Phones, apps, laptops, smart watches: technology is part of almost everything we do, so it is no surprise that it comes up again and again in IELTS Speaking Part 2. The examiner may ask you to describe a device, a website, an invention or a time when technology did not work.
You do not need to be a tech expert. What matters is that you describe one thing clearly and explain why it matters to you. Below you will find four technology cue cards with band 7+ sample answers, useful vocabulary, and typical Part 1 and Part 3 questions about technology.
You get a cue card and 1 minute to make notes. Then you speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Cover every point on the card, add a short example or story, and finish with the “explain” part.
Technology cue cards with sample answers
Describe a piece of technology you use every day.
You should say:
- what it is
- when you got it
- what you use it for
and explain how your life would be different without it.
Sample Answer:
The piece of technology I use every single day is my laptop. It is a fairly ordinary model that I bought about three years ago, when I started my second year at university, and it has been with me almost everywhere since then.
I use it for nearly everything: writing assignments, joining online classes, keeping in touch with friends abroad and, in the evenings, watching films. Recently I have also been using it to prepare for IELTS, because I can listen to practice tests and record myself speaking.
Without it, my life would be a lot more complicated. I would have to spend hours in the university library to use the computers there, and I would probably lose touch with some of my friends. To be honest, it is not just a machine for me; it is more like my office, my classroom and my cinema in one small bag.
Describe an app or website that you find very useful.
You should say:
- what it is
- how you found out about it
- what you use it for
and explain why you find it so useful.
Sample Answer:
An app that I find extremely useful is a public transport app for my city. A colleague recommended it to me when I moved here last year, because I kept getting lost and missing buses.
The app shows every bus and tram in real time, so you can see exactly when the next one is coming. You can also plan a route from one address to another, and it tells you where to change and how long the walk is. I use it every morning before I leave home and quite often in the evening as well.
The reason I find it so useful is that it saves me a lot of time and stress. Before, I would stand at a bus stop for twenty minutes not knowing if the bus had already gone. Now I leave home at exactly the right moment. It is a small thing, but it makes my daily routine much smoother.
Describe an invention that has changed the way people live.
You should say:
- what the invention is
- when it was invented
- how people use it
and explain how it has changed people’s lives.
Sample Answer:
The invention I would like to talk about is the washing machine. It may not sound as exciting as the internet, but I think it has changed daily life more than people realise.
Electric washing machines became common in homes in the middle of the twentieth century. Before that, washing clothes by hand could take a whole day every week, and it was usually women who had to do it. Today most families simply load the machine, press a button and do something else for an hour.
The biggest change, in my view, is the free time it created. When my grandmother was young she spent hours every Monday washing and drying clothes. My mother, on the other hand, could go out to work, partly because household chores took far less time. So in a way, this simple machine helped to change family life and even the job market.
Describe a time when a piece of technology stopped working.
You should say:
- what it was
- when it happened
- what you did about it
and explain how you felt about the situation.
Sample Answer:
I remember very clearly the day my phone stopped working completely. It was about two years ago, on the morning of a job interview, and I had dropped it in the kitchen the evening before without noticing any damage.
When I woke up, the screen was black and nothing I tried would switch it on. The problem was that the address of the company and the name of the person I was meeting were both saved on the phone. I had to borrow my flatmate’s laptop, find the email again and write everything down on a piece of paper.
At first I felt really panicked, because I depend on my phone for almost everything. In the end I arrived on time and even got the job, so the story had a happy ending. It taught me a useful lesson, though: I now keep important information written down or saved in more than one place.
Useful technology vocabulary for IELTS
Try to replace basic words like “phone”, “computer” and “good” with more precise vocabulary:
| Topic | Words and phrases |
|---|---|
| Devices | a laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, a smart watch, a gadget, a household appliance |
| Using technology | to download an app, to browse the internet, to go online, to back up files, to update the software |
| Describing it | user-friendly, cutting-edge, state-of-the-art, outdated, time-saving, reliable |
| Problems | to crash, to freeze, a flat battery, a poor connection, to be hacked, technical issues |
| Useful phrases | to keep up with the latest technology, to be glued to your phone, to make life easier, a double-edged sword |
IELTS Speaking Part 1: technology questions
Part 1 questions are short and personal. Give a direct answer and add one reason or example.
1Do you use a computer or a phone more often?
Definitely my phone. I use it for messages, maps and music all day, while I only open my laptop when I need to write something longer or study.
2What apps do you use the most?
Probably messaging apps, because that is how I keep in touch with my family. I also use a language learning app for about ten minutes every evening.
3Do you think you spend too much time online?
Sometimes, yes. I notice that I check my phone without any real reason, so recently I have started leaving it in another room when I study.
4Was there any technology you wanted when you were a child?
When I was about ten, I really wanted a games console like my cousin had. My parents thought it was a waste of money, so I only got one when I was a teenager.
IELTS Speaking Part 3: technology and society questions
New to Part 3? See how to give band 7+ answers in Speaking Part 3, with simple and stronger answers compared.
In Part 3 the examiner asks about technology in general. Give longer answers with reasons, examples and both sides of the argument.
1How has technology changed the way people communicate?
It has made communication much faster and cheaper. People can talk to relatives on the other side of the world for free, which was unthinkable thirty years ago. On the other hand, some people argue that face-to-face conversations have become less common, especially among teenagers, who often prefer to send a message rather than call.
2Do you think older people find it difficult to use new technology?
Many do, although it depends on the person. My grandfather, for example, uses video calls every week, but he finds online banking confusing. I think the main problem is that technology changes so quickly that older people have to keep learning new things, and companies do not always design products with them in mind.
3Will technology replace teachers in the future?
I doubt it will replace them completely. Online courses and apps are great for learning facts or practising skills, but a good teacher also motivates students, notices when someone is struggling and adapts the lesson. I think the future is more likely to be a mix, where teachers use technology as a tool rather than being replaced by it.
Practise on your own
Choose one of the cue cards above, set a timer for 1 minute to make notes, and then record yourself speaking for 2 minutes. Listen back and check whether you covered every point and used some of the vocabulary from this page. For more topics, see IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics and cue cards with answers.