Do you have to answer all the questions on the IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card?
Many students have asked us this and today we’ll share the answer!
You’ll learn strategies to boost your IELTS Speaking score.
IELTS Part 2 questions
The Part 2 question begins with “Describe…”
It is the most important part of the cue card.
After that you see “You should say…” followed by bullet points.
It is not mandatory that you address those bullet points.
It is not part of the scoring system for them to be addressed.
Examiners usually don’t even bother to read the cue card.
Should you answer the bullet points?
However, they might help you come up with ideas.
In fact, often it would be difficult to fully answer the question without discussing the bullet points.
If you answer each of these questions, you will have fully addressed the entire question.
You can also ignore these questions and tell a story!
All that matters is that you directly answer the question.
Preparing your answer
You have one minute to plan for Part 2 answers.
Don’t worry about the time while planning.
The Examiner will tell you when the time is up and you should begin your answer.
Think of topic-specific, less common vocabulary you can use.
Think of a story you can tell.
Sample Part 2 cue card
Part 2 question: Describe an environmental problem in your area
You should say:
- what the problem is
- what causes it
- how it affects people or the environment
- and explain what could be done to solve it
You absolutely could address all of those bullet points when answering this question, but it’s not required.
However, it would be extremely difficult to describe an environmental problem in detail without addressing these.
If you don’t explain what could be done, though, your score would not automatically go down for that.
As long as you describe the problem in detail, you don’t have to stick to these suggestions.
Strategies Created By a Former Examiner
100% Score Increase Guarantee with our Insider Method
Are you ready to move past IELTS and move forward with your life vision?
Find out why our strategies are the most powerful in the IELTS world.
When you use our Insider Method you avoid the BIGGEST MISTAKES that most students make on IELTS.
Band 9 idioms
These idioms are perfect for questions about the environment:
#1. A drop in the ocean: something too small to make a real difference
“Using a reusable bag once in a while is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of plastic pollution.”
#2. Pay the price: suffer the consequences of something
“If we continue cutting down forests, future generations will pay the price through climate change and biodiversity loss.”
#3. Turn a blind eye (to something): ignore a problem deliberately
“Some companies turn a blind eye to illegal dumping in order to save money.”
Takeaway
You don’t have to address the bullet points on your Speaking Part 2 cue card.
The question that begins with “Describe” is all you need to answer.
However, answering these questions may help you think of details!
Practice answering Speaking Part 2 questions without addressing the bullet points.
Instead, tell a story!
What do you think of today’s strategies?
Share it with us in the comments below.
