The Part 2 Challenge
You must speak for 1–2 minutes without stopping. That is roughly 200–300 words — more than most people realise. Running out of ideas at 60 seconds is the most common Part 2 problem.
Setting — where/when it happened Event — what happened Emotion — how you felt during Sensory — what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, felt After — the result, what happened next Why — why it was significant / what you learnt
Using SEESAW for any cue card gives you 6 different angles — more than enough for 2 minutes.
The 1-Minute Preparation Strategy
When you get the card, do not start writing full sentences. Write single-word prompts for each SEESAW element:
Cue card: Describe a place you have visited that you particularly enjoyed.
- Setting: Cappadocia, Turkey / 2 years ago / holiday
- Event: hot air balloon, cave hotels, underground cities
- Emotion: amazed, peaceful, small in comparison
- Sensory: orange valleys, cool cave air, smell of fresh bread
- After: researched more about Silk Road, read a book
- Why: first time travelling alone, felt independent
These six prompts will easily fill 2 minutes.
Use all 60 seconds of preparation time. Students who start speaking after 20 seconds almost always run out of ideas early.
Language for Describing a Place
| Function | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Setting the scene | It was about two years ago when I visited… |
| Describing visually | What really struck me was… / The most striking thing was… |
| Expressing emotion | I felt completely overwhelmed by… / I was genuinely moved by… |
| Comparing | It was unlike anywhere I had been before. |
| Concluding | Looking back, I think it was one of the most… |
Handling Difficult Topics
If the cue card says “Describe a time you cooked a meal” and you never cook — it is perfectly fine to say you are imagining it or to describe something you watched someone else do. The examiner is testing your English, not verifying your life story.
Natural Fillers for Thinking Time
Do not use “um” and “uh” — they sound hesitant. Use these instead:
- That’s an interesting one to talk about…
- Let me think about the best example…
- I suppose the most memorable occasion was…
Do not just stop abruptly. Signal the end: “So yes, that’s why it was such a memorable experience for me.” This sounds natural and complete.