Here you talk about something you do not have yet, so the key grammar is the second conditional: "If I had a pair, I'd use them...". A short story about where you first saw it adds a past tense, and the price and your plan make it real.
The cue card
Describe a piece of technology you would like to own.
You should say:
what it is
how you know about it
what you would use it for
and explain why you would like to have it.
One-minute notes
- what: noise-cancelling headphones
- know: a friend lent me his on a bus to Fergana, noise disappeared
- use: IELTS listening at home (noisy flat), podcasts on the metro
- why: concentration is a luxury; saving monthly, before my exam
Model answer (about 2 minutes)
The piece of technology I'd really like to own is a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones, the kind that shut out almost all the sound around you.
I first tried a pair last spring, when a friend lent me his on a long bus journey to Fergana. The bus was full, there was music playing at the front and a baby crying at the back, and the moment I put them on, it all just disappeared. I honestly couldn't believe the difference.
If I had a pair, I'd use them mainly for studying. I live with my parents and two younger brothers, so our flat is rarely quiet, and it's really hard to concentrate on IELTS listening practice when there's a TV on in the next room. I'd also use them on the metro, which is surprisingly loud, to listen to podcasts on the way to university.
The main reason I want them is that concentration has become a bit of a luxury for me. Being able to create a quiet space wherever I am would make a real difference to how much I get done.
Good ones are quite expensive, about the price of a cheap phone, so I'm putting a little money aside each month, and I'm hoping to buy a pair before my exam.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| shut out | shut out |
| lend | lend |
| the moment I put them on | the moment I put them on |
| concentrate on | concentrate on |
| a bit of a luxury | a bit of a luxury |
| make a real difference | make a real difference |
| put money aside | put money aside |
| switch off | switch off |
How to answer
- Define the thing in one sentence: "the kind that shut out almost all the sound around you".
- The story of first trying it gives you a past tense: "a friend lent me his...".
- Describe the use with a second conditional: "If I had..., I'd...".
- End with a real plan: the price, the saving, the timing.
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Part 3: follow-up discussion questions
Do people buy too many gadgets these days?
In some cases, yes. A lot of people replace their phones every year even when the old one works perfectly well, mainly because of advertising and social pressure. I think gadgets are worth buying when they solve a real problem, not just because they're new.
Has technology made people's lives easier or more stressful?
Both, really. Everyday tasks like paying bills or ordering a taxi are far easier, but constant notifications make it harder to switch off, so a lot of people feel busier than ever.
What kind of technology do older people find difficult to use?
Will technology make some jobs disappear?
Part 2 strategy: the cue card guide. Next step: the Part 3 guide.
Practise this topic now
The AI examiner asks you these questions, listens to your answers and shows your mistakes.
