IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe your favorite food: 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.
  • 267 words
  • Other topics
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe your favorite food

You should say:

  • →What is it called?
  • →How often do you eat it?
  • →Why do you like it?
  • →Do you know how to cook it?

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

Other topics

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

  1. 1

    Choose a specific dish to allow for richer, more sensory vocabulary.

  2. 2

    Use the prep time to write down three adjectives for taste and texture.

  3. 3

    Structure your talk by moving from the dish to your personal connection.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8267 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

My absolute favourite dish has to be a traditional Thai green curry, or gaeng keow wan as it is known locally. It is a vibrant, aromatic concoction that really balances heat, sweetness, and creaminess perfectly. I find myself craving it at least once a week, usually on a Friday evening when I want to unwind after a long, draining work week. I often head to a small, authentic family-run restaurant near my flat called 'Siam Spice', where the chef uses freshly pounded paste rather than the bottled versions you find in supermarkets. I am quite a regular there, so the staff always give me a warm welcome. The reason I am so fond of this dish is its complex flavour profile. The punchy heat from the green chillies is beautifully tempered by the richness of coconut milk, while the subtle perfume of Thai basil and kaffir lime leaves elevates it to something truly special. It is comfort food in its most sophisticated form. Regarding the preparation, I have actually taken a few cooking classes to learn how to make it from scratch. I’ve mastered the art of balancing the fish sauce and palm sugar, which is essential for that authentic taste. However, to be perfectly honest, my homemade version never quite matches the depth of flavour the restaurant achieves. I suspect it is down to the sheer amount of aromatics they use and their professional-grade wok burner, which provides that distinct smokiness that is nearly impossible to replicate in a standard domestic kitchen. It is just one of those meals that never fails to lift my spirits.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • aromatic

    having a pleasant and typically pungent smell

  • concoction

    a mixture of various ingredients or elements

  • unwind

    to relax after a period of work

  • punchy

    having a strong and forceful impact

  • tempered

    to make something less intense or severe

  • elevates

    to raise to a more important level

  • sophisticated

    having a refined knowledge of worldly things

  • aromatics

    ingredients like herbs and spices for flavour

4 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1How has the globalisation of food impacted traditional local diets in your country?
  2. 2Do you think society is becoming too reliant on processed convenience foods?
  3. 3What role does food play in maintaining cultural identity for future generations?
  4. 4Should governments take more responsibility for the eating habits of their citizens?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe your favorite food"?+

Choose a specific dish to allow for richer, more sensory vocabulary.

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

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