Two minutes feels long — until you know what to say next. In Speaking Part 2, the examiner gives you a topic card. You get 1 minute to prepare. Then you talk for 1 to 2 minutes. You cannot stop after 30 seconds, and you cannot read from notes. The good news: the topic is always simple. It asks about a person, a place, an object or an event from your life. The test is not about hard ideas. It is about keeping going for 2 minutes without stopping.
The A-R-E method
A-R-E means Answer, Reason, Example. Answer the question in one sentence. Give a reason in one or two sentences. Give an example in two or three sentences. Then move to the next point on the card. Most cards have 3 or 4 points. If you use A-R-E for each point, you will reach 2 minutes without running out of ideas.
How to use your 1 minute
Do not write full sentences while you prepare. Write 6 to 8 short words only — one word for each point on the card. For example, if the card says "a book you enjoy", write: "novel, gift, train, calm". These words remind you what to say. They are not sentences to read. When you speak, look at the card, not at your notes.
Work through a real card
Here is a typical card: "Describe a skill you would like to learn. You should say what skill it is, why you would like to learn it, how you would learn it, and explain how it would help you."
Start with a direct answer: "A skill I would like to learn is cooking." Then a reason: "I eat out most days, and it costs too much money." Then an example: "Last month I spent more on takeaways than I planned." Then move to the next point and do the same A-R-E steps again.
Band 8–9 sample answer
The underlined words are a relative clause — "which would make them feel closer to me". It adds extra information without starting a new sentence. Use one relative clause like this in your Part 2 answer. It shows range, and it sounds natural.
Three things that go wrong
Stopping too early is the biggest one. If you stop after 1 minute, you lose marks for fluency, so keep going until the examiner stops you. Memorising a full answer is the second problem — the examiner can hear memorised English. It sounds flat, and it does not fit the card. And speaking too fast is the third. Slow down. Short pauses are fine. A pause is better than a wrong word.
Try one card tonight — 10 minutes
Pick one topic card. Spend 1 minute writing 6 words. Speak for 2 minutes. Record yourself on your phone and listen back. Did you use A-R-E for each point? Did you stop early? Do one card a day for a week. After 7 days, 2 minutes will feel short, not long.
Keep learning — free
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