IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe Which program on TV or radio do you often listen to?: 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.
  • 248 words
  • A film, book, song or programme
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Which program on TV or radio do you often listen to?

You should say:

  • →What is it?
  • →What is that about?
  • →Why do you listen to it?
  • →And say what you think could be improved about its output.

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

    Note down the show's name and genre to establish your focus immediately.

  2. 2

    List three specific adjectives to describe the show's content and style during prep.

  3. 3

    Ensure the improvement you suggest is realistic and linked to the user experience.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8248 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I’m quite a devoted listener of a radio programme called 'The Inquiry' on the BBC World Service. It’s a weekly documentary series that takes one complex global issue—anything from the ethics of deep-sea mining to the geopolitical fallout of a specific trade policy—and breaks it down over the course of thirty minutes. It’s essentially an investigative deep dive where the host interviews a panel of experts, economists, and sometimes people directly affected by the topic, trying to unpack the 'why' behind major headlines. I find myself tuning in every Tuesday evening while I’m cooking dinner because it’s incredibly intellectually stimulating. The production value is top-notch, featuring immersive sound design that makes you feel like you’re actually in the field, whether it’s a bustling market in Lagos or a silent laboratory in Switzerland. I listen to it because it cuts through the superficial noise of 24-hour news cycles, offering a nuanced perspective that is becoming increasingly rare. It forces me to challenge my own biases and think critically about subjects I’d normally ignore. If I could suggest one improvement, it would be to make the segments slightly more interactive. Currently, it’s a one-way broadcast, but I think it would be fascinating if they integrated a live digital forum or a Q&A session where listeners could submit follow-up questions to the experts in real-time. That would definitely bridge the gap between the audience and these high-level discussions, making the content feel more like a collective exploration than just a lecture.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • devoted listener

    Someone who listens to a show very regularly.

  • geopolitical fallout

    The negative consequences of political events between countries.

  • deep dive

    A thorough and detailed analysis of a topic.

  • production value

    The level of quality in a media programme.

  • superficial noise

    Meaningless or shallow information that distracts from truth.

  • nuanced perspective

    A view that considers many different small details.

  • challenge my biases

    To question your own existing unfair personal opinions.

  • collective exploration

    Learning about a subject together as a group.

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1How do most people get their news in your country?
  2. 2How has TV changed people's lives?
  3. 3Do you believe everything you read in the newspapers?
  4. 4What do you think of children watching TV?
  5. 5How has social media changed the way we get and share the news?
  6. 6How do you think people will get their news 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 "Which program on TV or radio do you often listen to?"?+

Note down the show's name and genre to establish your focus immediately.

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

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