IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe an important text message you received: 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.
  • 251 words
  • An experience
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe an important text message you received.

You should say:

  • →Who sent it to you?
  • →Why still remember it?
  • →And explain how you felt after you received it.

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

    Select a message that triggered a change in your emotions or life choices.

  2. 2

    Draft a brief timeline: when, where, and what you were doing when it arrived.

  3. 3

    Ensure the final part focuses on the long-term impact of the message.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8251 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I remember receiving a text message about two years ago from my younger brother, Leo. At the time, I was working in a high-pressure corporate job in London, feeling quite burnt out and questioning my career path. Leo, who was travelling through South America, sent me a simple, unsolicited message that just said, 'Look at the horizon, not the screen; your happiness is not a salary.' It was so unexpected because we rarely had deep conversations via text; usually, our exchanges were just logistical updates or shared memes. I remember it so vividly because the timing was uncanny. I was sitting at my desk, staring at a spreadsheet, feeling completely drained, when the notification pinged. The words felt like a sudden gust of fresh air in a stuffy room. It wasn't just the sentiment, but the fact that he had taken a moment from his adventure to reach out with something so profound. The impact was immediate. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, followed by a sense of clarity I had been lacking for months. It acted as a catalyst for me to finally stop overthinking and start planning my resignation. That text shifted my perspective entirely, moving me away from the narrow focus of my professional life and reminding me of the bigger picture. It was a pivotal moment where a brief digital interaction prompted a major real-world transformation, proving that even a short message can hold immense emotional weight and change the trajectory of one’s life.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • unsolicited

    Something given or sent without being asked for.

  • uncanny

    Strange or mysterious in an unsettling or remarkable way.

  • stuffy

    Lacking fresh air or appearing dull and restrictive.

  • catalyst

    Something that causes an important change to happen.

  • pivotal

    Crucial importance in relation to a future development.

  • trajectory

    The path or direction something is likely following.

  • logistical

    Relating to the organization of a complex activity.

  • burnt out

    Extremely tired and lacking energy due to stress.

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1Do you think a traditional letter is a good way to send messages?
  2. 2What are the positive and negative effects of using technology to communicate?
  3. 3What kind of services do people mostly like to use to send important messages?
  4. 4What kind of services do people mostly use to send their important and secretive messages?
  5. 5Why do people make phone calls instead of sending messages when there is something important?
  6. 6Do you think human communication will evolve in the future?

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 an important text message you received."?+

Select a message that triggered a change in your emotions or life choices.

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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