IELTS Speaking Part 2: Difficult Topics with Tips

Below are a few topics which many students find difficult. Plan your ideas and answer so that you are ready for a difficult topics in your test. Remember that whatever you choose to talk about, you must be able to talk for up to 2 minutes on that topic. So, be wise and choose something you can talk about easily.

IELTS Speaking Difficult Cue Card with Coping Techniques

Click “Tips” to reveal tips for the topic.

A Good Law

Describe a law which you think is good.

You should say:

• what kind of law it is
• when you first heard of the law
• how the law is upheld
• and explain why you think it is a good law

Tips

If you don’t know much about laws, choose a simple law such as a the helmet law which requires motorbike riders and cyclists to wear a helmet or go for the compulsory primary and secondary school education which prevents children from skipping lessons and ensures they get a solid, basic education.

A Wrong Decision

Describe a decision which you have made that you feel was wrong.

You should say:

• what the decision was
• why you made that decision
• why you think it was the wrong decision to make
• and explain how you would alter that decision if you could

Tips

This could be a bad decision about a holiday you chose, a job you did, some advice you gave someone or even something really simple like a bad decision you made while you were cooking.

A Journey that Didn’t Go As Planned

Describe a journey you have taken that didn’t go as you had planned.

You should say:

• where you were going
• who you were traveling with
• how you were travelling
• what went wrong
• and explain what you would have done differently.

Tips

This is a tough topic because not only do you need to think of a story but you also need to pay attention to the grammar tenses you use. This topic will require you to use the 3rd conditional which is used when expressing regrets (if I had known ….., I wouldn’t have ……). Try to stick to a simple story about a time when you did a trip but you had bought the wrong tickets or there was an unexpected delay which caused problems.

A Museum You Like

Describe a museum you like.

You should say:

• what kind of museum it is
• what kind of people go there
• when you first went
• and example why you like it.

Tips

Many students dislike this topic because they are not familiar with museums. In this case, choose to talk about a museum of local culture – that way you can talk about local culture, traditional ways of life and other interesting historical points about where you are from. If you are familiar with museums, make sure you add lots of detail about your first trip there – who you went with, how old you were, your first impression etc.

A Family Business

Describe a family business you know.

You should say:

• what kind of business it is
• how you first heard of this business
• how often you go there
• and why you think it is a good business

Tips

This sounds like a tough topic but in fact it isn’t. A family business could be a simple as a local shop that is run by a family or a family run restaurant. If you don’t know any family run businesses, then you could start your talk this way “I don’t really know any family run businesses but there is a fantastic shop round the corner from my house which is as friendly as any family run shop….”

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What do you do if you get a difficult IELTS Cue Card

You should speak as closely as you can to the main topic. IELTS Speaking is not about testing your knowledge or ideas. In fact, ideas are NOT marked. So your knowledge of law or museums is not being assessed. Topics are just a chance to talk. So, stick closely to the main topic and then branch into your own feelings, thoughts, experiences, future hopes, other people’s views etc. Expand your talk beyond the bullet points.

Make sure you prepare ideas for as many topics for speaking part 2. This is not an academic talk or a formal talk so if you make your talk personal and friendly, you will do better. The more topics you prepare for, the better you will do.