IELTS Speaking · Practice tool
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Simulator: Random Cue Card, Real Timing
Practise IELTS Speaking Part 2 the way the test runs it: a cue card, one minute to prepare, then up to two minutes to speak. Draw a random card from 204 topics, use the timers, and record yourself if you want to listen back. Free, no account, and nothing is uploaded.
Updated · LingoLeap IELTS Content Team
IELTS Speaking Part 2 practice: your cue card
Cue card · People
Describe / talk about:
A person who likes to help others
You should say (suggested points):
- who this person is
- how you know them
- what they are like or what they do
- and explain how you feel about this person.
Ready
1:00
Quick self-check
- Did you speak for most of the two minutes without long stops?
- Did you cover every point, including the “explain” one?
- Did you use the past tense for your story and a few precise words for the topic?
- Would a listener understand every sentence the first time?
How to use the IELTS Speaking simulator
- Press Start and use the minute to write two or three keywords per point, as you would on the test paper.
- When the prep time ends (or you press “I'm ready”), speak until the two-minute timer runs out. Keep going: add an example, a comparison or how you feel now.
- Tick Record my answer before you start if you want to listen back. Most people hear their pauses and repeated words straight away.
- Draw a new cue card and repeat. Three cards a day is a good routine in the last weeks before the test.
Need a method first? The Part 2 topics guide shows how to plan the minute and a structure that fills two minutes, with three worked cue cards.
Check your answer against the IELTS criteria
Fluency and Coherence
Speaking at length without long pauses; ideas in a clear order, linked with words like “because”, “so”, “after that”.
Lexical Resource
Precise words for the topic; paraphrasing when a word is missing rather than stopping.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentences; past tenses correct in your story.
Pronunciation
Easy to understand the first time: clear word endings, stress on the key words.
Want a band estimate instead of a self-check? The AI-graded practice scores all four criteria (button below). See how scores combine in the IELTS band score calculator.
Practise out loud, then check your answer
LingoLeap's IELTS Speaking practice has Part 1 and Parts 2–3 questions from the same question bank as the topic lists on these pages. Record an answer and get an estimated band with feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. You can browse the questions without an account; a scored answer costs 200 credits, and sign-up credits cover your first ones.
Open IELTS Speaking practiceFAQ
Is this IELTS Speaking practice test free?
Yes. The cue cards, timers and recording are free and need no account. For a band estimate with feedback, you can send your answer to LingoLeap's AI-graded IELTS Speaking practice.
Is my recording uploaded anywhere?
No. The recording is made and played back in your browser and disappears when you leave or reload the page. The microphone is only used if you tick “Record my answer”.
How close is this to the real IELTS Speaking Part 2?
The timing is the same: one minute to prepare with notes, then up to two minutes to speak. Real cue cards print their own bullet points; ours shows suggested points for each topic group, because our question bank stores the topics only.
What should I do in the one minute of preparation?
Pick a real example fast and write two or three keywords for each point, plus one extra detail for the “explain” point. See the Part 2 guide for a full method and three worked examples.
Can I practise IELTS Speaking Parts 1 and 3 here?
This simulator is for Part 2. For Parts 1 and 3, use the question lists and example answers in the Part 1 and Part 3 guides, or the AI-graded practice, which covers Part 1 and Parts 2–3.
Sources
Test format, timing and scoring criteria are from IELTS (ielts.org), read 28 September 2026. Topic lists are from LingoLeap's IELTS Speaking question bank. Example answers are written by our team to show a method; they are not official material and were not graded.