How should I read an IELTS Speaking cue card carefully and pick the right tense for my answer?
Read the cue card slowly and look for keywords and time references before you speak. Past prompts need past tense, future wishes need conditionals, negative prompts need a disliked example, and a person must be someone you know. Ask who, when and what before you start.
Many candidates lose marks because they skim the cue card and talk about the wrong thing. Look for keywords and time references so you know what to describe and which tense to use. Check the official IELTS site for the latest Speaking format.
Matching Prompt to Tense
| Prompt type | Cue card example | Tense to use |
|---|---|---|
| Past experience | Describe a holiday you went on | Past tense, such as I went, I saw, It was |
| Future desire | Describe a city you would like to visit | Conditionals, such as I would like to go, It would be |
| Negative condition | Describe a gift you didn't like | Past negative, such as I was disappointed, It was useless |
| Specific person | Describe a person you know | Present or past, such as He is my uncle, I met him |
Checklist for Reading the Card
- Who: is it someone you know or a famous person?
- When: is it in the past or the future?
- What: is it something you liked or did not like?
My Advice
Spend your preparation time on the first few seconds, because a misread card derails the whole answer. Underline the keywords in your notes and plan the tense before you begin. Confirm the current Speaking format on the official IELTS website.
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