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Describe an electronic device that you would like to have in the future

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 an electronic device that you would like to have in the future.

You should say:

  • what it is
  • how it works
  • what you would use it for

and explain why you would like to have this device.

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

An electronic device I would love to own is a high-quality tablet with a digital pen, something like the latest iPad Pro. At the moment, I use a regular laptop and paper notebooks, but I think a tablet would combine the best of both.

As far as I know, these tablets have large, sharp screens and a very fast processor, and the pen feels almost like writing on paper. You can use it to take handwritten notes, draw, annotate documents and even edit videos. The battery lasts for a whole day, and it weighs less than a small book. You can also connect a keyboard and turn it into a mini laptop, so it is extremely flexible. Of course, it's quite expensive, which is why I don't have one yet. It costs about as much as two months of my part-time salary.

If I had it, I would use it mainly for study. I would take my lecture notes directly on it, organise them in folders and search for any word in seconds, instead of carrying five different notebooks. I would also read PDF textbooks and scientific articles, underline the important parts and write comments in the margin. In my free time, I would use it for sketching, because I enjoy drawing but never have the right materials with me.

I would like it because I believe it would make me more organised and creative. My handwriting is rather messy, and I often lose my papers, so digital notes would solve that problem. I'm saving up and hope to buy one at the end of the year, when there are usually big discounts.

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

PhraseMeaning
state-of-the-artusing the most modern technology available
upgradereplace something with a newer, better version
voice-controlledoperated by speaking commands
high-resolutionproducing very clear and detailed images
cutting-edgevery advanced and new
can't afforddo not have enough money to buy

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 professional camera or drone
  • A tablet with a stylus for drawing and note-taking
  • A virtual reality headset or smart home system

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat it is
  2. 25 show it works
  3. 25 swhat you would use it for
  4. 45 sand explain why you would like to have this device.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Which new technologies do you think will change people's lives the most?
  2. Why do people want to own the latest gadgets?
  3. Is it a problem that electronic devices become outdated so quickly?
  4. Do you think technology makes people lazier?
  5. How should old electronic devices be recycled?
  6. Are children better with technology than adults?

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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