📖 Notes
LESSON 15 OF 20
Speaking Part 2 — Long Turn (Cue Card)
Talking for Two Full Minutes
The one-minute prep time and the cue card's four bullet points are there to help you structure a full two minutes of natural speech — running out of things to say is a planning problem, not a language problem.
Format
1 Minute Prep, 2 Minutes Speaking
1 min
Preparation time
2 min
Speaking time
4
Cue card bullet points
3
Tenses to use naturally
Every cue card follows the same shape: describe What, When/Where, How/Why, and Why it's memorable.
Using the 1-Minute Prep
1
Keywords for each bullet
Jot one or two words per bullet point, not full sentences.
2
Pick a specific example
A real personal detail is far easier to talk about for 2 minutes than a general idea.
3
Plan your opening sentence
Having the first line ready removes the hardest part of starting cold.
Speaking Tips
- Speak for the full 2 minutes — running short costs marks
- Use specific examples, not general statements
- Naturally mix all 3 tenses (past, present, future) — this is a scored feature
- Lost your place? Say: "Where was I... yes, I was saying..." and continue
Opening Phrases
- "I'd like to tell you about..."
- "This really stands out in my memory..."
- "One reason I find this interesting is..."