IELTS speaking cue cards: 208 topics + generator
Draw a random Part 2 topic, run the real exam timing, 1 minute to prepare, 2 minutes to speak, and optionally record your answer to listen back immediately after.
See all 208 topics ↓Describe a person who likes to read a lot
You should say:
- •who this person is
- •what kind of books they read
- •how often they read
- •and explain why you think they enjoy reading so much
Ready when you are
1:00
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak
What this tool does
- Draws one random cue card from a bank of 208 topics across all five official categories: Person, Place, Object, Event, Experience.
- Runs the real exam clock: 1 minute of silent prep, then 2 minutes of speaking, with no interruption in between, the same handoff a real examiner gives you.
- Optionally records your 2-minute answer in your browser and plays it back the moment you finish, so you can hear your own pacing, filler words, and hesitation the way an examiner would.
How to practice with it
- Draw a topic, then decide upfront whether to enable recording, that choice only shows before you start.
- Start the timer. Use the 1-minute prep to jot 3-4 short notes per bullet point, not full sentences.
- Speak for the full 2 minutes even if you run out of things to say early, examiners expect you to extend an answer, not stop at the minimum.
- Listen back immediately if you recorded it. Note one specific thing to fix, a filler word, a rushed ending, a bullet point you skipped, then draw a new topic and try again.
Why timing yourself matters
Part 2 of IELTS Speaking gives you exactly 1 minute to prepare, with a pencil and paper for notes, then up to 2 minutes to speak on the topic before the examiner moves on. Most self-study misses this constraint entirely, practicing a topic with unlimited thinking time teaches a different skill than thinking on your feet under a real clock.
Running the full 2 minutes also matters more than it seems. Stopping at 40 seconds because you've technically covered the bullet points is one of the more common ways candidates leave marks on the table, examiners are listening for how far you can extend an answer, not just whether you touched every prompt.
This bank has 208 topics across the five categories every real cue card comes from: Person, Place, Object, Event, Experience. 8 of them are the current rotation, covered with full sample answers and scoring notes on the SmoothMock blog. The rest give you enough range that you won't see the same topic twice in a single practice session.
All 208 cue card topics
Every topic the generator above can draw, grouped by category. Topics marked Current rotation are the ones covered with full sample answers on the SmoothMock blog.
Person (43)+
- Describe a person who likes to read a lotCurrent rotation
- Describe a person you know who has chosen a career in the medical fieldCurrent rotation
- Describe an actor or actress whom you admireCurrent rotation
- Describe a person who has influenced you a lot
- Describe a friend from your childhood
- Describe a family member you admire
- Describe a teacher who influenced you
- Describe a person who is good at their job
- Describe someone who helped you in a difficult situation
- Describe a leader you admire
- Describe a person who has good manners
- Describe someone who works in a creative job
- Describe a person who often gives you good advice
- Describe someone who is very organized
- Describe a famous person you would like to meet
- Describe a neighbour you know well
- Describe a person who speaks more than one language
- Describe someone who has started their own business
- Describe a person you know who is very confident
- Describe someone who has traveled to many places
- Describe a sports person you admire
- Describe a musician or singer you like
- Describe an old person you respect
- Describe a person who likes to help others
- Describe someone who taught you an important skill
- Describe a person who is very patient
- Describe someone in your family who you spend a lot of time with
- Describe a colleague or classmate you get along with well
- Describe a person who has an interesting job
- Describe someone who is a good listener
- Describe a person who often makes you laugh
- Describe a role model outside your family
- Describe an author or writer whose work you enjoy
- Describe someone you know who volunteers in the community
- Describe a person you have known for a long time
- Describe someone who recently moved to your city or country
- Describe a person you know who is skilled at cooking
- Describe someone who has overcome a big challenge
- Describe a person you follow on social media
- Describe someone who is very generous
- Describe a person who works outdoors
- Describe a scientist or inventor you admire
- Describe a person who dresses in an interesting way
Place (41)+
- Describe a place where there was a lot of noiseCurrent rotation
- Describe a place you visited that you found relaxing
- Describe a city you would like to live in
- Describe a park or garden you like to visit
- Describe a place with a lot of trees
- Describe a place near water that you enjoyed visiting
- Describe an old building you have visited
- Describe a place you go to be alone
- Describe a shop you like to visit
- Describe a library or bookstore you visited
- Describe a place you visited on holiday
- Describe a place in nature you would like to visit
- Describe a café or restaurant you like
- Describe a museum you have visited
- Describe a village or small town you visited
- Describe a place you go to exercise
- Describe your favourite room in your home
- Describe a place you visited that had beautiful scenery
- Describe a busy street you know well
- Describe a place you would like to visit in the future
- Describe a quiet place you know
- Describe a place where you like to study
- Describe an interesting building you saw
- Describe a beach you have visited
- Describe a place you used to visit as a child
- Describe a foreign country you would like to visit
- Describe a market you have visited
- Describe a place with historical significance
- Describe a place you have visited that was crowded
- Describe a mountain or hill you have visited
- Describe a place near your home that you like
- Describe a place you visited that surprised you
- Describe an amusement park or entertainment venue you visited
- Describe a hotel or place you stayed during a trip
- Describe a farm or rural area you visited
- Describe a school or university you have studied at
- Describe a public place that could be improved
- Describe a place you associate with a happy memory
- Describe a workplace you have visited or worked in
- Describe a place you go to relax after a busy day
- Describe a garden or green space in your city
Object (42)+
- Describe an object that you think is beautifulCurrent rotation
- Describe an invention that is useful in daily lifeCurrent rotation
- Describe a piece of technology you find useful
- Describe a gift you received that you liked
- Describe an item of clothing you like to wear
- Describe a photograph that is meaningful to you
- Describe a piece of furniture in your home
- Describe a book that had a strong impact on you
- Describe an app on your phone that you use often
- Describe a toy you had as a child
- Describe something you own that is very old
- Describe an item you would like to buy
- Describe a piece of jewelry or accessory you like
- Describe a tool that makes daily tasks easier
- Describe a machine you use at home
- Describe something you lost and later found
- Describe a piece of artwork you like
- Describe a musical instrument you find interesting
- Describe a vehicle you would like to own
- Describe a website you use regularly
- Describe a product you recently bought
- Describe an object that reminds you of a person
- Describe something you made by hand
- Describe a piece of technology that has changed your life
- Describe a bag you often use
- Describe an object you would take if you had to leave home quickly
- Describe a piece of equipment used in a sport you like
- Describe something you borrowed from someone
- Describe an object in your home that you value
- Describe a document that is important to you
- Describe a gadget you would like to own in the future
- Describe a piece of clothing someone gave you
- Describe a map you have used
- Describe an object from your country that represents its culture
- Describe a game you enjoyed playing
- Describe something you use to stay organized
- Describe an object you use to relax
- Describe a piece of technology that you find difficult to use
- Describe a collection of items you have or had
- Describe an object that helped you learn a new skill
- Describe a piece of clothing you wore for a special occasion
- Describe an object that is important in your culture
Event (41)+
- Describe a time when you lost an important and valuable itemCurrent rotation
- Describe a celebration you attended
- Describe a time when you helped someone
- Describe an important decision you made
- Describe a time you were very busy
- Describe an occasion when you received good news
- Describe a time you had to work as part of a team
- Describe a competition you took part in
- Describe a time you tried something new
- Describe a special day you remember
- Describe a time you were asked to give advice
- Describe a time you had to change your plans
- Describe an event you organized
- Describe a time you disagreed with someone
- Describe a wedding or celebration you attended
- Describe a time you learned something new about yourself
- Describe a time you achieved a goal
- Describe a time you were late for something important
- Describe a time you moved to a new home or city
- Describe a time you received an award or recognition
- Describe a time you had to solve a problem quickly
- Describe an occasion when you felt proud
- Describe a family gathering you enjoyed
- Describe a time you gave a presentation or speech
- Describe a time you tried to persuade someone
- Describe a time you were nervous before doing something
- Describe a public event you attended, like a concert or festival
- Describe a trip that did not go as planned
- Describe a time you saved money for something
- Describe a time your opinion about something changed
- Describe a time you learned a difficult lesson
- Describe an occasion when you met someone new
- Describe a time you had a difficult conversation
- Describe a time you volunteered your time
- Describe an event from your country's history that interests you
- Describe a time you had to wait a long time for something
- Describe a time you took a risk
- Describe a time technology helped you solve a problem
- Describe a time you had to work under pressure
- Describe a time you were given a gift you did not expect
- Describe a time you tried to improve a skill
Experience (41)+
- Describe a character from a movie you found interestingCurrent rotation
- Describe a book you have read more than once
- Describe a skill you would like to learn
- Describe a piece of good advice you received
- Describe a time you learned a new skill
- Describe an experience that made you happy
- Describe a difficult task you completed
- Describe an experience of working with children
- Describe a time you helped a friend or family member
- Describe an experience of using public transport
- Describe a course or class you enjoyed
- Describe a foreign culture that interests you
- Describe a language you would like to learn
- Describe a time you cooked a meal for others
- Describe a hobby you have had for a long time
- Describe an experience of being a leader
- Describe a time you experienced a different culture
- Describe an experience you had while travelling
- Describe a time you had to adapt to a change
- Describe an activity you do to stay healthy
- Describe an experience of learning something online
- Describe a memorable meal you had
- Describe an experience of shopping for something special
- Describe an experience you had at school that you remember well
- Describe a time you experienced bad weather
- Describe an experience of using a service, like a bank or hospital
- Describe a time you tried a new type of food
- Describe an experience of taking care of an animal
- Describe an experience you had that was educational
- Describe a time you experienced a power cut or similar disruption
- Describe a time you used your creativity to solve a problem
- Describe an experience of playing a team sport
- Describe a time you experienced good customer service
- Describe an experience of studying for an exam
- Describe a time you tried to save the environment in some way
- Describe an experience of using social media that stands out
- Describe a time you experienced a cultural event or festival
- Describe an experience of moving to a new place
- Describe a time you learned something from a mistake
- Describe an experience of communicating in a foreign language
- Describe an experience of using AI or a new type of technology
This generator gives you the topic and the clock. A full SmoothMock test tells you exactly which of the four criteria your answer is losing marks on.
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Free to use on any site: blog, forum, coaching-center page. Paste this snippet where you want the widget to appear. It renders as a self-contained generator with a small “by SmoothMock” credit link back to this page; please keep that credit intact.
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></iframe>Questions, answered
How much time do I get to prepare for a Part 2 cue card?+
1 minute. You're given a pencil and paper to jot down notes, not full sentences, before you start speaking.
How long should I speak for?+
Up to 2 minutes. Examiners expect you to use close to the full time; stopping after 30-40 seconds usually means you haven't covered enough of the bullet points.
Are these real IELTS cue card topics?+
8 of them are drawn from the current speaking rotation and covered with full sample answers on the SmoothMock blog. The rest are additional practice topics written in the same five categories and bullet-point format IELTS actually uses, not the official test-centre-reported bank for every one of them.
Does this tool record my speaking?+
Optionally, yes. If you allow microphone access, it records locally in your browser during the 2-minute speaking timer and plays it back immediately after, nothing is uploaded or stored anywhere. It doesn't score your answer; for that, use the full speaking practice test.
Can I put this on my own website?+
Yes. Copy the embed code further down this page and paste it into your site's HTML. It renders as a self-contained widget with a small SmoothMock credit link.
Practiced the topic. Now get real feedback.
SmoothMock's speaking test runs the same three-part structure with follow-up questions, then scores your answer against all four criteria.
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