IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 254 words
  • A film, book, song or programme
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful.

You should say:

  • →Where you can see it
  • →What it shows
  • →Why you think it is useful
  • →And explain how you feel about it.

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

A film, book, song or programme

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Choose an ad you genuinely recall to make your delivery more natural and fluent.

  2. 2

    Use the bullet points as a roadmap to ensure your response stays perfectly chronological.

  3. 3

    Focus on your personal reaction to the ad to add depth to your answer.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8254 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I recently came across a public service advertisement while waiting for the underground in London, specifically at King’s Cross station. It was a digital poster for a campaign called 'Small Acts, Big Impact', designed to encourage people to donate their unused seasonal clothing to local shelters. The visual was striking; it showed a split screen, with one side featuring a cold, shivering individual on a park bench and the other side showing a vibrant, colourful pile of winter coats, scarves, and gloves. There was no aggressive sales pitch, just a simple QR code at the bottom that directed viewers to a map of nearby drop-off points. I find this advertisement particularly useful because it bridges the gap between intention and action. Often, people want to help those less fortunate but simply do not know the logistics of how or where to donate. By providing an immediate, accessible solution in a high-traffic area, it converts passive sympathy into tangible community support. Personally, I feel quite touched whenever I see it. In a city where we are constantly bombarded with commercial ads trying to sell us luxury goods or fast food, this particular campaign stands out because it appeals to our collective sense of empathy rather than our vanity. It serves as a gentle reminder that we have the power to improve someone’s quality of life with items we no longer require. It makes the hectic daily commute feel a little more meaningful, and it actually motivated me to clear out my own wardrobe last weekend.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • public service advertisement

    An ad promoting a social cause or message.

  • striking

    Something that attracts attention because it is unusual.

  • logistics

    The practical organisation of a complex activity.

  • tangible

    Something clear and definite that can be felt.

  • bombarded

    To be hit with too much of something.

  • vanity

    Excessive pride in one's own physical appearance.

  • collective

    Done by or involving all members of society.

  • hectic

    Characterised by intense activity and fast pace.

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1What do you think of online advertising?
  2. 2Do you think there is too much advertising in our daily lives?
  3. 3Do people watch useless advertisements in this day and age?
  4. 4Are there any great online advertisements?
  5. 5What do people usually buy?
  6. 6Why does buying new things make people happy?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a good advertisement that you think is useful."?+

Choose an ad you genuinely recall to make your delivery more natural and fluent.

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: a film, book, song or programme

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