IELTS Speaking Part 2 is where many students struggle. They have 1 minute to prepare and 1-2 minutes to speak on a topic they've never seen before. This lesson plan gives your students the strategies and practice they need to succeed.

Lesson Overview

Level: B1-C1 (IELTS candidates)
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Focus: IELTS Speaking Part 2 technique
Skills: Speaking, Note-taking, Time management

What Students Will Learn

How to use the 1-minute preparation time effectively
A framework for organizing their response
How to extend answers and fill 2 minutes confidently
Common IELTS cue card topics and vocabulary

Lesson Plan

Warm-Up: Topic Brainstorm (10 min)

Give students common IELTS topics: A person you admire, A place you want to visit, A memorable event. Have them brainstorm vocabulary related to each in pairs.

Teaching Point: The PASS Framework (15 min)

Introduce the PASS technique for answering any cue card:

P - Point (What is it?)
A - Amplify (Give details)
S - Significance (Why is it important to you?)
S - Summary (Brief conclusion)

Model this with an example cue card: 'Describe a book you've recently read.'

Activity 1: Note-Taking Practice (10 min)

Give students a cue card. They have exactly 1 minute to make notes using the PASS framework. Emphasize: bullet points only, not full sentences.

Sample 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 this skill would benefit you.'

Activity 2: Timed Speaking (20 min)

Students practice in pairs. Partner A gives Partner B a cue card. Partner B has 1 minute to prepare, then speaks for 2 minutes while Partner A times them. Switch roles. The timer is crucial—students must learn to feel 2 minutes.

Activity 3: Teacher Feedback Round (15 min)

Select students to perform their cue card response for the class. Give specific feedback on:

Fluency and coherence
Vocabulary range
Grammatical accuracy
Pronunciation
Time management

Wrap-Up: Self-Reflection (5 min)

Students write down: What went well? What do I need to practice? Give common cue card topics as homework practice.

Common IELTS Part 2 Topics

People: A person who influenced you, A famous person you admire
Places: A city you want to visit, Your favorite room
Objects: A gift you received, An important possession
Events: A celebration, A difficult decision
Experiences: A journey, Something you learned

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Lesson Plan: Mastering the Cue Card