How to Prepare a Cue Card?

3 min read

Updated On Sep 14, 2023

Predicted Cue Cards Topics 2024

The Cue Cards Question type in the IELTS Speaking Module can be challenging for many IELTS Aspirants who do not feel comfortable speaking in English at length. However, through every day practice, you can prepare yourself to speak on any given unseen topic with some dedicated study and mastering a few key skills.

The IELTS cue cards are an essential part of the IELTS speaking test module. This comes in the second part of the test. These tests require a number of skills developed over time to tackle them effectively, the least of which includes being able to come up with a story in just two minutes.

There are a host of things that can come to your rescue when you are put under the spotlight such as– preparation, confidence, breathing right, checking your body language and having that smile even when we are losing words.

IELTS Cue Card

You will be given an IELTS cue card topic, it will consist of one main question in the form of an incident or memory or a piece of art and this will be followed by 3-4 questions that will guide you on how to answer the said question. The cue card does not come with an option to switch, therefore, put your mind on it immediately.

You will be given a pen and paper to write down your thoughts. You have to speak for 2 minutes and stop when the examiner asks you to.

Example:

Talk about a shop that you recently discovered.

Model Answer

What shop it is
How did you find out about it
Why do you like it
And share your experience in this shop

So how does one prepare for something that needs to be done impromptu? There are certain things you can do to shine.

Underline the keywords
Create a story line and add up information as the task proceeds
If planning for some drama, then keep some for the end to make the climax stand out.
Mind map is one practical strategy that helps the test taker during the crucial time of preparing a story for the cue card.Mind map helps you visually organize ideas in an order.Therefore you can prepare one with Wh questions like: When, Where, Who, Why etc..
You can be imaginative, so go ahead showcase your creative side
Sound normal, even when you are panicking, have a confident smile and bring in emotions when necessary.
Control your body movement, which reflects your level of confidence.
No excess information is required, keep the theme in mind and talk accordingly.

Prep Up Before The Exam:

Speak about anything at a stretch for 3 to 4 minutes
Record your talk
Talk in front of the mirror.
Try adding some vocabulary, idioms, colloquial expressions to make it sound interesting.
Refer recent speaking tests and cue cards
Make use of good vocabulary that goes along with any topic

What Not To Do?

Never pause, if you feel you are running out of words or having a starting trouble or you need time to think, then start off with saying: oh that’s a good question…, I am not sure…, I don’t know much about it but….
Don’t sound under confident.
Don’t feel shy to ask the examiner to repeat the question and clear your doubt rather than giving an answer which has no sense.
And avoid answering questions in one word.

Hope you’d have got some information about the cue card and how is it used. Our IELTS online classes help you with many such informations and preparation tips.

See also :

Frequently Asked Questions

Mention some pointers on how to master IELTS cue cards?

To master the IELTS cue card, remember to be confident, patient, calm and composed. Read the cue card carefully, brainstorm ideas, find answers to the questions, and then speak on the issue. It is strongly recommended that a test taker should not memorize anything prior to the exam and remain stress-free.

What should a test taker avoid when answering the IELTS cue card?

A test taker should not talk until instructed to do so by the examiner. They should not deliver memorised replies or answers that are only single lines or brief. They must not skip any of the questions on the cue card.

What is the format of a cue card?

In IELTS Speaking part 2, the test-taker will be handed a cue card that contains a prompt, three bullet points, and an additional sentence. The prompt is the topic on which the test-taker should speak, the three bullet points are the sub-questions, and the supplementary question is a follow-up question on that issue.

Is there any possibility of a test-taker choosing their cue card topic in the IELTS Speaking exam?

No, a test-taker will not have the option of choosing their own cue card topic. The examiner will provide the cue card and the test-taker will have to talk about the topic.

Is it important to follow the prompts on the cue card?

The four questions that come with the cue card topic provide a general guide to what a test taker should discuss for the given topic. Although it is not required to answer these questions while speaking, the test-taker is recommended to do so

Whitney Houston

Houston has been in the field of IELTS for about eight years and has been associated with IELTSMaterial for the last two years. As an IELTS Expert, her contributions to the articles have been informative and original. Whitney has written about 200 informative articles for IELTSMaterial.com, which enables students to learn from her expertise. Whitney is also a good researcher, and thus any new information about the IELTS test can be found on our website, thanks to her. Whitney completed her graduation in Creative Writing at Glasgow University, Belfast. Having seen her foreign peers struggling to prepare for IELTS to find jobs abroad kindled her, and she began learning the techniques and strategies to crack the IELTS test to help her peers.