique. It was the kind of community where most people knew each other by name. There were a lot of elderly residents who'd lived there for decades, alongside younger families like mine. What I remember most vividly is the sense of freedom — we used to ride bikes down to the waterfront after school, which looking back, was quite special. If I'm being completely honest, I'd find it too quiet now — I've gotten used to having everything within walking distance — but for raising children, I can't imagine a better place."
Covers all bullet points smoothly
Strong vocabulary: compact, vividly, waterfront, unique
Conditional and past perfect tenses used naturally
Specific memory makes it vivid and personal
Final sentence links to the cue card question naturally
Key Part 2 strategies
Write keywords, not sentences
In your 1-minute prep, write 5–8 keywords only. Writing sentences wastes time and makes you read instead of speak. Keywords trigger your thoughts naturally — and your speech will sound more fluent as a result.
Cover all bullet points
Examiners tick off the bullet points on the card as you speak. Missing one doesn't automatically reduce your score, but covering all four in a natural flow demonstrates coherence and task completion.
Aim for 1 min 30 sec minimum
Stopping at 60 seconds is a red flag. If you finish the bullet points early, expand your example: add more detail, add a contrasting point, or reflect on how things have changed. Never stop and say "I'm done."
Include emotion and sensory detail
Descriptions that include how something felt, looked, smelled, or sounded score higher on Lexical Resource because they require richer vocabulary. "It smelled of salt and old wood" is far stronger than "it was near the sea."
Useful language for Part 2 — extending your answer
What I remember most vividly is…Introducing a specific memory
Looking back on it now…Adding a reflective perspective
What made it particularly special was…Elevating a description
If I'm being completely honest…Introducing an opinion naturally
It had a certain quality that's hard to describe…Showing lexical range through reflection
As far as [topic] goes…Transitioning to the final question
I suppose what struck me most was…Adding nuance and personal reflection
In hindsight, I can see that…Showing grammatical range (past tense + reflection)
The Part 2 truth: You don't need to tell the real story. You can adapt, exaggerate, or partly invent details — as long as you speak fluently and naturally. The examiner is not fact-checking. They are scoring how you speak.
IELTS BY ED🎯
Structured IELTS preparation with personalised video feedback. Band 7+ strategies for Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening. Coached 100+ students. By Ed — L9 R9 W8.5 S9.
ieltsbyed.com