Skip to the tool

Describe a bag that you often use

Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.

Practice it like the exam

Part 2 · Candidate task card

Describe a bag that you often use.

You should say:

  • what it looks like
  • where you got it
  • what you usually carry in it

and explain why you like using this bag.

Ready

1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.

Recordings stay in this tab and are never uploaded.

Band 8 sample answer

264 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.

The bag I use most often is a grey backpack that I bought two years ago from a sports shop in my city. It was on sale, and I paid around thirty dollars, which I thought was a good price for such good quality.

It is fairly large, with a main compartment, a smaller front pocket and two side pockets for water bottles or an umbrella. Inside the main section, there is a padded space for a laptop, which is the reason I chose it. The straps are wide and adjustable, so it is comfortable even when it is heavy, and the material is waterproof, which has saved my books many times on rainy days. I carry it every day to university. In it, I usually have my laptop, a couple of notebooks, textbooks, a charger, headphones, a small umbrella and a snack or two. On weekends, I sometimes take it on short hiking trips with my friends, and it works well for that too.

I like it for several reasons. Firstly, it is highly practical, because everything has its place, and I can find things quickly without searching. Secondly, it has proved very durable. Despite carrying heavy loads for two years, it still has no holes or broken zips. Thirdly, the simple design goes with everything, whether I'm wearing a jacket for class or casual clothes with friends. It is not the most fashionable bag in the world, but I do not need that. I feel comfortable with it on my back, and I plan to keep using it until it falls apart.

What to notice

  • It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
  • Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
  • The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.

We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.

Getting ready for IELTS?

Get your study plan

Useful vocabulary

PhraseMeaning
spacious compartmentsroomy sections inside a bag
adjustable strapsbands that can be made longer or shorter
waterproofnot allowing water to pass through
carry aroundtake with you everywhere
wear and teardamage caused by normal use
functionaldesigned to be practical

Plan it in one minute

Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.

Who or what you could talk about

  • A backpack for university
  • A leather handbag you bought for work
  • A tote bag from a place you visited

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat it looks like
  2. 25 swhere you got it
  3. 25 swhat you usually carry in it
  4. 45 sand explain why you like using this bag.

Part 3 questions

In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Everyday items and consumer habits. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.

  1. Why do people carry so many things with them nowadays?
  2. Do you think fashion is more important than practicality when choosing bags?
  3. Why are plastic bags banned in some countries?
  4. Do men and women choose different kinds of bags?
  5. Is it worth paying a lot for a branded bag?
  6. How can people reduce waste when they go shopping?

Frequently asked questions

How should I describe an object in an IELTS cue card?

Say what it is and how you got it, then talk about how you use it and one moment when it mattered. Objects run out of description fast, so the story around the object is what fills the two minutes.

Getting ready for IELTS?

All free tools

Writing topic generator

Write to Task 1 and Task 2 prompts with a timer and a word counter.

IELTS band score calculator

Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.

IELTS score converter

Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.

University IELTS requirements

Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.