If you’ve ever prepared for IELTS Speaking, you’ve probably come across the long-held debate about Part 2: Are the bullet points on the cue card mandatory, or are they simply suggestions?
It’s a question that appears frequently in teaching forums and IELTS study groups, and it can be surprisingly confusing, even for experienced teachers.

Many students assume they must answer every point exactly as written. Others believe the prompts are optional, as long as the talk stays on topic. So which interpretation is correct?

The official answer is somewhere in the middle, but it’s far less rigid than most learners expect.

What the Bullet Points Are Actually For

IELTS does not score candidates based on whether they answer every bullet point. The scoring criteria are the same across all parts of the speaking test: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Nowhere in the descriptors does it say that candidates must respond to each individual prompt.

The bullet points are there to support the candidate, not restrict them. They serve as a structure to help you fill your two minutes with a coherent narrative. Think of them as a safety net, something to fall back on if you’re unsure how to develop your ideas. But they are not exam questions with right or wrong answers.

In other words, you won’t be penalized for skipping one point, expanding another, or changing the order entirely. What truly matters is that you stay focused on the main topic of the cue card and speak continuously in a clear, organized way.

Why Following the Prompts Still Helps

Although the bullet points are not compulsory, completely ignoring them can make your answer harder to structure. Many candidates who choose to “freestyle” end up losing their way, repeating themselves, or going off-topic without realizing it.

The prompts provide a natural flow:
Who/what → background → experience → opinion → result.

When learners use this sequence, their speech naturally becomes more coherent. Even small details such as where something happened, who was involved, or what the situation felt like can make a big difference in helping the talk sound complete and connected.

So while the bullet points won’t make or break your score, using them often leads to smoother speech and stronger coherence.

Is It Okay to Add Personal Examples?

Absolutely. In fact, personal examples are one of the most effective ways to expand your answer naturally. Many cue cards invite personal reflection, and adding a real anecdote usually enriches the response rather than detracts from it.

For instance, if a candidate is asked to explain why they enjoy a particular time of day, mentioning a recent morning routine or a small moment from yesterday makes the answer more vivid and engaging. It also helps maintain fluency because the speaker is drawing from genuine experience instead of inventing details on the spot.

Examples like these do not violate any IELTS rule. In fact, they often help you sound more confident and organized.

When Ignoring the Bullet Points Causes Problems

The real risk is not in skipping a prompt, but in drifting away from the central topic. Some candidates begin with the right idea but end up talking about loosely related themes, reading habits instead of a specific book, for example, or general lifestyle choices instead of the time of day mentioned on the card.

This kind of shift affects coherence, which is assessed. As long as your talk remains anchored to the main topic, the examiner won’t mind if you rearrange, shorten, or extend the bullet points.

A Practical Approach for Test Day

The most reliable strategy is simple: start by addressing the main topic directly, then use the bullet points as gentle signposts rather than strict instructions. Let them guide your flow, but feel free to add your own examples, shuffle the order, or even skip one if you genuinely have more to say elsewhere.

The examiner isn’t judging how well you follow a template. They are judging how well you communicate.