What do I note down in one minute for Part 2?
Choose keywords that will support your talk, without writing a full answer.
2 min read · Updated 9/8/2026
The key idea
In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you are given one minute to prepare. Then you talk on the topic for one to two minutes. There is no need to spend the preparation time writing a full text.
Read the points on the card and note a few keywords for each. Then add a personal detail or a small event; that gives you material to keep talking.
Choose a simple example that you remember. Don't waste time looking for the most impressive story.
See an example
Topic: Describe a useful skill you learned.
Notes: cooking / last summer / sister / burnt rice first time / now cook for myself
These notes remind you of the skill, the time, the person who helped, a small incident and the benefit. There is no need to write the sentence “I learned cooking last summer…” in advance.
Now you try
Prepare notes in one minute for the topic “Describe a book you enjoyed”.
- which book
- when you read it
- what it is about
- why you liked it
Then try to speak for one to two minutes. When you finish, think about which note helped you most.
A personal draft. It is not saved when you leave or automatically graded.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Answer and explanation
Sample notes: a travel memoir / on the train / journey across several countries / honest descriptions / made me want to travel.
This is not a model story; choose your own book and reason. Check: did the notes help you touch on all the points of the topic? If you finished speaking quickly, find an extra detail to answer the question “why?” or “for example?”.
In Part 3, move from a personal answer to a general idea
Official sources for this topic
IELTS · Speaking