What Band 7 needs, in plain English
Band 7 means you speak fluently with only occasional repetition, your ideas link logically, vocabulary is precise, grammar is varied with few errors, and pronunciation is clear. The “cue card” is the prompt with bullet points you must cover. “Lexical resource” means the range and accuracy of your words.

Why a sample bank works
A sample bank is a set of short, reusable story frames you can adapt to many topics. It reduces planning time, keeps structure consistent, and helps you recycle high-value vocabulary without sounding memorised.

Core story frames to collect
People, place, object, event, activity, habit, a change you made, a goal you reached. Build one high-quality story for each. For every frame, keep three parts: context, key moments, reflection.

Timing targets
You get 1 minute to plan and up to 2 minutes to speak. Aim for 8 to 10 sentences in 2 minutes, about 220 to 260 words. In planning, write 6 to 8 keywords only. Practise with a timer on 1-2-0: 1 minute plan, 2 minutes speak, 0.5 minute debrief.

Language scaffolds

• Signposting means guiding the listener with markers like “first”, “the main reason”, “finally”.
• Hedging means softening claims with phrases like “roughly”, “from what I remember”.
• Prefer band-safe collocations such as “lasting impression”, “steep learning curve”, “tight deadline”, “sense of achievement”.

Outline template you can reuse

1. Opening summary – say what it is and why it matters.
2. Snapshot – who, where, when.
3. Two vivid moments – actions, senses, feelings.
4. Reflection – what changed you or what you realised.
5. Link back to the topic line.

Example 1 – Object
Describe a useful thing you own.
Opening: “I will talk about a compact power bank that rescued my phone during a field trip.”
Snapshot: Bought last winter in New Market for student video work.
Moments: It kept my phone alive for interviews, then recharged a classmate’s device on the bus.
Reflection: Taught me to plan for failure and share resources.
Useful lexis: compact device, built-in cable, reliable backup, emergency charge, peace of mind.

Example 2 – Person
Describe a teacher who inspired you.
Opening: “I will describe Mr Rahman, my physics teacher, who made complex ideas feel practical.”
Snapshot: Classes in Grade 11, morning sessions.
Moments: He used paper airplanes to explain lift, then coached me through a science fair setback.
Reflection: I learned that curiosity grows when failure feels safe.
Useful lexis: practical demonstration, patient guidance, constructive feedback, intellectual curiosity.

Mini case – Nabila, Dhaka
Nabila sat at Band 6.0. She built a bank of six frames and tracked reps in a simple log. Over three weeks she did 18 timed runs. Her planning shrank from 60 seconds to 35, and filler words dropped from 16 to 7 per talk. On test day she adapted her “event” story to a cue card about a celebration and moved to Band 7.0. Lesson – fewer, deeper frames beat a long list of half-ready stories.

Measurable practice plan

• 3 sessions per week, 20 minutes each.
• Per session do two 1-2-0 cycles.
• Track three numbers: keywords written, fillers per minute, and how many cue bullets you covered. Improve one number by 10 percent each week.

Common mistakes

• Over-memorising full scripts – leads to unnatural rhythm and blank outs.
• Ignoring the bullet points – costs coherence marks.
• Monotone delivery – practise stress and pausing on nouns and verbs.
• Overloading idioms – two natural idioms are better than five forced ones.

Edge cases and fixes

• Topic you know nothing about – borrow a frame and hedge: “I am not an expert, but based on a documentary I watched…”
• Abstract topic – anchor with a short personal story, then zoom out to a general trend.
• Early stop at 1 minute 20 – add a reflection layer: what you learned, who benefited, what you would change.

Glossary
Cue card – the task prompt card.
Signpost – a linking phrase that guides the listener.
Lexical resource – range and precision of vocabulary.
Discourse marker – words like “however” that organise ideas.
Hedging – softening a claim to sound accurate.

1. Actionable closing — Cheatsheet

• 1-2-0 routine: 60s plan, 120s speak, 30s debrief.
• Plan with 6 to 8 keywords only.
• Structure: Opening – Snapshot – Two moments – Reflection – Link back.
• Targets: 8 to 10 sentences, 220 to 260 words, fewer than 10 fillers.
• Upgrade lexis: swap “very big” → “huge”, “very helpful” → “invaluable”, “things” → “items” or “aspects”.
• Safety net lines: “From what I recall…”, “To give a concrete example…”, “Looking back, I realised…”.
• Weekly goal: 6 timed runs and one review where you rewrite weak signposts.

Locale: Bangladesh
Keywords: IELTS Speaking Part 2, Band 7, cue card, sample answers, lexical resource, fluency, Dhaka
Avoid: pro user, premium, hacky promises, guaranteed score
Tone: confident, supportive, plain English
CTA: Start your first 1-2-0 practice today and log three numbers – keywords, fillers, bullets covered – then repeat tomorrow.