193 IELTS cue cards with Band 8 model answers
Every Part 2 card in the BandLadder test bank, grouped by what it asks you to describe. Each page has the card, a one-minute preparation plan, a model answer of about 250 words, the vocabulary it uses and the Part 3 questions that follow it.
Want to say it out loud? Practise a cue card with the AI examiner and get a band with feedback.
A person
- Describe a child who loves drawing/painting
- Describe a family member you admire
- Describe a famous business person that you know about
- Describe a film/movie actor from your country who is very popular
- Describe a friend from your childhood
- Describe a friend of your family you remember from your childhood
- Describe a person from a different cultural background
- Describe a person in the news that you want to meet
- Describe a person who enjoys working for a family business
- Describe a person who has done a lot of work to help people
- Describe a person who helps protect the environment
- Describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting
- Describe a person who is good at planning
- Describe a person who likes to grow plants or gardening
- Describe a person who likes to look after the natural world
- Describe a person who loves to grow plants (e.g. vegetables, flowers) at home or in the garden
- Describe a person who often helps others
- Describe a person who shows feelings openly
- Describe a person who wears unusual clothes
- Describe a person you know who makes plans a lot and is good at planning
- Describe a person you know who would like to choose a career in the medical field (e.g. a doctor, a nurse)
- Describe a person you like to work or study with
- Describe a person you met at a party who you enjoyed talking with
- Describe a person you really enjoy studying/working with
- Describe a person you want to work or study with
- Describe a successful sports person you admire
- Describe a successful sportsperson you admire
- Describe a teacher who had a positive influence on you
- Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education
- Describe a writer you would like to meet
- Describe an energetic person you know
- Describe an old person you admire
- Describe an old person you know and respect
- Describe one of your friends who learned something without a teacher
- Describe someone in your family who you like
- Describe someone or something that made a lot of noise
- Describe someone who had a big influence (good or bad) on you when you were a young child growing up
- Describe someone you know who has started a business
- Describe the person in your family who you most admire
- Describe your best friend
- Describe your favorite teacher
A place
- Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country
- Describe a big city you would like to visit
- Describe a boring place
- Describe a city that you think is very interesting/famous
- Describe a city you enjoyed visiting
- Describe a city you want to visit again
- Describe a crowded place you have visited
- Describe a foreign country you would like to learn about
- Describe a foreign country you would like to visit
- Describe a historical place that you know about
- Describe a hotel that you know
- Describe a natural place (e.g. parks, mountains, etc.)
- Describe a new public place/building you would like to visit
- Describe a noisy place
- Describe a place in the countryside
- Describe a place in your country or part of your country that you would like to recommend to visitors/travelers
- Describe a place where you did an outdoor activity
- Describe a place where you saw animals
- Describe a place with a lot of trees
- Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution
- Describe a place you would like to visit
- Describe a place you would like to visit in your free time
- Describe a quiet place you like to go to
- Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to
- Describe a school you went to in your childhood
- Describe a tall building you like or dislike
- Describe a tourist attraction you enjoyed visiting
- Describe an ideal place where you would stay
- Describe an important river or lake
- Describe an interesting historic place
- Describe an open-air or street market that you enjoyed visiting
- Describe an unusual but interesting building
- Describe the home of someone you know well
- Describe your hometown
An object
- Describe a food that people eat on special occasions/events
- Describe a gift of money you received
- Describe a gift you have received that was important to you
- Describe a luxury item you would like to own in the future
- Describe a photo you took and are proud of
- Describe a piece of clothing you wear often
- Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful
- Describe a piece of technology (not a phone) that you would like to own
- Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use
- Describe a special cake you received
- Describe a special cake you received from others
- Describe a time when you bought something expensive
- Describe a time when you started using a new technological device (e.g. a new computer or phone)
- Describe a time you spent a lot of money on something
- Describe a toy from your childhood
- Describe a useful invention in daily life
- Describe an important old family heirloom
- Describe an item on which you spent more than expected
- Describe an item you spent more than expected on
- Describe an object you think is beautiful
- Describe some technology (e.g. an app, phone, software program) that you decided to stop using
- Describe something you bought but wanted to return
- Describe something you liked very much that you bought for your home
An event
- Describe a competition (e.g. TV, college/work or sports competition) that you took part in
- Describe a concert or performance you attended
- Describe a free day off work or school
- Describe a live performance you enjoyed
- Describe a live sports event you watched and liked
- Describe a meeting you remember going to at work, college, or school
- Describe a party that you enjoyed
- Describe a significant historical event and its impact
- Describe a sudden electricity outage
- Describe a traditional celebration in your culture
- Describe a wedding ceremony you attended
- Describe an argument between two friends
- Describe an environmental problem or event
- Describe an important event in your life
- Describe an important piece of news that you received via text message
- Describe an occasion when you were not allowed to use your mobile phone
An experience
- Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop
- Describe a course or training you completed that helped you
- Describe a day when you thought the weather was perfect
- Describe a difficult task that you completed at work/study that you felt proud of
- Describe a dream or goal you have for the future
- Describe a job that you have done
- Describe a journey [e.g. by car, plane, boat] that you remember well]
- Describe a memorable journey you have taken
- Describe a period of time from your studies that was the most difficult for you so far
- Describe a review you read about a product or service
- Describe a service from a company or shop
- Describe a short-term job you want to have in a foreign country
- Describe a time when someone apologized to you
- Describe a time when you encouraged someone to do something
- Describe a time when you experienced extreme weather
- Describe a time when you got up early
- Describe a time when you had difficulty communicating with someone
- Describe a time when you had to learn something new for work
- Describe a time when you had to overcome a health challenge
- Describe a time when you received good service in a shop or restaurant
- Describe a time when you succeeded in a difficult task
- Describe a time when you taught a friend/relative something
- Describe a time when you told a friend an important truth
- Describe a time when you were waiting for something special
- Describe a time when you worked in a group
- Describe a time you decided to wait for something
- Describe a time you helped someone
- Describe a time you lost your way
- Describe a time you made a mistake and learned something from it
- Describe a time you taught a skill to someone
- Describe a time you were not allowed to use your mobile
- Describe a typical day in your life when you were a child
- Describe a very difficult task that you succeeded in doing as part of your work or studies
- Describe an experience as a member of a team
- Describe an idea you had for improving something at work or college
- Describe an important choice you had to make in your life
- Describe an important decision that you made
- Describe an important decision you have made
- Describe an important decision you made
- Describe an important text message you received
- Describe an interesting discussion you had as part of your work or studies
- Describe an interesting journey you have been on
- Describe an occasion you forgot an important thing
- Describe an unusual experience of traveling. Describe a place you visited with your friends and you had a good time
- Describe an unusual meal you had
- Describe the life-changing experience you have had
- Describe a time when you gave advice to someone
An activity or habit
- Describe a game or sport that you enjoy playing
- Describe a leisure activity you like doing in your free time
- Describe a practical skill(driving, swimming...) you learned recently
- Describe a skill you would like to learn
- Describe a Subject that you would like to learn in the future
- Describe something new you learned recently
- Describe something that you did with someone/a group of people
- Describe your daily routine
- Describe a sport or exercise that you do for fitness
A film, book, song or programme
- Describe a book or movie that has influenced you
- Describe a book that you enjoyed reading because you had to think a lot
- Describe a book you read that you found useful
- Describe a film you enjoyed
- Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful
- Describe a movie you watched recently and would like to watch again
- Describe a newspaper or a magazine that you like to read
- Describe a program or app on your computer or phone
- Describe a TV documentary you watched that was particularly interesting
- Describe a TV or online program you like to watch
- Describe a website that you bought something from
- Describe a website you use that helps you a lot in your work or studies
- Describe an interesting TV programme you watched about a science topic
- Describe an interesting video
- Describe Which program on TV or radio do you often listen to?
Other topics
- Describe a new law you would like to introduce in your country
- Describe a problem that affects the environment in the area where you live
- Describe your favorite food
- Describe your favorite season
- Describe a controversial social issue in your country
- Describe environmental conservation and sustainability
- Describe globalization and its impact on cultural identity
- Describe the future of technology and its implications
Frequently asked questions
How long do I get to prepare for an IELTS cue card?
One minute, with a pencil and paper. Then you speak for one to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two.
Do the same cue cards repeat in the real test?
Topics rotate in sets that change roughly every four months, and cards on people, places, objects, events and experiences recur in new wording. Practising a range of categories matters more than memorising specific cards.
Should I memorise these model answers?
No. Examiners recognise memorised speech and score it down on fluency and coherence. Use the answers to see how a strong candidate covers each bullet and adds detail, then build your own from a real memory.
Related: how Part 2 is scored · Part 3 strategy · speaking 6 to 7