IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use: IELTS cue card with sample answer

An IELTS cue card for Speaking Part 2 with a Band 8 sample answer, the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it and the Part 3 follow-up questions the examiner can ask next.
  • 262 words
  • An object
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use

You should say:

  • →What it is
  • →What you got it for
  • →How often do you use it
  • →How you feel about it

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

An object

How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan

  1. 1

    Note the item's name and why you acquired it during your preparation time.

  2. 2

    List three specific reasons why the interface or function feels overly complex.

  3. 3

    Use a personal anecdote to illustrate the frustration you feel when using it.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8262 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

To be perfectly honest, I am quite tech-savvy, but there is one piece of hardware that really gets under my skin: my high-end DSLR camera, a Canon EOS R5. I purchased it about six months ago because I wanted to take my landscape photography to a professional level, hoping to capture the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands during my weekend hikes. I initially thought that because I had used entry-level cameras before, the transition would be seamless, but I was sorely mistaken. I try to use it at least twice a month when I head out of the city, yet every time I pick it up, I feel as though I am wrestling with a cockpit of a jet plane rather than a camera. The menu system is labyrinthine, filled with hundreds of sub-settings, custom functions, and obscure exposure modes that seem designed to confuse rather than assist. It is incredibly frustrating because, despite the impressive technical specifications, the sheer complexity often ruins the spontaneity of a shot. I find myself fiddling with the dial for minutes on end while the perfect golden hour light fades away. The reason I find it so difficult is the sheer lack of intuitive design. It feels like the manufacturers prioritised power over usability, assuming that every user is a professional engineer. It makes me feel somewhat inadequate, as I often end up reverting to my smartphone to capture the moment, leaving this expensive, sophisticated piece of kit gathering dust in my camera bag, which is quite a disappointing outcome for such a significant investment.

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8 words

Useful vocabulary for this cue card

  • tech-savvy

    well informed about or proficient in technology

  • gets under my skin

    something that annoys or irritates you greatly

  • seamless

    smooth and without any apparent interruptions

  • labyrinthine

    extremely complicated, intricate, and confusing to navigate

  • obscure

    not discovered or known about; uncertain or hidden

  • spontaneity

    the quality of being natural and unforced

  • inadequate

    not good enough or lacking required quality

  • kit

    a set of equipment needed for specific activity

6 questions

Part 3 follow-up questions

  1. 1What technology do people currently use?
  2. 2Why do big companies introduce new products frequently?
  3. 3Why do technology companies keep upgrading their products?
  4. 4Why are people so keen on buying iPhones even though they haven't changed much from one iPhone to the next?
  5. 5What changes has the development of technology brought to our lives?
  6. 6Does the development of technology affect the way we study?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a piece of technology that you feel is difficult to use"?+

Note the item's name and why you acquired it during your preparation time.

How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+

You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

How is the cue card scored?+

Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.

Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: an object

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