IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe an electric kettle you use regularly: 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.
  • 283 words
  • An object
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe an electric kettle you use regularly

You should say:

  • →what it looks like
  • →where and when you got it
  • →how often you use it
  • →and explain why it is so helpful in your daily routine.

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

An object

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

  1. 1

    Note the key features: brushed steel, rapid-boil element, blue light

  2. 2

    Mention the purchase context: old one broke, bought locally

  3. 3

    Highlight the morning routine: speed, making tea, saving time when rushing

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8283 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I’d like to talk about a stainless-steel electric kettle that sits on my kitchen counter. It has a sleek, brushed metallic finish with a matte black handle and a subtle blue light around the base that glows whenever it is switched on. It holds about one and a half litres, which is plenty for our flat.

I actually bought it about a year ago from a local department store. My old plastic kettle had completely given up the ghost on a particularly chilly Monday morning, so I rushed out after work to find a sturdy replacement. The shop assistant recommended this specific model because it has a rapid-boil heating element, which was exactly what I needed.

To be honest, I use it multiple times a day, but it really proves its worth first thing in the morning. As soon as I roll out of bed around seven o'clock, the very first thing I do is fill it up to make a strong cup of black tea. Because of the quick-boil feature, it takes barely forty-five seconds to bring a single mug's worth of water to a rolling boil.

The main reason it has become such a lifesaver in my daily routine is simply the amount of time it saves. Mornings are always a bit of a mad rush for me as I try to get ready for work. Waiting five minutes for water to heat up used to throw off my entire schedule, whereas now I can pour my tea, pack my bag, and head out the door without feeling stressed. It might seem like a minor thing, but that little burst of efficiency genuinely sets a positive tone for the whole day.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • given up the ghost

    stopped working completely

  • brushed metallic finish

    a smooth, slightly textured metal surface

  • rapid-boil

    designed to heat water extremely fast

  • rolling boil

    water bubbling vigorously at boiling point

  • mad rush

    a period of hectic, hurried activity

  • throw off

    disrupt or cause problems for a plan

  • proves its worth

    shows that it is truly useful or valuable

  • sets a positive tone

    creates a good mood or standard for something

5 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1How have modern kitchen appliances changed the way families prepare meals?
  2. 2Do you think people rely too heavily on domestic gadgets nowadays?
  3. 3In what ways might domestic technology develop over the next few decades?
  4. 4Why do some individuals still prefer traditional methods over automated appliances?
  5. 5What are the environmental drawbacks of having so many electronic devices at home?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. Read Band 8 answers to these Part 3 questions: household appliances and daily efficiency.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe an electric kettle you use regularly"?+

Note the key features: brushed steel, rapid-boil element, blue light

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.

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