SPEAKING ยท Theory
Part 2 Overview
Theory lesson in Part 2: Cue Card (Long Turn)
Lesson notes
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Speaking Part 2: Cue Card (Long Turn) Overview
01
Section
What Happens
- The examiner gives you a cue card with a topic and 3โ4 bullet points
- You have 1 minute to prepare (you get paper and a pencil)
- You must speak for 1โ2 minutes on the topic
- The examiner may ask 1โ2 follow-up questions
02
Section
Example Cue Card
Describe a book you have read recently. > > You should say:
what the book was about > - why you chose to read it > - how long it took you to read > > and explain whether you would recommend it to others.
03
Section
How to Use Your 1-Minute Prep Time
Don't write full sentences. Write key words only:
- Topic: Atomic Habits โ James Clear
- Why: friend recommended, self-improvement
- How long: 2 weeks, commute
- Recommend: yes โ practical, changed my routine
04
Section
Structure Your Response
| Section | Duration | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 10 sec | State your topic clearly |
| Bullet 1 | 30 sec | Address first prompt with detail |
| Bullet 2 | 20 sec | Address second prompt |
| Bullet 3 | 20 sec | Address third prompt |
| Extension | 20 sec | Address the "and explain" part + extra |
05
Section
Key Tips
- Keep talking โ silence is worse than errors
- You don't need to follow the bullet points in order
- Use past tenses naturally โ most Part 2 topics ask about past experiences
- Add sensory details โ what you saw, heard, felt
- Signal transitions โ "What I particularly liked was...", "Turning to why I chose it..."