Describe something expensive you bought

In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get this card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Below: the notes a strong candidate might make in that minute, a natural Band 7–8 answer, the words that make it work, and the Part 3 discussion the examiner usually moves on to.

The cue card

One-minute notes

Notes in the preparation minute should be keywords, not sentences — one line per bullet, plus the one detail that makes your story yours. Something like:

• a good laptop for work
• about two years ago, after first freelance contract
• saved for 4 months; paid in cash, no instalments
• compared models for weeks
• decided: my old one crashed; it's my main tool

Band 7–8 sample answer

The most expensive thing I've bought for myself is a laptop, which I bought around two years ago, shortly after I started doing freelance design work.

For years I'd been using a very old computer that I'd had since school. It was slow, the battery lasted about forty minutes, and it crashed fairly regularly. The final straw came when it froze in the middle of a video call with my first proper client and I lost an hour of work. That evening I decided it was time to replace it, even though it was much more money than I was used to spending.

I paid for it in cash, which was important to me. Lots of shops offered to let me pay in monthly instalments, but I don't like the idea of owing money for something, so I saved for about four months instead. During that time I probably spent too long comparing different models — I read reviews, watched videos and drove my friends mad asking for their opinions.

I decided to buy it because I saw it less as a luxury and more as an investment in my work. Pretty much everything I earn, I earn on that machine, so it made sense to get something reliable that would last several years. It was painful to see that much money leave my bank account at once, but I haven't regretted it once, which I can't say about some much cheaper things I've bought.

About 245 words — roughly two minutes at a relaxed pace. Notice what it does: one specific story instead of general statements, every bullet covered, natural spoken linking rather than "firstly… secondly…", and the "why" part of the card answered properly at the end — that is where many candidates run out of things to say. Use it to see the structure; don't memorise it. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and your own story will always sound more fluent.

Useful vocabulary

• the final straw — the last problem that makes you finally act
• pay in instalments — to pay small amounts regularly over time
• an investment — something you pay for because it brings benefits later
• splash out (on) — to spend a lot of money on something enjoyable
• value for money — a good balance between price and quality
• drive someone mad — to annoy someone a lot (informal)

Part 3: questions and model answers

After your two minutes, the examiner moves to a discussion linked to the card's topic. These questions are more abstract: give an opinion, a reason and an example, and it's fine to say "it depends" — as long as you explain on what.

Do people spend money more carelessly than in the past?

In some ways, yes, mainly because paying has become so easy. With one tap on a phone, you don't feel the money leaving in the same way you do with cash. Online shops are also designed to make buying quick and impulsive, so people spend before they've really thought about it.

Should children be taught how to manage money?

Absolutely, and from quite a young age. Simple ideas like saving part of your pocket money or understanding that a loan has to be paid back with interest can protect people from serious debt later. It's strange that schools teach complex maths but often nothing about personal finance.

Is advertising too persuasive?

Sometimes it is, especially online, where adverts use personal data to target people at exactly the right moment. Advertising itself isn't the problem — it gives useful information — but it should be clearly labelled, and there should be stricter rules for adverts aimed at children.

Does owning more things make people happier?

Only up to a point. Having enough to be comfortable clearly improves happiness. Beyond that, most research suggests experiences and relationships matter more than possessions. The excitement of a new purchase usually fades within weeks, while a good trip with friends stays with you for years.

More cue cards about objects

• Describe an old object your family has kept
• Describe a gift you gave to someone
• Describe a photograph you like
• Describe something you would like to own in the future

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