Speaking · Updated 2026-06-13

Band 9 IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answers

In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test, you are given a cue card and one minute to prepare, then you must speak for 1 to 2 minutes. The examiner is listening for fluency, a range of vocabulary, varied grammar, and clear pronunciation — not memorised speeches. Below are three Band 9 model answers you can study and adapt.

Sample 1

Cue card: Describe a journey that did not go as planned. You should say:

• where you were going
• who you were travelling with
• what went wrong
• and explain how you dealt with the situation

I'd like to talk about a road trip I took to the coast a couple of summers ago with two of my closest friends. We'd been looking forward to it for weeks, and we set off early in the morning in high spirits, with a playlist ready and the windows down.

Things started to go wrong about halfway there. Our car suddenly began making this alarming grinding noise, and within a few minutes we'd broken down on the hard shoulder of a motorway, miles from anywhere. None of us knew the first thing about engines, so we were completely stuck.

What could have ruined the whole trip actually turned into the best part of it. We called for roadside assistance, and while we waited — which took nearly two hours — we ended up having this long, hilarious conversation, the kind you rarely have when you're distracted by screens. By the time the mechanic arrived and fixed a loose belt, we were almost disappointed to get going again.

Looking back, that breakdown taught me that the moments you don't plan for are often the ones you remember most fondly.

Sample 2

Cue card: Describe a skill you would like to learn. You should say:

• what the skill is
• why you want to learn it
• how you would learn it
• and explain how it would change your life

A skill I've wanted to pick up for ages is playing the piano. I've always been drawn to it — there's something about the sound of a well-played piece that I find genuinely moving — but I never had the chance as a child.

The main reason I want to learn is that I find my work quite mentally demanding, and I'm looking for a creative outlet that has nothing to do with a screen. From what I understand, learning an instrument is also wonderful for concentration and memory, which is a nice bonus.

If I were to take it up, I'd probably start with online lessons to learn the basics, and then find a local teacher once I was past the beginner stage, because I think regular feedback really matters. I'd try to practise for twenty minutes every evening rather than for hours at the weekend.

Ultimately, I think it would bring a real sense of calm and accomplishment to my routine — a small daily ritual that's just for me.

What makes these answers Band 9?

• Fluency: The speech flows naturally with very little hesitation, using fillers like the kind you rarely have the way real speakers do.
• Vocabulary: Idiomatic, precise expressions (in high spirits, a creative outlet, past the beginner stage) used accurately and naturally.
• Grammar: A confident mix of tenses and conditional forms (If I were to take it up…).
• Coherence: Each answer follows the cue card points in order and finishes with a reflective closing sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a Part 2 answer be?

Aim to speak for the full two minutes. The examiner will stop you when time is up, so it is better to have too much to say than too little.

Can I make up details in my answer?

Absolutely. The examiner is assessing your English, not the truth of your story. If inventing a more interesting detail helps you speak fluently, do it.

How can I practise Speaking Part 2 alone?

Use Engldom's Speaking mock test: you get a real cue card, record your two-minute answer, and the AI examiner assesses your actual audio for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.