IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a time when you were waiting for something special: 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.
  • 256 words
  • An experience
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a time when you were waiting for something special

You should say:

  • →What you were waiting for
  • →How long you had to wait
  • →What you did while waiting
  • →And explain how you felt while waiting

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

An experience

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

  1. 1

    Jot down the item and the duration immediately to fix your core narrative.

  2. 2

    Use the middle minute to bullet point two sensory details or activities used for distraction.

  3. 3

    Draft a final sentence explaining how the wait changed your perception of the item.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8256 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

A couple of years ago, I found myself waiting for something truly transformative: the delivery of my first professional camera, a vintage Leica I had spent months saving up for. I had scoured various online marketplaces until I finally found a pristine model from a seller in Berlin. The wait lasted exactly three weeks, which felt like an eternity given my mounting anticipation. During those twenty-one days, I was practically glued to the tracking portal, refreshing the page every few hours, even though I knew perfectly well the courier wasn't moving any faster. To distract myself, I delved into technical manuals and watched hours of tutorials on street photography, trying to familiarise myself with the manual focus and the specific exposure settings of that particular model. I even visited local parks, visualising the shots I would take once the camera arrived, almost as if I were practising without the instrument itself. Honestly, the feeling was a strange cocktail of anxiety and exhilaration. There was this constant, low-level hum of nerves that it might get lost in transit or arrive damaged, yet that was overshadowed by a bubbling excitement. Every time I heard a delivery van pull up outside my flat, my heart would skip a beat. When it finally arrived, the relief was palpable. That period of waiting, although frustrating, actually heightened my appreciation for the object. It wasn't just a piece of kit anymore; it was a reward for my patience and discipline, making the first time I pressed the shutter feel significantly more meaningful.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • pristine

    In its original condition and perfectly clean

  • eternity

    A period of time that seems very long

  • delved into

    Examined or researched something in great detail

  • cocktail

    A mixture of several different things together

  • exhilaration

    A feeling of being extremely happy and excited

  • palpable

    A feeling so intense it seems almost physical

  • piece of kit

    A set of equipment used for a purpose

  • shutter

    The part of a camera that opens automatically

5 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1What role does society play in shaping our attitudes towards this?
  2. 2Has the way people view this changed over the years?
  3. 3How do you think it will develop in the future?
  4. 4What are the benefits and drawbacks?
  5. 5Do you think the government should be involved in regulating this area?

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 time when you were waiting for something special"?+

Jot down the item and the duration immediately to fix your core narrative.

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: an experience

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