Describe an expensive item you bought.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What item was it?
Why did you buy it? How much did you spend?
Why was it expensive?

30 unique answers with expert feedback

What features do you think are essential in expensive headphones?

I believe essential features in expensive headphones include noise cancellation, comfort, sound quality, and battery life. These aspects significantly enhance the listening experience, especially for someone who works long hours or enjoys music.

How do you think technology has changed the way we buy expensive items?

Technology has made it easier to research and compare products online. We can read reviews, watch videos, and even try virtual demos before purchasing. This access to information helps consumers make informed decisions about expensive items.

Do you think it's worth spending a lot on high-quality items?

Yes, I think spending more on high-quality items can be worth it. They often last longer, perform better, and provide a better overall experience. In my case, the headphones have improved my productivity, making the investment worthwhile.

Band 6-7

00:00

The most expensive thing I have bought till now is my phone which is an iPhone. I just bought it because I had many work, I just saw the advantages of buying that phone and it was like it was having the best connectivity as well as the performance of the phone. They just upgraded the best chip ever in the phone. I did not like the smoothness of the phone, it was having 150-250Hz refresh rate and I could use the phone very smoothly and it was too handy as well for me. So that is why I bought the phone and it was like quite an expense. So I spent over 1,30,000 rupees in England. I just bought it because I could do any of the work that I wanted to without using the laptop. I just could save my notes and all the updates that I wanted to in the phone. At that very moment, I could even contact it. It was like all in one, I just did not need any more phone. I just wanted something that I should own one that would have automatic work. Because of my phone, I could do all the work and my phone, that is why I bought it.

Follow up questions

What features do you think make a phone worth its high price?

I believe features like advanced camera quality, high processing power, and long battery life make a phone worth its price. Additionally, having a user-friendly interface and regular software updates can enhance the overall experience, making it a valuable investment.

How do you feel about spending a lot of money on technology?

I think spending a significant amount on technology can be justified if it enhances productivity and improves daily life. However, it's essential to evaluate whether the features truly meet my needs before making such a purchase.

Have you ever regretted buying an expensive item? Why?

Yes, I once bought a high-end laptop that I thought I needed for work. However, I found that I rarely used its advanced features, and it felt like a waste of money. It taught me to be more cautious and thoughtful about my purchases in the future.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

Band 6-7

00:00

One expensive item that I have recently purchased is my new laptop. In today's world, all work is done through a laptop. The technological advancements and faster Wi-Fi has enabled every individual to complete their office work or their college work via a laptop. I bought my laptop in 2020 when Covid had struck. At that time, all classes were held online and all assignments had to be submitted online. My previous laptop had stopped working due to some technical issue, so I had to rush to the store and buy a new laptop. My new laptop costed me Rs 70,000 as it was an Apple laptop. It has a great technological advancement in it as compared to my previous laptop. The features in it are quite interesting and it is a very tech-friendly and a very fast laptop. I needed this laptop to complete my assignments, to attend my classes and also for leisure activities. Moreover, I also enjoy gaming and this laptop helps me gaming with my friends. I purchased the latest model of the new laptop. I got it at a good discount but it was still expensive and out of my budget. This laptop that I just purchased is much better than my previous laptop. It is much faster and it has better features. I am really grateful for this expensive gift that I have gotten from my father and I hope to use it for another few years.

Follow up questions

What features do you find most useful in your new laptop?

The most useful features of my new laptop include its fast processing speed, high-resolution display, and long battery life. These features allow me to multitask efficiently, enjoy high-quality visuals while gaming, and work for extended periods without needing to recharge.

How do you think technology has changed the way we work and study?

Technology has significantly transformed work and study by enabling remote access to resources and facilitating online collaboration. It allows students to attend classes from anywhere and professionals to work from home, making education and work more flexible and accessible.

Do you think it's worth spending a lot of money on gadgets like laptops?

Yes, I believe it's worth investing in high-quality gadgets like laptops, especially if they enhance productivity and provide a better user experience. A reliable laptop can last for years and support various tasks, making it a valuable investment for both work and leisure.

Band 6-7

00:00

Well there are so many instances in my life when I purchased an expensive item in my life but here I would like to talk about a time when I purchased a expensive perfume of Dior and that instance still has indelible impression in my mind. Last year I went to Chandigarh to meet my cousin Robin. She was doing training that time of period. She completed her masters in pharmacy and her internship was going on. Before my parents said me to visit there then I went there and me and my sister Robin went to visit Elante mall which is the largest mall of India and I purchased this perfume of Dior to gift my one of best friend Harsh on his birthday because his birthday was coming at that time. This perfume cost around 8000 rupees which is very expensive according to me. The item in Elante mall are always expensive because Elante mall never negotiate in the price and always try to retain their customer especially VIP customer. I must say this Elante mall can cost someone arms and legs.

Follow up questions

What factors do you consider when buying expensive items?

When buying expensive items, I consider the quality, brand reputation, and whether it's a worthwhile investment. I also think about the occasion and if the item will be appreciated by the recipient, like the perfume I bought for my friend.

How do you feel about spending a lot of money on gifts?

I believe spending a lot on gifts can show how much you care about someone. However, I also think it's important to stay within your budget. The perfume I bought was a special gift, and I felt it was worth the price for my friend's birthday.

Have you ever regretted buying an expensive item?

Yes, there have been times when I've regretted buying expensive items, especially if I didn't use them as much as I thought I would. However, I don't regret the perfume purchase because it was a thoughtful gift for my friend.

Band 6-7

00:00

So the most expensive item I've gotten was my phone which is the iPhone 16 and I've mainly gotten it for using for my day-to-day life. Even though it was very expensive which was costing around 1 lakh, I still saved for it a bit and then I decided to splurge on it. It was costing around 1 lakh INR at that time which was a huge amount and a significant chunk of my income at that point of time. I still decided to go ahead with it. However, in spite of spending a huge amount, it still feels worth it because I'm able to use it for my everyday work and various other things and I can use it for a long period of time which makes sense in investing that huge amount on a phone. Usually people devoid of buying such an expensive phone because there's a risk of it getting stolen or you misplacing it or it getting spoiled but I still decided to go ahead with it because at that point, it seemed like the most logical and appropriate thing for me to do. Since I've started to use it, I've not faced any major issues with it and I'm very fond of its design and feature it provides. It has got very appropriate feature for using for everyday and it also has face lock technology which is very useful.

Follow up questions

What features do you find most useful in your iPhone 16?

I find the camera quality and the face lock technology to be the most useful features. The camera allows me to take high-quality photos, which is great for capturing memories, while the face lock technology provides added security and convenience for accessing my phone quickly.

How do you feel about spending a large amount on a single item?

Spending a large amount on a single item can be daunting, but I believe it’s worth it if the item adds significant value to my life. In my case, the iPhone 16 has enhanced my productivity and daily activities, making the investment feel justified.

Have you ever regretted buying an expensive item?

I haven't regretted buying the iPhone 16 because it has met my expectations and needs. However, I have had moments of doubt with other purchases in the past, but I learned to evaluate the long-term benefits before making such decisions.

Show all 30 answers

Cue 1:What item was it?

Begin by clearly stating the item you purchased, including its name and type.
Provide a brief context about when and where you bought it.

Example

The expensive item I bought was a high-end smartphone, specifically the latest model of the iPhone. I purchased it last year from a well-known electronics store in my city.

Cue 2:Why did you buy it? How much did you spend?

Explain your motivation for buying the item, such as its features or personal needs.
Mention the exact amount you spent and if it was a planned purchase or a spontaneous decision.

Example

I decided to buy this smartphone because I needed a reliable device for both work and personal use. It cost me around 1 lakh rupees, which I had saved up for a few months. I had been eyeing this model for a while due to its excellent camera and performance.

Cue 3:Why was it expensive?

Discuss the factors that contributed to the item's high price, such as brand reputation or advanced technology.
Mention any unique features that justify the cost.

Example

The smartphone was expensive primarily because of its brand reputation and the advanced technology it offered, like a top-notch camera and high processing speed. Additionally, the build quality and design were exceptional, which made it stand out from other models.

Conclusion

Summarize your overall feelings about the purchase and its impact on your life.
Reflect on whether you believe it was worth the investment.

Example

In conclusion, buying this smartphone was a significant investment for me, but I believe it was worth every penny. It has greatly enhanced my productivity and allowed me to capture precious moments with its amazing camera.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Lack of Detail in Description

Failing to provide specific details about the item can make your answer sound vague and uninteresting. It's important to engage the listener with vivid descriptions.