Speaking practice
Speaking Topics
Get a topic, prepare with the timer, then talk. Listen back to yourself and see your words per minute and the phrases you used. Includes IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue cards.
Your recording and what you say stay on this device. Nothing is uploaded.
Pick a level, or IELTS Part 2, and you get a topic card. Press Start preparing and jot a few notes while the first timer runs. Then speak until the second timer ends, or press I’ve finished. Afterwards you can listen to yourself and see how much you said.
Why Talk Against the Clock?
Answering one question is very different from talking for a minute or two. You have to keep going, link your ideas, and find another way to say something when a word will not come. That is the skill speaking exams test and conversations need, and the only way to build it is to practise talking for longer than feels comfortable.
A timer keeps the practice honest. So does hearing yourself afterwards: most learners notice their long pauses and repeated words the first time they listen back.
Topics and Timings by Level
| Level | Prepare | Speak | Example topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 30 seconds | 45 seconds | My family |
| A2 | 30 seconds | 1 minute | A holiday you had |
| B1 | 45 seconds | 1 minute 15 | City or countryside |
| B2 | 1 minute | 1 minute 30 | Technology and daily life |
| C1 | 1 minute | 2 minutes | What success means |
| C2 | 1 minute | 2 minutes | Privacy in the digital age |
| IELTS Part 2 | 1 minute | up to 2 minutes | Describe a person you admire |
There are six topics at each level and twenty IELTS cards. Every card lists the points to cover, four useful phrases to try, and follow-up questions for when you want to keep going. The tool remembers which cards you have seen in this browser, so you do not get the same one twice in a row.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Practice
The IELTS cards follow the exam format: a Describe… task, three things you should say, and a final and explain… point. As in the test, you get one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. The follow-up questions on each card are in the style of Part 3, where the examiner asks you to discuss the topic more widely.
Many candidates run out of things to say after about a minute. If that happens to you, look at the explain point and add a reason, an example or how you feel about it now. The results screen shows how long you spoke, so you can watch that number grow.
What You See After You Speak
- Your recording, to play back or save. It stays on your device and is gone when you leave the page.
- Time spoken, words and words per minute. A relaxed, clear pace is around 110 to 150 words a minute.
- Filler words such as um, you know and basically. A few are natural; a lot can make you sound unsure.
- Phrases you used, ticked from the card’s list.
- A checklist of the card’s points, so you can tick off what you covered.
- What we heard, a transcript of your talk.
The word count, pace, fillers and phrases need your browser’s speech recognition. In a browser without it, such as Firefox, you can still use the timers and record yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this speaking practice free?
Yes, every topic and IELTS card is free, with no account needed. With a free account you also earn XP: 1 point for every 30 seconds you speak, up to 4 per talk.
Is my recording uploaded?
No. The recording is made and played back inside your browser, and nothing is uploaded to English Finders. The live transcript comes from your browser’s speech service (Google’s, in Chrome), and it stays on the page too.
Does this give me an IELTS band score?
No. It gives you the practice conditions and facts about your answer, such as how long you spoke and how many words you used, but it does not grade your English. Use the checklist and the recording to judge your answer honestly.
How should I use the preparation time?
Write single words or short phrases for each point on the card, not full sentences. Full sentences take too long and make you sound as if you are reading. Your notes stay on screen while you speak.
Can I practise the same topic again?
Yes. Press Try this topic again on the results screen. Speaking on the same topic a second time, with the first try in mind, is one of the quickest ways to improve.
For shorter practice, try Listen and Repeat or the Role-Play Dialogues. There are more lessons on the Speaking page.
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Want to practise another skill? Here are more free tools from the English Finders Practice hub.