Describe a device or gadget that saves you time in your daily life
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
Describe a device or gadget that saves you time in your daily life.
You should say:
- what it is
- how you got it
- how you use it
and explain how it saves you time.
Ready
1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
269 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
A gadget that really saves me time is my multicooker, which my parents gave me when I started living on my own. It is a round, white electric pot with a digital screen and a lot of different programmes.
I use it three or four times a week, mostly for lunch and dinner. The process is simple: I put rice, vegetables, meat or soup ingredients in the bowl, choose a programme and set the time. After that, I can leave the kitchen and do something else, like study, take a shower or even go out for a short walk. When the food is ready, it beeps and automatically keeps it warm. Some of my favourite dishes are plov, vegetable stew and porridge, which turn out perfectly every time. There is even a delay function, so I can put the ingredients in before going to university in the morning and have a hot meal ready when I come back in the evening.
It saves me time in a number of ways. Firstly, I do not have to stand beside the stove and stir, so I can multitask. Secondly, there's much less washing up, since I only have one pot to clean. Thirdly, it cooks much faster than a normal saucepan for certain dishes. I estimate that it saves me at least an hour every day. Before I had it, I often ordered fast food because I did not have the energy to cook after a long day, which was expensive and unhealthy. Now I eat better and spend less, so it has really been a lifesaver for a busy student.
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.
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Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| streamline | make a process simpler and more efficient |
| at the touch of a button | very easily and quickly |
| multitask | do several things at the same time |
| a lifesaver | something extremely useful in difficult times |
| automatic | working by itself without human control |
| get things done | complete tasks |
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 smartphone app or smart speaker
- A multicooker or robot vacuum cleaner
- A fitness watch or e-reader
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhat it is
- 25 show you got it
- 25 show you use it
- 45 sand explain how it saves you time.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Time management and modern life. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- Why do people today feel that they have no free time?
- Do labour-saving devices really give us more free time?
- How do you think technology has changed the way people spend their time?
- Is it good for children to rely on gadgets to do simple tasks?
- Are people generally more organised now than in the past?
- What gadgets might become common in homes in the next twenty years?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Objects
- Describe something valuable that you lost
- Describe a photograph that is special to you
- Describe a tool or piece of equipment that you find useful
- Describe an object that brings you luck or that you carry for good luck
- Describe a piece of furniture in your home that is important to you
- Describe a bicycle, car or other vehicle that you have used regularly
Part 1 topics on the same subject
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.
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