The IELTS speaking section has 3 parts and the cue card is the 2nd one. This part is crucial for scoring and this is where you get an unknown topic on which you have to speak for 2 minutes. This blog will help you learn and practice for the topic “describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without”. This will help you get a gist of what a cue card is and what you have to speak in the same.
Table of Contents
As noted before, the cue card is the second part of the IELTS speaking section. You get the prompt in the form of a card with a general topic related to you, your family, education, travel, etc. Furthermore, you have a minute to think about what you are going to speak for the next 2 minutes. Under the main topic, you will see a few pointers segregating what you are supposed to talk about for those 2 minutes.
The IELTS speaking part 2 is easy to ace with regular practice. As mentioned above, the cue card that the examiner gives you has pointers related to the topic. These are to help the test taker with the content they are about to speak. Here is an example for the same on the topic “Describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without”:
This was all about the IELTS speaking part 2. Now, let us look at some sample answers to the above cue card.
Also Read: Describe a Person Who Always Has Interesting Ideas and Opinions
Here is the first sample for "describe a useful object in your home that you can't live without" for you to practice:
I cannot imagine living without my smartphone, as it has become an indispensable part of my life.
A device that connects you with the rest of the world with such convenience is addictive due to being handy. Having the ease of texting or calling anyone at any time has hooked me on this technology for the rest of my life. There is no way we are returning to pigeons or posting letters again.
I have my phone within a few meters at all times. It is because I use it for several purposes. This includes setting alarms, operating digital to-do lists, and getting infotainment updates. Thus, even if I don't have it in my hand for 24 hours straight, I choose to keep it nearby even when it is charging.
I don't have a chronic addiction to doom scrolling or social media. However, I am fond of browsing the internet to read books, watch news, or watch informative videos. I can do it on a bigger screen like my laptop or the television. Yet, I prefer a smaller screen as it prevents my focus from shifting and doesn't let my eyes wander around.
I have made my smartphone seamlessly integrate into almost all aspects of my life. This has made me rely on it so much that it now seems to be a compulsion. I not only stay connected, but my schedule is always structured and organized.
To sum up, my smartphone and I are inseparable and stick together like glue.
Here is the second sample for "describe a useful object in your home that you can't live without" for you to practice:
A crucial add-on to my mornings is an electric kettle. Since last year, I have not started a single day without having a hot beverage using that kettle.
I have an electric kettle which I consider to be the most practical appliance in the house. The best feature of this beautiful matte black kettle is that it runs on batteries, is wireless, and is, of course, rechargeable.
I use it every morning to prepare healthy and warm beverages and quick bites like instant noodles. These help me start my day by giving me energy. I also use it in winter evenings for the same objective. It makes my tasks effortless and simple.
I start by pouring in and turning the kettle on. As the water reaches its boiling point, I pour the hot water into a mug or the instant noodle cup. I add the required ingredients and enjoy the meal or drink I prepared within 2 minutes!
As it has become my routine to use my kettle and not begin my day without it, it is now a vital activity in my daily life. Moreover, I seek this kettle before anything else after I open my eyes and get out of bed.
Thus, an electric kettle is my most treasured appliance. The efficiency and versatility of the object is what makes it the best.
Here is the third sample for "describe a useful object in your home that you can't live without" for you to practice:
I consider the refrigerator to be one of the most productive yet the most neglected appliances of all.
A refrigerator is an appliance used for storing numerous perishable goods. It keeps fruits and vegetables fresh, edible and prevents them from rotting soon despite the weather outside.
Not just me but the entire household depends on this technological miracle. Especially during summer, I store cold beverages in it, including water bottles, to cool. We all desire chilled water during hot summer afternoons!
The refrigerator usually stays on at all times. Moreover, all we have to do is just keep the items in it and let them cool. We also keep our leftovers from the night to consume them the next day. Moreover, there are automatic refrigerators that come with adjustable temperature. They regulate how much cooling is required based on the items kept and the weather outside. Its technology fascinates me, too!
A refrigerator does not require regular servicing, and it is something that functions almost 24 hours every day! I can't imagine a summer without the refrigerator.
To sum up, the object that brings convenience and ease in life is a refrigerator, without which I cannot live.
These were the sample answers for the IELTS speaking part 2. Now, let us talk about the lexical resources used above.
Here is a list of vocabulary for IELTS for the above cue card. The table below has the words and their meanings:
| WORDS | MEANING |
|---|---|
| Indispensable | Very important, so that it is not possible to be without it |
| Convenience | The quality of being easy, useful or suitable for somebody |
| Handy | Within easy reach of something nearby |
| Hooked | Enjoying something very much so that you want to do it, see it, etc., as much as possible |
| Operating | To work or to make something work. |
| Infotainment | Broadcast material that is intended both to entertain and to inform. |
| Chronic | (used about a disease or a problem) that continues for a long time |
| Doom Scrolling | To spend a lot of time looking at your phone or computer and reading bad or negative news stories |
| Informative | Giving useful knowledge or information |
| Wander | (used to describe somebody’s mind, thoughts, etc.) to stop paying attention to something, to be unable to stay on one subject |
| Seamless | Continuous, without any spaces, interruptions or stops between two parts of something |
| Integrate | To join things so that they become one thing or work together |
| Compulsion | The act of forcing somebody to do something or being forced to do something |
| Structured | To arrange something in an organized way |
| Inseparable | That cannot be separated from somebody/something |
| Beverage | A drink |
| Practical | That is likely to succeed; right or sensible |
| Matte | Not shiny |
| Objective | Something that you are trying to achieve, an aim |
| Effortless | Needing little or no effort so that something seems easy |
| Boiling Point | It is the temperature at which any liquid starts to boil. |
| Ingredients | One of the items of food you need to make something to eat |
| Treasured | To consider somebody/something to be very special or valuable |
| Efficiency | The ability to achieve a goal or target with little to no waste and minimal effort, time, or energy. |
| Versatility | Ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities. |
| Productive | Useful (because results come from it) |
| Neglected | To give too little or no attention or care to somebody/something |
| Perishable | (used about food) that will go bad quickly |
| Rotting | To go bad or make something go bad as part of a natural process |
| Household | Those who dwell under the same roof and compose a family |
| Miracle | A lucky thing that happens that you did not expect or think was possible |
| Desire | The feeling of wanting something very much, a strong wish |
| Consume | To eat or drink something |
| Automatic | (used about a machine) that can work by itself without direct human control |
| Adjustable | That can be adjusted. |
| Regulate | To control something. |
| Fascinates | To attract or interest somebody very much |
These were the lexical resources for IELTS cue card. Now, let us talk about the follow-up questions with answers in the section below.
Also Read: Describe a Job You Would Not Like to Do in the Future- IELTS Cue Card
Here are the follow-up questions with answers for the IELTS cue card “Describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without”:
This attachment can have both negative and positive impacts. Some attachments can help you stick to a productive schedule. However, some can work as addictions. Moreover, many people also associate themselves emotionally with an object. Some might not value this significance and call it unhealthy materialism.
The Internet enables the world to fit into the small screens of all our devices. This helps you get information at any point of time. Having the Internet at home can be beneficial to people of all age groups. For example, children can quench their curiosity anytime by asking a question on the Internet, and we can connect with people no matter where they reside.
Household appliances and gadgets can often lead us to a sedentary lifestyle. Often, we use these appliances to experience ease and save time. However, these become our way of escaping physical activity and remaining in an undeclared comfort zone rather than being active. This lethargic attitude can also lead to health issues and other illnesses.
Yes, I believe these gadgets not only make life easier but also more sustainable. However, there are 2 categories of these appliances. One that is helpful, like the heater is effective in winter. Although some may be beneficial for the user but they can also increase the emission of harmful and hazardous gases into the environment.
These are the follow-up questions with answers. The examiner can also change the language of these questions. It is great advice to keep their different tones in mind. For more tips, read the following section carefully.
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to clear the IELTS cue cards on the first attempt:
To sum up, the IELTS speaking section is one of the easiest sub-tests to clear. This subtest requires you to practice with different topics. Thus, these were answers to a cue card on “describe a useful object in your home that you can’t live without.” You can also practice other topics to get familiar with the format. Moreover, there are online IELTS classes for you to enrol in. This coaching can help you to ace the IELTS exam with ease.
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