IELTS part 2 topic card success

February 28, 2022

1 on 1 Classes with a professional IELTS tutor

Book a class with me now, and get the IELTS score you need.

1 on 1 classes
Mock test with feedback

Book Now

IELTS speaking part 2 topic card and example answer.

Describe a café/coffee shop that you like to go to.

You should say:

What/where it is?
What kinds of food/ drink it serves.
What you do there.

And explain why you like to go there?

IELTS speaking part 2 example answer

Every morning of the week, I go to a wonderful coffee shop/café very close to my house, which is only a couple of hundred metres from my apartment, and I can walk there in about 5 minutes.

It’s larger and more spacious than most other cafes, and the majority of the tables and seating area are outside, which I appreciate because I despise being cooped up inside.

Because this cafe is owned and operated by an American in Vietnam, it serves a variety of high-quality western-style coffee and food. There is a wide variety of Italian coffees available, as well as healthy smoothies and fresh juices. Personally, I enjoy their cappuccino, which is without a doubt the best coffee I’ve found in the city.

The food menu offers a variety of very healthy options, making it a popular spot for brunch or a late breakfast. They have the best salads, fruit bowls, and sandwiches for a very reasonable price.

Normally, I go there every morning not only for my coffee, but also to catch up on emails and write articles for my blog. Because it is such a large space, I can always find a quiet table in the lovely garden where I can get a lot of work done in peace and quiet, which I just love.

As a coffee enthusiast, the coffee served there is another reason I enjoy going there, and it is something that motivates me to get up early every morning and look forward to it.

Oh, yes…. another reason I like this place is the relaxing ambient music playing in the background, which I find really helps me relax and concentrate on my laptop work. I believe I can be more productive than when I am confined to an office desk or at home.

So, yes that’s my favourite coffee shop or cafe, thank you.

IELTS speaking part 2 example answer

The topic title is describe a coffee shop or cafe that you like to go to.

The first thing i want you to notice in this answer is how i concentrated on that key word in the topic title 7 times. The key word is of course like.

As i have talked about in other IELTS speaking part 2 posts, many part 2 topics have that key word. The topic is not to describe a coffee shop, but is to describe a coffee shop which you like. Always pay attention to any of these key words on a topic card, and try to use them or related words at least 5 or 6 time.

With this example answer, you can see where i used the word like or related words 7 or 8 times, which really helps me to stay on topic. By doing this i am also making it personal, and natural, which is not going to make it sound like i am just reciting a topic which i prepared in advance. Always remember if the IELTS examiner thinks your speaking part 2 topic has been prepared, and you are just reciting, your score will go down.

This is something which is actually ver easy to do, and not only will help to improve you IELTS band score, but will also make it easier for you to speak more naturally and fluently.

Part 2 speaking topics (key words).

Let’s have a look at some other examples of topics where you can find that important key word, which is both important to notice and of course use, as you are completing the speaking part 2 topic turn.

Describe a famous person who you admire
Describe a foreign person who you think is interesting.
Describe a creative person who you admire.
Describe a book you enjoyed reading.
Describe a time you were proud of a family member.
Describe someone you really like to spend time with.
Describe a house or apartment that you would like to live in.

These are just some examples of a speaking part 2 topics having a key word, which you really should be concentrating on as you speak.

Why is the key word important?

In the IELTS speaking exam part 2, there are always a large number of topic cards where you are asked to describe people. These kind of topics are a great example of just why that key word can make a big difference on how you should be speaking, and the language you should be using in your part 2 topics.

Describe a famous person you admire.
Describe a famous person you would like to meet.
Describe a famous person you think is interesting.
Describe a famous person you who influenced you.

Now, these 4 part 2 topics are all to describe a famous person, but they all use a different key word, which will make quite a difference when you are describing this person in speaking part 2. You should also be now able to notice that this key word will also appear in the last and most important question on the part 2 topic card.

And explain why you admire this person
And explain why you would like to meet this person.
And explain why you think this person is interesting .
And explain how this person has influenced you.

The problem here is that a lot of IELTS students will of course prepare and practice describing a famous person, and will use this in the actual exam, while not paying attention to that key word. What if you start to describe your favourite actor.

I really like Brad Pitt….I think he is so handsome…. I like all of his movies…. he is very famous.”

Then you get to the last and most important question on the part 2 topic card.

Explain why you think he is interesting.

Yes, he might be interesting, he might be famous, he might be a great actor, but you have been asked on the topic card to describe why he is interesting, and if you can’t do this it is also going to possibly make the examiner think that you just prepared a topic to describe a famous person, and are reciting.

Part 2 topic success.

This is something important for you to think about when you are preparing for the IELTS speaking exam, and notice how just one key word can change a part 2 topic quite significantly. It’s also possible that there could be two different part 2 topics in use at the same time, for example there could be 2 different part 2 topic cards to describe famous people, but both of these topics will have a different key word.

This is just a part of what you need to think of and understand with part 2 topic cards, and of course there are a number of other important study tips for IELTS speaking part2 to be successful in the exam.