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Describe something expensive that you would like to buy 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 something expensive that you would like to buy in the future.

You should say:

  • what you want to buy
  • how much it might cost
  • how you plan to pay for it

and explain why you want to buy it.

Ready

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

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Band 8 sample answer

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

Something expensive that I'd like to buy one day is my own apartment. At the moment I rent a small flat with a roommate, and although it's convenient, I dream of having a place that really belongs to me.

I've looked at prices in my city, and a modest one-bedroom apartment in a decent area could cost somewhere between fifty and seventy thousand dollars. That's a huge sum for someone my age, and I certainly can't afford it right now. My plan is to save up for several years. I've set up a savings account, and I put aside around twenty per cent of my salary every month, even if that means eating out less and avoiding impulse buys. In a couple of years, once I've saved enough for a deposit, I'd probably take out a mortgage with a bank to pay for the rest, and I may also ask my parents for some help if I need it.

There are several reasons why I want to buy a home. First, it's a question of security. Paying rent every month feels like giving money away, and I don't like the thought that the landlord could ask me to leave. Second, I would be free to decorate and arrange the space exactly as I like, without asking for permission. Third, I regard it as a worthwhile investment, because property tends to keep its value over time. Finally, I'd love to have somewhere to invite my family and friends to. It's a long-term goal, but thinking about it motivates me to manage my money more carefully.

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
save up forput money aside to afford something
a worthwhile investmentsomething good to spend money on
affordhave enough money for
splash out onspend a lot of money on
an impulse buysomething purchased without planning
within my budgetat a price I can pay

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 car or an apartment
  • A good laptop or camera for work
  • A musical instrument or piece of equipment

How to spend the two minutes

  1. 25 swhat you want to buy
  2. 25 show much it might cost
  3. 25 show you plan to pay for it
  4. 45 sand explain why you want to buy it.

Part 3 questions

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

  1. Do you think people nowadays spend too much money on things they do not need?
  2. Is it better to save money or to spend it on experiences?
  3. Why do some people buy expensive brands?
  4. How has online shopping changed people's buying habits?
  5. Should young people be taught how to manage money at school?

Frequently asked questions

How do I talk about future plans in an IELTS cue card?

Say what you would like to do, why, and how you would go about it. Mix future forms: "I'm planning to", "I'd love to", "if I had the chance, I would". A plan you really have gives you more to say than an invented one.

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