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IELTS Speaking Part 2 lesson about planning a long turn

Speaking Part 2: Plan the Talk

Use one minute to create a flexible keyword route, then develop a coherent one-to-two-minute talk without reading a script.

LevelB1–B2
Time30 minutes
Lesson typeIELTS Speaking Part 2
Practice contentOriginal Engduo cue cards
Your goal: Prepare for one minute, speak continuously for up to two minutes, develop the cue-card points, and answer one related follow-up.
Progress focus FCLRGRAPRON
FC
Fluency & Coherence
LR
Lexical Resource
GRA
Grammar Range & Accuracy
PRON
Pronunciation
30-minute lesson route
  1. Understand the official long-turn task — 3 min
  2. Unpack an original cue card — 4 min
  3. Listen and map a talk route — 5 min
  4. Build a one-minute keyword plan — 5 min
  5. Complete the first timed talk — 7 min
  6. Final talk, feedback and retry — 6 min

1. Know the Part 2 task

Official format: The examiner gives you a topic card with points to include. You have one minute to prepare and make notes, then speak for one to two minutes. The examiner may ask one or two questions on the same topic.

The goal is not to memorise a model answer. Use the points to organise and develop your own experience or a believable example.

How to run Stage 1
Explain timing and purpose in under one minute. Emphasise that the learner may use notes, should speak at length, and will not be interrupted during the long turn.

2. Unpack the cue card

Describe an object that helped you learn or notice something

You should say:

  • what the object is
  • how you got it
  • when you used it
  • and explain why it became meaningful to you.

Underline the main topic. Circle the final “explain why” instruction. Choose one real or believable object before making notes.

How to run Stage 2
Check the learner understands the topic immediately. Ask for one object and one specific memory. Do not brainstorm several topics after the choice is made.

3. Listen and map the route

Five-keyword IELTS Speaking Part 2 planning route
Opening → scene → sequence → meaning → closing
Engduo Audio • British English

Transcript — after listening

I’m going to describe a small camera that my uncle gave me. The detail I remember most is using it on my first solo trip.

Engduo Audio • American English

Transcript — after listening

Looking back, the camera mattered because it taught me to notice ordinary places more carefully.

Open
Set scene
Develop
Explain meaning
Reflect
How to run Stage 3
Play both clips once with transcripts closed. The learner places each clip on the five-part route and identifies the specific detail that develops the topic.

4. Make a one-minute keyword plan

Set a real 60-second timer. Write phrases—not full sentences—in the order you will speak.

Open
camera
Scene
uncle · gift
Sequence
first solo trip
Meaning
notice detail
Close
still use it
Planning rules: English keywords · all cue points covered · one specific scene · one reflection · no full script

Close the example and create your own five-keyword route.

How to run Stage 4
Give exactly one minute. Do not help during the timer unless the learner asks the meaning of a cue-card word at the start. Check notes for route and detail, not grammar accuracy.

5. Complete the first timed talk

Speaker: Talk for 90 seconds to two minutes using only the keyword plan.

Teacher: Do not interrupt. Mark one strong developed detail and one place where the talk loses flow or specificity.

Follow-up: “Would this object be easy to replace? Why or why not?”

After feedback, add one keyword—not a full sentence—to repair the weak section.

How to run Stage 5
Start the timer and remain silent. Stop at two minutes. Give one strength linked to FC, LR, GRA, or PRON and one improvement only; avoid estimating an IELTS band from this single attempt.

6. Final practice: Plan, speak and respond

Task: Use a new original cue card. Prepare for one minute, speak for one to two minutes, and answer one follow-up without a memorised script.

Success: The talk has a clear route, develops specific details, uses understandable varied language, and remains intelligible throughout.

FC · Fluency & Coherence

2: Speaks at length with a clear route and developed ideas.

1: Completes the talk after one route or development prompt.

0: Cannot yet sustain or organise the long turn.

LR · Lexical Resource

2: Uses suitable topic vocabulary and paraphrases when needed.

1: Meaning is clear after one vocabulary prompt.

0: Limited word choice repeatedly blocks the intended detail.

GRA · Grammar Range & Accuracy

2: Uses a useful mix of structures with errors that do not reduce clarity.

1: Meaning remains clear after one form or time-reference cue.

0: Frequent form problems obscure key events or relationships.

PRON · Pronunciation

2: Speech remains intelligible with useful stress and chunking.

1: Meaning becomes clear after one stress or pacing cue.

0: The listener frequently cannot identify key words or boundaries.

These 0–2 scores are Engduo lesson-progress checks, not official IELTS band scores.

How to run Stage 6
Use a fresh cue card and official timing. Score all four learning dimensions from 0–2 only after the full attempt, give one priority cue, and repeat the weakest 30 seconds without restarting the whole talk.
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Format reference: IELTS official Speaking test format. Cue cards and practice content on this page are original Engduo materials.

IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Engduo Thailand is not an official IELTS test partner. © Engduo Thailand.