Scorify.uzThe cue card
Describe a piece of technology that you often use.
You should say:
- what it is
- how long you have had it
- what you use it for
- and explain why it is important to you
Band 7 sample answer
The piece of technology I use most is my laptop. I bought it about three years ago when I started university, and it has hardly left my side since.
I use it for almost everything: writing assignments, researching, attending online classes and watching films in the evening. I also edit videos for fun, and it handles that surprisingly well for its price. It is lightweight, so I can easily carry it in my bag, and the battery lasts nearly eight hours.
It is important to me because it connects my studies, my hobbies and my social life in one device. If it broke, I would struggle to complete my coursework. Of course, I have to be careful not to spend too many hours in front of the screen, but overall it has made my life much easier and more productive.
My laptop also helps me stay in touch with friends and family who live abroad. We have a video call almost every Sunday, and seeing their faces makes the distance feel much smaller, which is something that would have been very difficult for people a few decades ago.
About 188 words, roughly 1 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- indispensable — absolutely necessary
- user-friendly — easy to use
- lightweight — not heavy
- multitask — do several things at once
- battery life — how long a device works without charging
- productivity — how much work you get done
- rely on — depend on
Tips for this cue card
- Choose a device you can describe from daily experience.
- Mention one small disadvantage to sound balanced.
- Use “I rely on it for…” to show importance.
Part 3 follow-up questions
How has technology changed the way people work?
Idea: It enables remote work and automation, but also makes people feel they must always be available.
Are people too dependent on technology?
Idea: In many ways yes; a power cut or lost phone can stop daily life, so balance is needed.
What technology will be important in the future?
Idea: Artificial intelligence and renewable energy technology will probably influence most industries.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.