IELTS SPEAKING - DESCRIBE AN OBJECT

Answer order:
- Introduction
- Basic information
- Main information
- Opinion
- Conclusion
Topic:
Describe something you own that is important to you.
You should say:
- Where you got it from
- How long you have it
- What you use it for
And explain why it is important to you

Language:
1. Introduction
Describe something you own that is important to you.
I consider myself a technophile, so it’s hard for me to go a day without technological devices,
especially my phone. That’s why I’m going to talk about it.
2. Basic information
- Brief description.
- When you got it / Where you got it from / Who gave it to you?

*Adjectives to describe objects:

*Use Indirect Object to explain possession.

Examples:
- My parents bought me my first smartphone in…
- My brother gave it to me when I was sixteen.
Sample answer:
It was a present from my parents to congratulate me on my high school graduation four years ago, and it has
come in handy ever since. It was the latest high-end Android phone at that time with lots of cool apps and
functions, so you can tell how excited I was when I got it because I’d never used a smart phone before.

3. Main information
- How often you use it.
- Purpose / Function (what you use it for)
- Evaluate the object.
*Expressions for uses:
- can help people to + V
- it is used to do/for doing sth
- is useful/great for V-ing
- it allows sb to do sth
Examples:
- This phone is useful for keeping in touch with my friends.
- The computer can help people to search for an unlimited source of information on the Internet.
*Phrases for First/Last time:
Examples:
- The first time I used a computer was about 10 years ago.
- The last time I saw the painting was in 2010.
- I first used a computer about 100 years ago.
- I last saw the painting in 2010.
Sample answer:
My phone is with me most of the time and even though I know it’s not good for my eyesight, I can’t help
but use it on a daily basis and for more than 6 hours a day. I can’t deny that this multifunctional device has
a big influence on my life, both positively and negatively. Although it is not the most cutting-edge phone, it
is the perfect device for all of my needs. I no longer need dictionaries, notebooks, a camera, a music player
or a TV because now I can look up new words, take notes, capture photos, listen to music and watch films on
the screen of my phone quite easily
In replacement of a heavy bulky laptop, my pocket-sized phone also allows me to create and edit documents
on the move. On top of that, it saves me a lot of time and money going to stores thanks to online shopping and
notifications of when there are special offers.
*Adjectives:
Age: state-of-the-art, brand-new, cutting-edge, old-fashioned, dated
Appearance: eye-catching
Value: over-priced, prohibitively expensive, reasonably-priced, good value for money, budget, a waste of
money

4. Opinion.
- How you feel about it (benefit / drawback)
- Your hope / intention
*Words and phrases for attachment to the object:
- It makes me feel…
- Whenever I do something, I feel…
- It reminds me of…
- I couldn’t bear to part with …
- It’s important/indispensable to me because…
*Use Second & Third conditionals for expressing the importance of objects.

Sample answer:
All in all, my phone is an essential part of my life. It holds my contacts, my photos, and my music collection.
I've got instant access to my favourite websites. It's like having my whole life in my pocket. I couldn't live
without it.
That being said, I feel somewhat over-dependent on it. If my phone suddenly runs out of battery or I forget it
at home when I am outside, I may feel vulnerable and lonely. This phone has helped me a lot with my work
and study but I am thinking of reducing the time using it for my well-being.

5. Conclusion.
So that’s all I want to say about this topic.

PRACTICE

Object 1: something useful

Describe something useful you use every day.
You should say:
What the object is
When you had it
What you use it for
And explain why it is useful to you

Suggestion
Many people describe computer or mobile phones. These are fine but you must remember to use some complex
language in your description – don’t just list the different functions and features.
Uncommon vocabulary
versatile Multipurpose
valuable to sb Multi-functional
make use of indispensable
Grammar point
You can use many different tenses for this topic:
I make use of it …
I’ve had it for 2 years …
I originally bought it ….
My life would be difficult without it because …
I couldn’t imagine life without it.

Object 2: An object you use every day

Describe an object you use every day.
You should say:
What you use it for
Whether other people use it
How your life would be harder without it.
And explain why you use it every day
Suggestion
Exactly the same as Object 1: Something useful.
Object 3: A piece of equipment you use every day
Describe a piece of equipment you use every day.
You should say:
What the piece of equipment is
What you use it for
Whether other people use it
And explain whether your life would be harder without it.
Suggestion
Exactly the same as Object 1: Something useful.

Object 4: Something electronic that you use often

Describe something electronic that you use often.
You should say:
What it is
Where / When you bought it
What you use it for
How your life would be harder without it.
Suggestion
Exactly the same as Object 1: Something useful.
Part 3 questions:
Products:
- What kinds of products are mostly imported into your country?
- In your opinion, why do some people like to buy imported products?
- Let’s move on to local products. What are some famous local products in your country?
- Do you think a country should make everything it needs or import some things?
- What are the disadvantages of a country producing everything it needs?
- Finally, let’s talk about globalisation. Do you think the globalisation of industries and commerce is a good
thing?
- What are the impacts of globalization on international trade?

Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery

Describe an item of clothing or jewellery that you like to wear.
You should say:
Where / When you bought it
What it looks like
How often you wear it.
And explain why you like it.
Suggestion
Clothing is quite hard to describe. It is probably easier to describe an old watch that you own. (Lie if you don’t
own one!)
Uncommon Vocabulary
Antique Hand down
Of great personal value precious
Old-fashioned design show of
Grammar Point
You can use a mix of past tenses:
I’ve had it for years.
It was made in 1903.
It has been repaired a couple of times.
It used to belong to my great-grandmother.

Part 3 questions:
Clothing:
- Can clothing tell you much about a person in your country?
- Do people still wear traditional clothing in your country?
- How has clothing fashion changed in your country over the last few decades?
- Let’s move on from clothing to uniforms. Why do some companies ask their staff to wear uniforms?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of having uniforms at work?
- For which jobs are people required to wear a uniform in your country?
- Do you think people are treated differently when they are in uniform?

Object 6: Something old

Describe something old which has been in your family for a long time.
You should say:
How old it is
What it is used for
Whether it is valuable
And explain why your family still keeps it.
Suggestion
Exactly the same as Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery.

Object 7: A piece of furniture

Describe a piece of furniture in your home.
You should say:
What it is
What it looks like
What it is used for
Whether it was expensive.
Suggestion
This is quite difficult if you choose something basic like a sofa or bed. It is a good idea to lie for this topic –
describe an antique piece of furniture. You can use some of language and phrases from Object 5: An item of
clothing or jewellery.
Uncommon Vocabulary
Ornamental decorative
delicate fragile
Part 3 questions:
Furniture:
- In what situations do people in your country buy furniture?
- In families in your country, who usually decides what furniture to buy for the home?
- How do people in your country decide what furniture to buy for the home or office?
- Do people in your country prefer traditional or modern styles of furniture?

Object 8: Describe something expensive you would like to buy.

You should say:
What the thing is
Why you would like to buy it
What you would use it for
and explain whether you think you will buy this thing in the future.
Suggestion
Choose something like a smart phone, a watch, or a car etc.
Uncommon Vocabulary
Extravagant luxurious
show off pricey(=expensive)
status price-tag
symbol
Grammar Point: Use conditional structures and would like to structure
It’s just a fantasy; I doubt I’ll ever be able to afford this.
If I owned this item I might use it to...
I would most probably use it to...
I would save money to buy it.
Part 3 questions:
Money:
- Is money important to you?
- What is the relationship between money and power?
- Let’s move on to teaching children about money. How do you think parents can teach the value of money to
their children?
- Do you think it is important to teach children money skills?
- Should we let children buy whatever they want with money they’ve saved?
Shopping:
- Is shopping a popular activity in your country
- How have shopping habits changed over recent years?
- To what extent do you think advertising affects the way people shop?
- Do you think shopping habits are likely to change in the future?

Object 9: Describe something colorful that you bought in the past

You should say:
Why you bought the item
What it looks like
What other people think/thought of it
and explain how you feel/felt about this item

Object 10: A gift or present you have received

Describe a gift or present you have received.
You should say:
What the gift was
Who gave it to you
And say how you felt when you received it.
Suggestion
Use the same content as Object 5: An item of clothing or jewellery. Say that one of your family members gave
you this old piece of family jewellery as a birthday gift or graduation gift.
Part 3 questions: Gifts
- Why do people give gifts in our society?
- Why do some people like to give handmade gifts instead of purchasing them in a store?
- What kind of educational gifts can be given to children?
- Let’s talk about giving money to children as a gift. Do you think is it good to give money to children as a
gift?
- When do you think giving money as a gift to children is a good idea? Why?