IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a memorable radio advertisement: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 254 words
  • A film, book, song or programme
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a memorable radio advertisement

You should say:

  • →what the advertisement was promoting
  • →when and where you used to hear it
  • →what made it so catchy or memorable
  • →and explain how you felt about hearing it so frequently.

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

A film, book, song or programme

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Jot down the specific product and distinctive audio features like a jingle or accent.

  2. 2

    Note where and when you regularly travelled to give realistic context to the journeys.

  3. 3

    Plan contrasting adjectives to explain your mixed feelings, from annoyance to nostalgia.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8254 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

When I was a teenager, my family used to take frequent weekend road trips up north to visit my grandparents, and there was this one particular commercial for a local double-glazing and home improvement company that seemed to play on loop. Every time we tuned into the regional independent radio station along the motorway, without fail, this advert would come on.

The commercial was promoting energy-efficient windows and conservatories. What really made it stick in your head, though, was a ridiculously upbeat rhyming jingle backed by a cheerful brass fanfare. It featured a quirky voiceover artist who spoke in a broad regional accent, delivering a punchy catchphrase at the end about keeping the winter chill out and saving money on heating bills. It was broadcast so consistently that before long, my sister and I knew every single word and inflection by heart.

To be honest, my feelings towards it were a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, after hearing it four or five times over the course of a two-hour drive, it could become thoroughly grating. It definitely bordered on being an earworm that you just couldn't shake off for the rest of the afternoon.

On the other hand, looking back, it turned into an odd sort of comforting family tradition. Whenever that cheesy tune came over the car speakers, it signalled that we were roughly halfway to our destination. So despite how irritating it felt at the time, it ended up becoming quite a nostalgic soundtrack to those long family drives.

Say it out loud and get a band

Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • play on loop

    repeat continuously without stopping

  • double-glazing

    windows with two layers of glass to reduce heat loss

  • jingle

    a short, memorable tune used in advertising

  • inflection

    a change in the tone or pitch of a voice

  • a mixed bag

    a combination of positive and negative qualities

  • grating

    sounding harsh, irritating, or unpleasant

  • earworm

    a catchy tune that continuously repeats in someone's mind

  • nostalgic

    evoking a sentimental longing for the past

5 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1Why do many companies still invest in radio advertising despite the rise of digital media?
  2. 2How has the way people listen to audio content changed in recent years?
  3. 3In what ways do audio adverts influence listeners differently compared to visual adverts?
  4. 4Do you think audio advertising might eventually become obsolete in the future?
  5. 5What are the drawbacks of using repetitive jingles in commercial advertising campaigns?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. Read Band 8 answers to these Part 3 questions: audio advertising and media consumption.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a memorable radio advertisement"?+

Jot down the specific product and distinctive audio features like a jingle or accent.

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: a film, book, song or programme

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