Warm-up Questions:
As we continue to focus on Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test, we’re going to look at Part 2 cue cards which ask you to describe Objects, Items or Possessions.
In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, the examiner will give you a cue card.
The cue cards are usually about 1 of 5 different topics:
Many students struggle with this kind of cue card because they simply just describe it, and then can’t think of anything else to add.
But there is a lot of flexibility allowed in the IELTS Speaking Test (much more than the Writing Test, for example).
In the IELTS Speaking Test, especially in Part 2, you are allowed to go off-topic without any penalties or losing points.
If you look at the IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors…
…you can see there is not criteria for ‘Task Achievement’. This means, that as long as you tell as story that is even loosely connected to the topic, you will not lose points.
What does this mean?
Watch my example answer below.
The Part 2 Cue Card is:
Describe a piece of clothing you enjoy wearing.
As you watch, think: how much to I talk about my pair of jeans? How much do I talk about other pairs, or jeans in general?
I will explain more below.
https://youtu.be/JldFYIcyzUc
“I can never think of any ideas.”
“I can’t find the right IELTS vocabulary anywhere.”
Are you having any of these problems?
If you’re struggling with vocabulary and ideas for your IELTS Speaking answers, you can find HUNDREDS more high-band example answers (written and recorded by me) to help you tackle any IELTS Speaking Topic you might encounter.
This week in fact, I’ve just uploaded the 200th example answer to the library! With hundreds more to come!
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You can find the full transcript of my answer here: NewsletterClothes.doc
My opinion about clothes and clothes shopping in general: “I’ve never been into fashion or clothes shopping”
The past: “I bought my favorite pair of jeans on a whim while I was shopping by myself a few months ago.”
My opinion about jeans in general & reasons: I’ve always preferred wearing jeans over trousers, mainly because they’re so versatile. That means I can wear them very often and on lots of different occasions, too, because my office dress code is smart casual. I can even wear my jeans to work and then see my friends in a restaurant after work too.
Describe them: (Material – Colour) They’re made of a dark blue denim and they’re slim fit, which means they’re not baggy or loose in any places based on genes I’ve owned in the past.
Describe other bad pairs of jeans I have owned before: Some of them have been quite uncomfortable and restrictive, but after wearing these ones for a few weeks, I realized that the jeans I’ve probably been wearing were ill fitting and not really suited for me.
Describe them again: The pockets are deep, too, which is useful. I can wear them almost all year round because denim is relatively warm in the winter and it wicks away sweat in the summer.
My opinion about my pair of jeans & reasons: I like wearing them because they make me look smart and put together and they’re not overly formal or business-like.
Future / Speculation: if I wear these jeans out or rip them, I’ll try to buy another pair from the same label again.
Notice how I only talk about my specific jeans for a little while, and for the rest of my talk, I mention a variety of other things generally connected to the cue card.
As I said before, you ARE NOT MARKED on your choices or ideas in the IELTS Speaking. You can share any related details you like.
For this topic, you could even talk about all of the following things and not lose any marks:
Again, you can EXPAND in any direction you like. ‘Task Achievement’ is not a Speaking score criteria.
Of course, this does not mean that you should completely change the topic. For example, do not talk about your favourite restaurant, or your favourite movie – that will lose you marks, because it will seem as though you are changing the topic to gain an advantage, or you are changing the topic to one you do know because you have a memorized answer (which is not allowed.)
…
Because ‘Clothes’ in a Part 2 cue card, it also means it’s a Part 3 topic!
Read these 2 levels of about ‘Clothes’. Every level becomes more difficult but every level has the same meaning. The new words are highlighted, so if you don’t understand a word in Level 2, look back at Level 1 to find the easier synonym! This is a great way to learn new vocabulary!
Level 1: Basic Level 2: Advanced
IELTS Question #1: Do you think students need to wear school uniforms?
IELTS Question #2: Do people wear more formal clothes than in the past?
You can find even more IELTS-appropriate vocabulary, collocations and phrases about Clothes and Clothing here:
School uniforms and Formal Clothing sometimes appears as an IELTS topic in Speaking and in Writing. The debate website ‘ProCon.org’ covers this topic in great detail and it’s full of IELTS-appropriate arguments and opinions.
You can also read about some of the benefits and drawbacks of Business Casual clothing at work.
Putting it all together:
Try this Part 2 Cue Card for yourself! Remember, you can say ANYTHING generally related to the topic on the cue card in your IELTS Speaking test.
Try these Part 3 Questions about Clothing:
Part 2 - 60 seconds to prepare 📝 2 minutes to answer 🗣️ Describe an…
Part 2 - 60 seconds to prepare 📝 2 minutes to answer 🗣️ Describe someone…
Part 2 - 60 seconds to prepare 📝 2 minutes to answer 🗣️ Describe a…
Part 2 - 60 seconds to prepare 📝 2 minutes to answer 🗣️ Describe a…
#1 - Is there much advertising in your country? Yes, there is a lot of…
Part 2 - 60 seconds to prepare 📝 2 minutes to answer 🗣️ Describe a…