IELTS Speaking predictions October 2026
October 2026 sits inside the September–December Speaking season. These are the 85 Part 2 cue cards and 24 Part 1 topics in the BandLadder bank for that season. Every cue card links to a Band 8 model answer, a one-minute plan and its Part 3 questions.
These are practice predictions: topics and questions from the BandLadder bank for the current season, chosen to match what candidates report. They are not leaked or confirmed exam questions, and no one can tell you which card you will get. Prepare across the whole range.
Part 2 cue cards for October 2026
Experiences
- Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop
- 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 job that you have done
- Describe a journey [e.g. by car, plane, boat] that you remember well]
- 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 time when you taught a friend/relative something
- Describe a time you made a mistake and learned something from it
- 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 idea you had for improving something at work or college
- Describe an important choice you had to make in your life
- 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
People
- 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 in the news that you want to meet
- Describe a person who has done a lot of work to help people
- 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 successful sports person you admire
- Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your education
- Describe a writer you would like to meet
- Describe an old person you admire
- 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 favorite teacher
Places
- Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country
- Describe a big city you would like to visit
- Describe a foreign country you would like to learn about
- Describe a historical place that you know about
- Describe a hotel that you know
- Describe a new public place/building you would like to visit
- Describe a place in your country or part of your country that you would like to recommend to visitors/travelers
- Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution
- Describe a restaurant that you enjoyed going to
- Describe a school you went to in your childhood
- Describe a tourist attraction you enjoyed visiting
- Describe an interesting historic place
- Describe an open-air or street market that you enjoyed visiting
Films, books, TV and websites
- 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 TV documentary you watched that was particularly interesting
- 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
Objects
- 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 piece of electronic equipment that you find useful
- Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use
- 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 some technology (e.g. an app, phone, software program) that you decided to stop using
- Describe something you liked very much that you bought for your home
Events
- Describe a competition (e.g. TV, college/work or sports competition) that you took part in
- Describe a meeting you remember going to at work, college, or school
- Describe a party that you enjoyed
- Describe a wedding ceremony you attended
- 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
Activities and habits
- 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 Subject that you would like to learn in the future
- Describe something that you did with someone/a group of people
- Describe a sport or exercise that you do for fitness
Part 1 topics for October 2026
Part 1 lasts four to five minutes on two or three familiar topics. Answer each question in two or three sentences: a direct answer, a reason, an example.
- Sports
- Do you play any sports? · Do you like sport?
- Family
- Do you have a small or large family? · How much time do you spend with them?
- Chocolate
- Do you like eating chocolate · Did you like chocolate when you were a child?
- Cooking
- Who normally does the cooking in your home? · Does anyone in your family like to cook?
- Health
- Do you care about your health? · In what ways do you try to stay healthy?
- Emails
- When would you send emails to others? · Do you think emails are useful?
- Trees
- Do you like trees? · Do you think more people should plant trees?
- Weather
- What's the weather like where you live? · Do you prefer cold or hot weather?
- Clothes
- What is your favourite item of clothing? · Do you prefer to wear comfortable and casual clothes or smart clothes?
- Job
- What do you do? · Can you tell me about your job?
- History
- What did you study in history lessons when you were at school? · Do you like to learn about history?
- Public Holiday
- Do you like public holidays? · What public holidays do you have in your country?
- Art
- Did you enjoy doing art lessons when you were a child? · Do you like art?
- Home
- Where is your home? · What kind of housing
- Dream
- Do you dream much at night? · Do you like your dreams at night?
- Transport
- How did you come here today? · How do people get around where you live?
- Birthday
- What do you usually do on your birthday? · Do you think it is important for you to celebrate your birthday?
- Music
- What types of music do you like to listen to? · What kinds of music do you like to listen to?
- Name
- Who gave you your name? · Did your parents choose your name(s)?
- Places
- Do you like quiet places, noisy places, or crowded places? · Do you like to go to crowded places?
- Bake
- Do you like to bake? · What do you like to make?
- Laugh
- What kinds of thing make you laugh? · Do you like making other people laugh?
- Job or Business
- Which do you prefer physical work or work involving thinking? · Do you think today we have less physical labour than we did in the past?
- Happiness and Well-Being
- What do you have to do to achieve long-term happiness? · Do you think artistic activities can make people happy?
Say them out loud and get a band
Record any card with the AI examiner: one minute to prepare, two to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Frequently asked questions
What are the IELTS Speaking topics for October 2026?
IELTS rotates its Speaking topics roughly every four months, and October falls in the September–December season. This page lists the 85 Part 2 cue cards and 24 Part 1 topics in the BandLadder bank for that season, grouped by type, each with a model answer.
Are these leaked IELTS questions?
No. They are practice topics chosen to match what candidates report for the season. Nobody can tell you which card you will get, so practise across people, places, objects, events and experiences rather than memorising answers.
How should I use the model answers?
Read how each answer covers the bullets in order and adds one specific detail per bullet, then speak your own version from a real memory. Memorised answers are marked down on fluency and coherence.
Do the topics change in November?
The same season runs to the end of December, so most of these cards stay relevant. This page is refreshed at the start of each month.
Also for October 2026: IELTS Writing predictions · PTE predictions · all cue cards · Speaking 6 to 7