Ashore for webTry a mock test
Part 2 cue card · Objects · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe a piece of technology (not a phone) that you would like to own.

Describe a piece of technology (not a phone) that you would like to own.

You should say:

  • ·what it is
  • ·how much it costs
  • ·how you knew it

and explain why you would like to own it.

One minute to prepare, up to two minutes to talk. Then Part 3 asks the questions below.

Sample answers

Two answers to the same card

Same story, two levels. Both were written by Ashore, then checked against the public band descriptors in a separate pass. The bands are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.

A simpler answer

Checked at band 6.5 · 174 words

I'd like to own a robot vacuum cleaner. It is a small machine that moves around the floor and cleans up dust. I live in an apartment, and the floors get dirty quite quickly because I cook at home and come in from outside every day. The model I have looked at costs about 2,000 yuan, which is a little expensive for me, but I think it is a fair price for something I could use for years. I first knew about this kind of cleaner from a friend. She bought one last year and told me it saved her time. I also saw it working when I visited her home. It moved around the chairs and went under the sofa, so I thought it was useful. I would like to own one because cleaning takes time after work. I could turn it on while I made dinner or relaxed, and it would keep the floor clean. I would still need to clean some corners myself, but it would make my daily life easier.

  • Give a reason · “because I cook at home”
  • Add a specific experience · “I also saw it working”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7.5 · 239 words

I'd really like to own a robot vacuum cleaner, the kind that can map out a room and clean without being pushed around. I live in a small apartment, but the floor still gets dusty fast, especially near the kitchen, where crumbs seem to appear as soon as I’ve finished cooking. The model I’ve been looking at costs roughly 2,000 yuan. That’s not a small amount for me, so I’d probably have to save up for it, but it seems reasonable if it lasts several years and gets used most days.

I first heard about these cleaners from a friend who bought one last year. When I visited her, she showed me how it worked: it went around the table legs, slipped under the sofa, and returned to its charging station by itself. I was surprised that it could handle an untidy room without much help, and she said it had cut down the time she spent sweeping.

The main reason I’d want one is to make housework less of a chore after work. If I could set it to run while I cooked or had a rest, I’d come back to a cleaner floor without having to think about it. It wouldn’t replace a proper clean, since it might miss corners or get stuck, but it would take care of the everyday dust. For me, that small bit of extra time and comfort would make it worth owning.

  • Specific setting · “especially near the kitchen”
  • Natural collocation · “save up for it”
  • Action detail · “returned to its charging station”
  • Develop with a conditional · “If I could set it to run”
  • Add a concession · “It wouldn’t replace a proper clean”
Angles

2 ways to answer it

  1. 1An e-reader you tried at a classmate’s, for reading on the commute without notifications
  2. 2A robot vacuum you saw at a friend’s, to save time on daily cleaning
Expressions

4 expressions that fit this card

save me a lot of hassle
make a task much less troublesome
worth the investment
useful enough to justify the cost
cut down on distractions
reduce things that interrupt attention
do some research before buying
compare information before making a purchase
Part 3

The questions that follow

After the long turn, Part 3 asks bigger questions on the same theme. Each one comes with two points you can build an answer from.

  1. 1

    What are the differences between the technology of the past and that of today?

    • ·Older devices often had one purpose, while newer products combine many functions.
    • ·Greater connectivity also brings maintenance and privacy challenges.
  2. 2

    What technology do young people like to use?

    • ·Young people often use tools for study, communication and entertainment.
    • ·Budget and needs matter, so not everyone seeks the latest model.
  3. 3

    What are the differences between online and face-to-face communication?

    • ·Online contact bridges distance but may miss tone and expression.
    • ·Meeting in person suits complex discussions and spontaneous conversation.
  4. 4

    Do you think technology has changed the way people communicate?

    • ·Instant messaging makes contact more frequent and sustains distant relationships.
    • ·It can interrupt in-person time, so deliberate phone-free moments may help.
Stories

One story, many cards

This card fits this story. Prepare the story once and you can bend it to every card listed with it on the season page.

  • A driven classmate or colleague

    Someone with a clear goal: what they want to become, how they study or work, a problem they solved.

Say it out loud and get a band score