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Part 2 cue card · Events · Retained in September–December 2026

Describe a challenging technological problem you faced.

Describe a challenging technological problem you faced.

You should say:

  • ·what the problem was
  • ·when it happened
  • ·how you tried to solve it
  • ·who helped you

and explain how you felt about 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 · 162 words

A challenging technological problem I faced was when my laptop suddenly stopped working. It happened last year, the night before an online job interview. I pressed the power button, but nothing appeared on the screen, so I felt quite worried because I needed the laptop for the interview.

I first checked the charger and tried a different socket, but that didn’t help. Then I searched online using my phone and followed a few simple instructions, such as holding down the power button for a while. The laptop still wouldn’t start, so I called my younger brother. He knows more about computers than I do, and he suggested connecting the laptop to another charger. Luckily, that worked, and the battery started charging again.

I was very relieved because I could use the laptop for my interview the next morning. It was a stressful experience, but I also felt glad that I hadn’t given up and that my brother was able to help me.

  • Set the scene · “the night before an online job interview”
  • Explain the result · “that worked, and the battery started charging again”

A stronger answer

Checked at band 7.5 · 242 words

Honestly, the most challenging tech problem I’ve had was my laptop refusing to turn on the night before an online job interview last year. I use it for work and video calls, so I was particularly anxious about being unable to join the interview the next morning.

At first, I checked the charger and tried a different socket, which seemed like the obvious thing to do, but the screen stayed completely black. I then used my phone to look up possible fixes and followed a guide that suggested holding the power button down for about fifteen seconds. I also unplugged everything and tried restarting it, but none of that worked. By then, I was starting to panic because it was already late and I didn’t have another computer at home.

I called my younger brother, who’s much more comfortable with technology than I am. He asked me to test the laptop with his spare charger, so I went over to his flat. As soon as I plugged it in, a small charging light came on. It turned out my charger had stopped working, rather than the laptop itself. If he hadn’t had a spare one, I might have had to borrow a computer from a neighbour at the last minute.

I felt a huge sense of relief, and I was grateful that he stayed calm when I was getting stressed. The experience also reminded me to keep a backup charger somewhere handy.

  • Describe the problem · “refusing to turn on the night before an online job interview”
  • Detail an attempt · “followed a guide that suggested holding the power button down”
  • Add a personal detail · “who’s much more comfortable with technology than I am”
  • Add a hypothetical · “If he hadn’t had a spare one”
  • Draw a lesson · “keep a backup charger somewhere handy”
Angles

3 ways to answer it

  1. 1Your laptop crashing the night before your thesis was due: finding an old copy in the cloud
  2. 2Your mic failing in an online class: the teacher calling on you and only silence
  3. 3Setting up a Wi-Fi router alone: a whole afternoon following tutorial videos
Expressions

5 expressions that fit this card

crashed out of nowhere
stopped working suddenly
tried everything I could think of
tried every possible fix
a step-by-step guide
instructions in order
back up my files
save copies of files
a huge relief
a great feeling of calm after worry
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

    Why do older people often find it hard to use new technology?

    • ·Designs change fast and the text is tiny
    • ·They fear breaking things or being scammed
  2. 2

    Do you think people rely too much on technology nowadays?

    • ·A flat phone battery leaves people stuck
    • ·Technology makes life easier and faster
  3. 3

    How have the technology problems people face changed over time?

    • ·Once slow internet; now stolen accounts
    • ·More devices mean more connection issues
  4. 4

    Should schools teach students how to fix basic technology problems?

    • ·It's practical and saves on repair costs
    • ·Students can learn it online themselves
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 trip that went wrong

    A commute or short trip: the early start, the phone that died, the message nobody answered, what you did instead.

Say it out loud and get a band score