IELTS Speaking · Part 2 Cue Card
A complete preparation guide: the cue card itself, a 60-second prep framework, a band 7.5 sample answer, topic vocabulary, and likely Part 3 follow-up questions.
Cue card
Describe something you own that is very important to you.
You should say:
Specific to this cue card — not generic advice.
Read it once for shape, then aloud for rhythm. Don't memorise it — examiners can tell.
The object I want to talk about is a fountain pen that belonged to my grandfather. It's a Japanese Pilot pen, dark green with a gold nib, probably from the late 1970s. He used it to write his column in a regional newspaper for nearly thirty years, and when he passed away my grandmother gave it to me because I was the only grandchild who liked writing by hand. I use it almost every day, mainly for journaling and for handwritten letters, which I still send a few times a year. The ink it produces has a slightly thicker line than modern pens, and you have to write quite slowly with it, which is actually part of the appeal. It forces a different pace. The reason it's important isn't really the object itself — it's the continuity. When I write with it, I feel like I'm doing the same physical action my grandfather did for decades, and that's a very direct line back to him. It's also reminded me that some objects accumulate meaning the longer you use them, instead of losing it. Most things I own depreciate; this one does the opposite.
Phrases used in the sample answer that lift fluency naturally.
gold nib
the writing tip of a fountain pen
by hand
manually, not on a computer
part of the appeal
one of the attractive features
a direct line back to
a strong connection to (someone in the past)
accumulate meaning
gather sentimental value over time
depreciate
lose value over time
The examiner will move from your story (Part 2) to broader, abstract questions (Part 3). Prepare answers for these.