Part 2 – describing people, places, objects and events
Frames, vocabulary and tenses for the four families of IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards, including how to tell a story in the past with a clear sequence.
There are hundreds of possible Part 2 cards, but they fall into a small number of families. If you have a frame for each family, plus one or two prepared ‘core stories’ that you know well, you can adapt to almost any card you are given.
The four families
| Family | Example cards | Main tenses |
|---|---|---|
| People | a person who gives good advice; a teacher who influenced you; a neighbour; a family member you admire | Present simple (what they are like); past simple (what they did); present perfect (how long you have known them) |
| Places | a place near water; a café you like; a noisy place; a city you would like to visit | Present simple (description); past simple (a visit); would (a place you would like to go) |
| Objects | an old object in your family; a gift you gave; a piece of technology you find difficult; a book you would read again | Present simple; past simple (how you got it); present perfect (how long you have had it) |
| Events and experiences | a time you waited a long time; a journey that went wrong; a time you helped someone; a decision that was hard | Past simple, past continuous, past perfect (narrative tenses) |
A fifth group, activities and habits (an outdoor activity, a sport you would like to try, a skill you learned), combines description with past or future.
Describing a person
Frame: who → how you know them → what they are like (two or three qualities, each with a small example) → what they did → why they matter to you.
Useful language
- I’ve known her for about ten years. / We met when I was at university.
- She’s the kind of person who… / He’s someone who always…
- What I admire most about him is… / The thing that strikes you first is…
- She has a way of + -ing… / He never…
- Qualities: patient, down-to-earth, generous with her time, a good listener, straightforward, level-headed, encouraging, has a great sense of humour, set in his ways
Show, don’t just tell. Instead of ‘He was patient’, give the evidence:
‘He never explained much in advance. He’d let me try, watch me get it wrong, and then ask a question like “So what do you think is stopping it from moving?”’
One small scene like this is worth five adjectives.
Describing a place
Frame: where it is → what it looks like (move in an order: from outside to inside, or from far to near) → what people do there → atmosphere → why you like it or remember it.
Useful language
- It’s on the outskirts of… / right in the heart of… / tucked away down a side street
- As you walk in, the first thing you notice is…
- There’s a… running along… / overlooking… / surrounded by…
- Atmosphere: lively, buzzing, laid-back, peaceful, cosy, a bit run-down, full of character, packed at weekends
- Senses: you can hear… / there’s always a smell of… / the light is…
- What I love about it is… / It’s the kind of place where…
Describing an object
Frame: what it is and what it looks like → where it came from / how you got it → how you use it → why it is important.
Useful language
- It’s made of… / It’s about the size of… / It’s a sort of… / I’m not sure what it’s called in English, but it’s a thing you use for… (paraphrase is rewarded)
- It was given to me by… / It’s been in my family for… / I came across it in…
- It’s a bit worn / scratched / faded, but…
- It has great sentimental value. / I’d be lost without it. / It reminds me of…
Telling a story about an event
Cards that begin ‘Describe a time when…’ ask for a narrative. This is where you can show the widest range of grammar, if you organise the story well.
Frame
- Setting: when and where; what the situation was.
- Problem or event: what happened.
- Actions: what you (and others) did, in order.
- Outcome: how it ended.
- Reflection: how you felt, what you learned.
Narrative tenses
| Tense | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past simple | The main events, in order | I landed, I queued, I found a corner. |
| Past continuous | Background and interrupted actions | I was flying home after visiting a friend… Everyone was trying to get information. |
| Past perfect | Something that happened earlier | When I landed, there*‘d been** a heavy snowstorm.* |
| used to / would | Past habits | He would let me try and watch me get it wrong. |
Sequencing and storytelling phrases
- Starting: It was about three years ago. / This happened when I was… / I’ll never forget the time…
- Order: At first… / To begin with… / After a while… / Then… / Eventually… / In the end…
- Sudden events: All of a sudden… / Out of nowhere… / Just as I was about to…
- Feelings: I was really annoyed / relieved / over the moon / at a loss. / It was such a relief. / I couldn’t believe my luck.
- Reflection: Looking back, … / What I learned from it was… / It taught me (not) to… / If I were in that situation again, I’d…
Model extract (card: Describe a time when you had to wait a long time for something)
‘It was about three years ago. I was flying home after visiting a friend abroad, and I had to change planes in a city I’d never been to. When I landed, there**‘d been** a heavy snowstorm, and every departure on the board was showing as delayed. At first they said two hours, then four, and eventually they announced that nothing would leave until the following morning…
As for how I felt, it changed during the night. To begin with I was really annoyed, mainly because nobody could tell us what was happening. But once it was clear that there was nothing I could do, I relaxed. There was something quite freeing about having no choices to make.’
The feelings change, which gives the speaker something to explain and makes the ending satisfying.
Core stories: prepare experiences, not scripts
Think of three or four real experiences or people that you can talk about easily, and practise describing them. Then learn to bend them to fit different cards.
For example, one story about learning to repair a bicycle with your grandfather can serve for:
- a skill you learned from an older person
- a family member you admire
- something you do to save money
- a time someone taught you something
- an enjoyable activity from your childhood
- an old object in your family (his toolbox)
And one story about being stuck overnight at an airport can serve for:
- a time you had to wait
- a journey that did not go to plan
- a time you met someone interesting
- a time you changed your mind about something
- a situation in which you had to be patient
This is not the same as memorising. You are preparing ideas and vocabulary; the sentences are made new each time, shaped by the particular card. Always listen to the exact wording: if the card says ‘a time you were late’ and your story is about someone else being late, change the story.
Cards about the future or the imaginary
Describe a sport you would like to try. / a country you would like to visit. / your ideal home.
Use conditional and future forms:
- I’ve always wanted to try… / I’d love to have a go at…
- I imagine it would be… / I think I’d find it…
- If I had the time and money, I’d…
- What appeals to me is… / What puts me off is…
- I first got the idea when I saw… (a past link adds range)
Words you do not know
Not knowing a word is an opportunity to show a skill the examiners specifically reward: paraphrase.
- It’s a kind of… / a sort of…
- It’s what you use to… / It’s the thing that…
- I can’t remember the exact word, but it’s similar to…
- It’s the opposite of…
‘There were herons – or at least I think that’s what they’re called – those tall grey birds that stand very still in the water.’
Never stop and say ‘I don’t know the word.’ Describe it and move on.
Practice routine
- List four ‘core’ experiences or people. For each, write ten key words and five useful expressions.
- For each family (person, place, object, event), take two cards and do them under test conditions.
- Take one core story and adapt it to three different cards, changing the emphasis each time.
- After each recording, check: Did I use past continuous or past perfect at least once in a story? Did I give one concrete scene or detail for each quality or feeling?
Key points
- Cards belong to a few families; learn a frame for each.
- For people and places, show qualities through small examples and sensory details.
- For events, tell a story: setting, problem, actions, outcome, reflection, using narrative tenses.
- Prepare a few flexible core stories, never fixed scripts, and fit them to the exact card.
- Paraphrase when you lack a word.
Now try it in a real section
A complete IELTS speaking section in the official format — every answer explained.
IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. PrepFreely is not affiliated with, approved or endorsed by them.