IELTS Computer Delivered Tests + Band Score

Should we repeat the question on the IELTS cue card when answering?

by Fred
(Uzbekistan)

I have a question of cue card?

Is it true repeat question of cue card when I am answering? Or it decrease my level?

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May 10, 2015
 Starting your 2 minute talk
by: IELTS buddy

Hi Fred,

I assume you are asking about the part 2 talk and if you should repeat the words on the prompt to start your talk?

For example, if your cue card says:

"Describe a sporting event you attended."

Then should you say:

"I'm going to describe a sporting event I attended."

Firstly, you are assessed over the whole speaking test. Your score is not going to suddenly get reduced for such a minor thing.

You need to do an online search on the "IELTS Speaking Public Band Descriptors" and then you can see how you are graded.

So repeating the prompt once is not really going to be an issue. But of course, as with all parts of the test, it is better if you get into the habit of paraphrasing questions rather than directly repeating them.

Throughout the test you are asked questions and you could easily start your answer by repeating the question every time. Doing this over the whole test shows that maybe you cannot paraphrase well.

For example in part 1:

Q: What type of activities do you like to do in your free time?

A: There are several types of activities I like to do in my free time.

A better response:

A: There are several things that I enjoy doing if I have some leisure time.

So just repeating the prompt in one question is not an issue, but if you did this continuously in the test it may appear that your range of language is a bit limited as you just repeat what the examiner says.

So if you do like to repeat the question (which can be an effective way to give a coherent response) quite regularly, then make sure you do practice paraphrasing it.

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When should I stop speaking during part 2 of the speaking test?

by jhonson ram
(india )

If I am stopped while I am giving my response to the final question, do you think that I will be penalized for that?


I heard that it is always a good idea if you keep on speaking in part 2 unless and until the examiner stops you.

I am a bit confused.


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Jun 19, 2012
 Speaking Part 2
by: IELTS buddy

Thanks for the question.

You should always try and speak for the full two minutes in part 2 of the speaking test.

The examiner says to you before you start speaking that s/he will stop you if you reach the full time, so there is no problem if s/he has to do that.

Good luck.

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Can we keep the cue card during our 2 minute talk?

by bvs

Hi,

In the second part of the speaking test, we are given a topic on the card and a list of things that we are asked to speak about.

Will the card remain with us while we speak or will the examiner take back the card before we start speaking?

If the examiner takes back the card, then it means that we must memorize all the points that we are supposed to talk about, isn't it?

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Dec 30, 2015
 Cue card - IELTS Speaking Part 2
by: IELTS buddy

Hi,

Yes, you get to keep the card during your talk so no need to remember the points.

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Can we keep the prompt and our notes during the IELTS speaking part 2?

by Matin

Hello,

I just have a quick question.

On Speaking test part 2, when we get the card with a special prompt on it, can we have the notes and questions during our talking session and look at it?

It is always important to refer back to the questions, and make sure everything is already covered you know...

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Sep 25, 2014
 Can we keep the prompt and our notes during the IELTS speaking part 2?
by: IELTS buddy

Yes, you keep them until you finish speaking in the part 2.

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Examiner Signalled a Prompt

by Sim

I had appeared for my ielts speaking test two days ago.

In Part 2, my topic was to describe any expensive activity that you do occassionally. I spoke fluently but in between, the examiner signalled me to cover a particular prompt, but I spoke for full 2 mins and the examiner asked me to stop after the time was over.

Will it affect my score in Part 2?

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Dec 02, 2016
 Examiner Signalled a Prompt
by: IELTS buddy

If the examiner wanted you to talk about the specific prompts and pointed at one and then you spoke about it that's fine.

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