As a non-native English speaker who is preparing for the IELTS exam, there is a good chance that you are struggling with the IELTS Cue Card Speaking section. Giving an 8 – 9-minute one interview with a certified examiner on a single topic can be both overwhelming and challenging. Especially if you are not used to speaking in English regularly. However, you can easily master this and improve your band score by expanding your vocabulary and mastering useful phrases. To help you, in this piece, you will find some carefully selected vocabulary and phrases along with tips on how to use them effectively. Read on!
Common Topics in IELTS Cue Card Speaking
One main thing you need to know is that the IELTS Cue Card Speaking covers a wide range of themes from common everyday subjects. Moreover, these can range from topics around your personal experiences to your education or technology.
Here are some common topics that you can familiarise yourself with to prepare relevant vocabulary words and ideas well in advance:
- People: One of the most frequent topics that comes up in the IELTS speaking is describing someone you know. This can be your family member, a friend, a teacher, or simply someone you admire. In this, you can try to learn about vocabulary that is related to appearance, personality, or relationships.
- Places: Describing places is also another common topic that you can get in this section. In this, you can get themes related to describing a city, a holiday destination you’ve been to, or a memorable place. Also, note that to ace this type of topic, you must know or learn how to describe atmosphere, location, and your feelings about a place.
- Events: Furthermore, you can also be asked to talk about a special event, which can be a celebration, festival, or an important event in your life. You can try to learn words that can describe the event itself, the people who are involved in it, and your experience or emotions.
- Objects: In the IELTS Cue Card Speaking, you might also have to talk about or describe a specific object. It can be important to you, like a gift, a piece of technology, or a memorable item. A great way to score well on such topics is by using various descriptive adjectives.
- Experiences: Lastly, you can also get a topic where you have to describe a certain experience that you had. This can be anything like learning a new skill, trying a new food, or even an unforgettable journey. Here, you can use various expressions for sequencing events and expressing your opinions.
Now that you have a better understanding of the kind of topics you can get in the IELTS speaking part 2. Let’s take a look at some of the most common vocabulary & phrases you can use in each of them.
Useful Vocabulary for Describing People
Since describing people is one of the most common topics in this section, you must use a wide range of vocabulary. This can help you create a vivid picture in the examiner’s head and show your language ability. Here are some common terms that you can use in this:
Personality Traits
- Friendly, kind-hearted, generous, polite
- Confident, ambitious, hardworking, determined
- Funny, cheerful, easy-going, lively
- Shy, reserved, quiet, thoughtful
- Honest, reliable, trustworthy, loyal
- Creative, intelligent, open-minded, curious
Relationship Terms
- Family members: mother, father, sibling, cousin, uncle, aunt
- Friends and acquaintances: best friend, close friend, colleague, neighbour, classmate
- Formal and informal terms: mentor, role model, partner, spouse, acquaintance
- Describing relationships: lifelong friend, childhood friend, good company, someone I look up to
Useful Vocabulary for Describing Places
When it comes to describing a place in task 2, you must use a good mix of vocabulary. Especially the type that can convey that type of place it is, and give more info about its overall atmosphere.
Types of Places
- Natural places: beach, mountain, forest, lake, desert, countryside, valley, island
- Urban places: city centre, shopping mall, public square, metro station, high-rise building
- Cultural & historical places: museum, art gallery, temple, castle, monument, heritage site
- Residential places: apartment, bungalow, neighbourhood, suburb, dormitory
- Recreational places: park, cinema, gym, amusement park, stadium, café, zoo
Adjectives for Atmosphere & Environment
- Positive atmosphere: peaceful, serene, relaxing, vibrant, lively, charming, cosy, welcoming, picturesque, scenic
- Negative atmosphere: crowded, noisy, polluted, dull, chaotic, run-down, isolated
- Environmental descriptions: clean, green, well-maintained, humid, breezy, foggy, sunlit, shaded
- Sensory details: aromatic (smells), colourful (sights), tranquil (sounds), refreshing (feeling)
Useful Vocabulary for Describing Events
If you want to give a high-scoring response when it comes to describing an event, then you again need to use a wide range of vocabulary. This will help you convey things like what the event was, how it felt, and why it was memorable.
Describing the Event Atmosphere
- Describing sounds & visuals: loud music, vibrant lights, traditional dance, crowded venue, cheerful laughter, sparkling lights
- Other useful phrases: buzzing with energy, filled with excitement, decorated beautifully, well-organised, full of life
Expressing Feelings About Events
- Positive feelings: thrilled, touched, overjoyed, amazed, grateful, excited, nostalgic, impressed, honoured
- Phrases to express impact: It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I felt truly connected to everyone there, the whole event left a lasting impression on me, and it reminded me of how important family is.
Useful Vocabulary for Describing Objects
A great way to describe objects in the IELTS cue card is by using descriptive objects and talking about the object, like why it matters, what it does, and so on. This will help you create a clear and vivid picture of the object.
Descriptive Adjectives
- Size and Shape: large, small, tiny, huge, compact, bulky, round, rectangular, square, slender
- Colour and Appearance: bright, dull, shiny, faded, colourful, transparent, glossy, matte
- Texture and Material: smooth, rough, soft, hard, slippery, sticky, metallic, wooden, plastic, glass
- Condition and Quality: new, old, worn-out, damaged, sturdy, fragile, heavy, lightweight, expensive, cheap, valuable, ordinary, unique
- Emotional or Personal Connection: beautiful, attractive, elegant, stylish, classic, modern, unusual, fascinating
Function and Importance Vocabulary
- Function: “It is used for,” “Its main purpose is to,” “It helps to,” “It serves as,” “It functions by,”
- Importance: “It is essential because,” “It plays a vital role in,” “It has great significance in,” “It is important for,” “It is invaluable for,” “It makes life easier by,”
Useful Vocabulary for Describing Experiences
And lastly, to describe experiences, you can use various vocabulary words that add depth to your answers. Moreover, you can also use phrases that can help you organise your story logically and fluently.
Expressing Opinions & Feelings
- Positive feelings: “I felt excited, thrilled, overjoyed, grateful, relaxed, satisfied, proud.” “It was a memorable experience,” “I was deeply impressed by,” “It made me feel inspired and motivated.”
- Negative feelings: “I was disappointed, frustrated, nervous, anxious, confused, upset.” “It was a challenging experience.” “I found it stressful/difficult to.”
- Neutral/Reflective opinions: “I think it was a valuable learning experience,” “It gave me a chance to reflect on,” “I realised that,” “In my opinion, it was a turning point in my life.”
Time and Sequence Phrases
- Beginning: At first, initially, to begin with, the experience started when…
- During the experience: Then, After that, While I was…, Meanwhile, At one point
- Ending / Result: Finally, in the end, as a result, eventually, this experience taught me that…
Tips to Practice Using New Vocabulary
Using this vocabulary can improve your response to the IELTS Cue Card Speaking and even help in getting your desired band score. To help you further, below are a few tips that you can use while practising with new words:
- The first and foremost tip is to create your own sentences instead of memorising words. This will help you understand how all the words can naturally fit in the context.
- You can also try to use these in your everyday conversation. The more you use them in your day-to-day life, the better you will be able to use them naturally.
- Try to paraphrase your response multiple times and use different words every time. Moreover, this will help in improving your flexibility and avoiding repetition.
- Lastly, take as many IELTS practice test as you can and try to apply the vocabulary in them under time conditions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, to achieve your desired band score in the IELTS Cue Card Speaking, you can focus on expanding your vocabulary with descriptive and functional words. But do keep in mind that achieving your dream score is not just about using complex words. It is also about how clearly, fluently, coherently, and accurately you use them in your response. And this can be a little difficult, especially if you are not used to speaking in English regularly. To help you with this, you can take online coaching for IELTS from Gradding and get tailored help. Connect today!
