IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Cards with Answers 2026

I would like to talk about my secondary school English teacher, Mrs. Patel, who had a profound impact on my academic development and personal confidence. I studied under her guidance for three years, from the age of 13 to 16, at a state school in my hometown.

What made her particularly influential was her teaching approach. Unlike many teachers who simply followed the textbook, she encouraged critical thinking and independent learning. She would assign us books to read outside the curriculum and then hold lively group discussions about the themes and ideas. It was through her classes that I first developed a genuine love of reading and writing.

The reason she had such a lasting influence on me is that she believed in my ability even when I doubted myself. When I was considering dropping English at advanced level, she sat down with me and explained why she thought I had talent. That conversation gave me the confidence to continue, and I ultimately went on to study English at university. I genuinely believe that without her encouragement, I would have chosen a completely different path in life.

I would like to describe a trip I took to Kyoto, Japan, about two years ago during the cherry blossom season. I had always been fascinated by Japanese culture, so when I finally had the opportunity to visit, Kyoto was at the top of my list.

During my five-day stay, I visited several traditional temples, including Kinkaku-ji, the famous golden pavilion, and Fushimi Inari with its thousands of vermilion torii gates winding up the mountainside. I also explored the Arashiyama bamboo grove, which was one of the most surreal landscapes I have ever encountered. In the evenings, I wandered through the Gion district, hoping to catch a glimpse of geisha walking between appointments.

What I loved most about Kyoto was the way ancient tradition exists alongside modern life. You can walk from a 600-year-old Zen temple directly into a street with contemporary cafes and fashion boutiques. This contrast gave the city a unique energy that I found incredibly inspiring. It also felt remarkably peaceful compared to Tokyo, which made it an ideal place to reflect and recharge.

A skill I have been wanting to learn for quite some time is photography, specifically landscape and street photography. I have always admired people who can capture a moment in a way that tells a story, and I think it would be a wonderfully creative outlet for me.

The main reason I want to learn photography is that I travel fairly regularly, and I always feel that my phone photos do not do justice to the places I visit. I would love to be able to capture the atmosphere of a location, not just a snapshot. Beyond that, I think the process of learning to see the world through a photographer's eye would make me more observant and appreciative of everyday beauty.

My plan is to start with an online course to understand the basics of composition, lighting, and camera settings. After that, I would like to join a local photography group where I can practise with others and receive constructive feedback. I believe this skill would benefit me both personally, by giving me a creative hobby, and professionally, as high-quality photography is increasingly valuable in digital marketing, which is my field of work.

I would like to describe a time when I helped my elderly neighbour, Mrs. Chen, who had just returned home from hospital after a hip replacement operation. She lives alone, and her family lives in another city, so she had no one nearby to assist her during her recovery.

When I heard about her situation, I offered to help with daily tasks such as grocery shopping, preparing simple meals, and collecting her medication from the pharmacy. I also helped her navigate the NHS website to book follow-up appointments, as she was not very comfortable with technology. I visited her almost every day for about three weeks until she was mobile enough to manage on her own.

Honestly, helping Mrs. Chen was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. It reminded me how much of a difference small acts of kindness can make in someone's life. She was so grateful, and we actually became much closer as a result. We still have tea together regularly, which I genuinely enjoy.

The piece of technology I rely on most heavily is my laptop, a MacBook Air that I purchased about two years ago. It has become an absolutely essential part of both my professional and personal life, and I honestly cannot imagine going a single day without it.

Professionally, I use it for virtually everything: writing reports, attending video meetings, managing spreadsheets, and communicating with colleagues via email and messaging platforms. I also use it for personal tasks like streaming films, video calling my family abroad, and managing my finances through online banking.

The reason it is so important to me is that it represents freedom and flexibility. Because I can carry it anywhere, I am not tied to a physical office. I have worked from coffee shops, airports, and even parks on sunny days. This mobility has fundamentally changed how I approach work and has given me a much better work-life balance than I had when I was dependent on a desktop computer.

One of the most significant decisions I have made was choosing to move to a new city for my career about three years ago. I had a stable job in my hometown, but I received an offer from a company in London that aligned much better with my long-term career goals. It was a difficult choice because it meant leaving my family and close friends behind. However, I decided that the professional growth opportunity was too valuable to pass up. Looking back, it was absolutely the right decision. I have developed new skills, expanded my professional network significantly, and gained a level of independence that I do not think I would have achieved otherwise.

The book that left the deepest impression on me is "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari. I read it about four years ago on a friend's recommendation, and it completely changed the way I think about human civilisation. The book traces the entire history of our species, from the evolution of early humans in Africa to the present day. What struck me most was Harari's argument that the ability to create and believe in shared myths, such as nations, money, and religions, is what allowed Homo sapiens to cooperate on a massive scale and ultimately dominate the planet. It made me question assumptions I had never thought to challenge, and I found myself discussing its ideas with everyone I knew for months afterwards.

My favourite celebration is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. It typically falls in the spring, though the exact date changes each year as it follows the lunar calendar. On the morning of Eid, my family wakes early and dresses in new clothes. We attend the community prayer at our local mosque, where the atmosphere is always incredibly warm and festive. After the prayer, we visit relatives and exchange gifts and sweets. My mother always prepares a magnificent feast. What I love most about Eid is the sense of community and togetherness. It is one of the few occasions when our entire extended family gathers in one place, and the joy on everyone's faces after a month of fasting is genuinely heartwarming.

I used to believe that remote working was less productive than working in an office. I thought that without supervision and the structure of a physical workplace, people would inevitably become distracted and output would suffer. However, when my company shifted to remote working during 2020, I experienced the opposite firsthand. I found that I was significantly more productive at home because I had fewer interruptions, no commute, and the freedom to structure my day around my peak energy hours. This experience completely changed my perspective, and I now believe that flexible working arrangements can actually boost productivity for many people, provided they have a suitable home environment.

An outdoor activity I genuinely enjoy is hiking, particularly in the Lake District in northern England. I try to go at least once a month, usually with a small group of friends who share my love of the outdoors. We typically choose trails that range from moderate to challenging, as we enjoy the sense of achievement that comes with reaching a summit. What I find most appealing about hiking is the combination of physical exercise and mental relaxation. When I am walking through beautiful countryside, surrounded by open space and fresh air, the stress of daily life simply melts away. It also provides wonderful opportunities for conversation, as there is something about walking side by side that encourages deeper, more meaningful discussions than you might have sitting across a table.