IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe something expensive you have recently purchased.
You should say:
- what it is and when you purchased it
- whether you saved money for that
- where you purchased it from
and explain why you purchased this expensive item.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
I don’t really like to purchase any expensive item unless I have a very valid reason to do so. Of course, people would choose to define expensive differently, but I am not really debating here as to what really should be considered as expensive and what shouldn’t be. Instead, I am here to talk about an expensive item that I have purchased recently.
It is a branded bottle of perfume, and I bought it (more like “forced” to buy it) about a couple of months ago when I was visiting a new perfume store with one of my friends in my hometown. By the way, I do like to use different kinds of perfumes because the same scent or fragrance, if used for a long period of time, loses its appeal to me. So, I try to buy affordable perfumes at a more regular interval instead of spending a fortune on buying some expensive perfumes.
After visiting the new perfume store, I found that it was selling a lot of perfumes at a discounted price, apparently, in an effort to make the store popular with customers. However, I noticed that even though the perfumes were selling at a discounted rate, I felt that they were still expensive. But my friend thought otherwise and convinced me to purchase a certain perfume. I had never really bought this kind of perfume up until that day, nor was I too sure about saving any money, but one thing was for sure: the perfume would last for a considerably longer period of time.
Well, I purchased the expensive perfume, mainly because my friend had convinced me to do so. Of course, I also went along with his idea because I felt that it was a very nice perfume, and it would help me to change my taste in perfume for a little while. Finally, I bought it also because I wanted to build a good rapport with the new store so that if I ever go back to that store again in the future, it would offer me a better price.
Sample Answer 2:
Thank you for this nice topic that asks me to share one of my recent purchases that cost me a good amount of money. So, an expensive item that I’ve recently purchased is a Samsung Gaming Laptop, which cost me around 2500 USD. As a student, this is quite expensive, I would say.
The laptop I purchased is the latest-generation i9 laptop, and it came with the original Windows 11 operating system. I bought it about two months ago from a branded computer outlet, and they gave me a 2-year service warranty.
I had to save money to buy it. My previous laptop was getting old and slow, and I needed a new laptop with a better configuration to do most of my work without any hassle. I finalised my budget after comparing the prices and brands of different laptops almost 6 months ago, and I started saving money from then.
My father gave me 1200 USD, almost half of the total cost of the laptop, and the remaining half came from my savings. I saved the money from the amount I earned from my part-time jobs over a period of 5 to 6 months. Thus, I saved the amount required to purchase the laptop in my bank account and withdrew the whole amount before I purchased it.
I was so happy to have this new laptop, even though it cost me more than I could afford as a student. As my old laptop could not support the workload I needed to be done and was taking too much time even to start up, I needed a new laptop that would work faster and have a better configuration. So, I purchased it.
Model Answer 3:
Thank you very much for this really interesting topic. It gives me a great chance to talk about an expensive item that I purchased recently, which is a DSLR camera.
Well, I bought the camera about four and a half months ago. It’s a well-known model from the Canon camera brand, complete with a couple of interchangeable lenses. It certainly is an expensive item for me.
Yes, I absolutely had to save money to buy this camera. As a university student, shelling out a large sum of money spontaneously isn’t really an option. I had been planning to upgrade my camera equipment for about a year. I set aside a portion of the money I earned from a part-time job and also utilised some funds I had received as gifts over the past year. It wasn’t a quick saving process, but reaching the goal made the purchase feel much more pleasant.
I purchased the camera from a large electronics store located in the city centre. I chose a physical store rather than buying online because I wanted to feel the camera, test the lenses, and, most importantly, speak with a knowledgeable sales representative about its warranty terms and features. I spent about an hour talking to the staff, comparing different models, and getting advice on the best beginner lenses.
I purchased this expensive camera primarily because of my growing passion for photography. While I’ve enjoyed taking pictures with my smartphone, I felt I had reached a plateau with its capabilities. I wanted to move beyond simple snapshots and really dive into the technical aspects of photography, such as controlling depth of field, adjusting manual exposures, and experimenting with different types of lenses. This camera offers the versatility and professional quality needed to capture detailed images, especially in low-light conditions.
Idea Generation for this Topic:
This topic asks you to describe something expensive you have recently purchased. You should explain what the item is and when you bought it, whether you saved money for it, where you purchased it from, and why you decided to spend so much on it. To make your answer great, try to show your personal motivation, the financial effort behind the purchase, and how valuable or meaningful the item is to you. Here are a few ideas you can use to develop your own response:
1. A new smartphone:
The expensive item I purchased recently was a new smartphone, and I bought it two months ago when my old one started malfunctioning. I had saved money for several months because I wanted a model with better features. I bought it from an official store in a shopping mall. I chose it because I rely heavily on my phone for work, communication and photography, and investing in a reliable device felt necessary.
2. A high-performance laptop:
The item I bought recently was a powerful laptop, which I purchased right before a major work project. I saved for it gradually since I knew a good laptop would cost a lot. I bought it online from a trusted tech retailer. I purchased this expensive device because I needed fast processing, long battery life and smooth performance for both work and personal tasks.
3. A designer watch:
The expensive item I purchased was a designer watch, and I bought it last month as a gift for myself after reaching a personal milestone. I had saved money for several months because I wanted something durable and elegant. I purchased it from a well-known jewellery store in the city. I chose it because it felt symbolic — a reminder of my hard work and something timeless that I can cherish for years.
4. A piece of home furniture:
I recently bought an expensive wooden bookshelf for my living room, and I purchased it last week. I saved money for it because I wanted something high-quality and long-lasting. I bought it from a local furniture showroom that specialises in handcrafted pieces. I chose it because I needed proper storage for my growing book collection and wanted something that added character to my home.
5. A pair of noise-cancelling headphones:
The expensive item I bought recently was a pair of premium noise-cancelling headphones, which I purchased two months ago. I saved money for them because the model I wanted was quite costly. I ordered them from an official online store. I chose them because I spend a lot of time in noisy environments, and these headphones help me focus, relax and enjoy high-quality sound.
6. A gym membership package:
I purchased an annual gym membership recently, and it was quite expensive. I didn’t exactly save for it, but I planned my budget in advance. I bought it directly from a fitness centre near my home. I chose this expensive package because it includes personal training, special classes and advanced equipment that I felt would help me stay consistent with my fitness goals.
7. A DSLR camera:
I bought a DSLR camera recently, about six weeks ago, when I decided to take photography more seriously. I saved up for almost half a year because professional cameras are not cheap. I purchased it from a photography store that offered good after-sales service. I bought this expensive camera because I wanted to improve my skills and capture high-quality photos during my travels.
8. A premium mattress:
The expensive item I purchased recently was a premium memory foam mattress, which I bought three months ago. I saved money for it because I knew it would be a long-term investment. I bought it from a well-known mattress store in my city. I chose it because I was struggling with back pain, and getting good-quality sleep has become essential for my health.
9. A branded winter jacket:
I bought an expensive winter jacket recently, just before the cold season started. I didn’t save for a long time, but I set aside some budget for it. I purchased it from a branded clothing store at a shopping centre. I decided to buy it because I needed something warm, durable and stylish, especially for travelling during winter.
10. A set of kitchen appliances:
The expensive purchase I made recently was a set of modern kitchen appliances, which I bought when I moved into a new apartment. I had saved money gradually because I wanted reliable, high-quality products. I bought them from a large electronics store that offered a package discount. I purchased them because cooking is a big part of my routine, and having efficient appliances makes daily life so much easier.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing an expensive purchase, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey the value of the item, the financial effort required to obtain it, and your satisfaction with the decision. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the difference between a frivolous expense and a worthwhile investment, making your response both mature and descriptive. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Splurge: To spend money freely or extravagantly.
Example: After getting my bonus, I decided to splurge on a high-end designer watch.
Investment: The action or process of investing money for profit or material result.
Example: I view this expensive laptop not just as a gadget, but as a long-term investment in my career.
Cost an arm and a leg: To be extremely expensive.
Example: The car cost an arm and a leg, but it has always been my dream to own one.
Saved up: Accumulated money for a future purpose.
Example: I diligently saved up for six months to afford this vacation.
High-end: Denoting the most expensive of a range of products.
Example: It is a high-end appliance that offers features you can’t find in cheaper models.
Worth every penny: Used to say that something is worth the price, even if it is high.
Example: The sound quality is amazing, making the headphones worth every penny.
Budget: An estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.
Example: I had to strictly manage my budget for a while to make this purchase possible.
Extravagant: Lacking restraint in spending money or using resources.
Example: It felt a bit extravagant, but I wanted to treat myself for my birthday.
Premium: A sum added to an ordinary price or charge; of exceptional quality.
Example: I was willing to pay a premium price for the superior build quality.
Break the bank: To cost more than one can afford.
Example: I wanted a good phone, but I didn’t want to break the bank to get one.
Financial commitment: A promise to pay a sum of money.
Example: Buying a house is a massive financial commitment that requires careful planning.
Pricey: Expensive.
Example: The restaurant was a bit pricey, but the food was absolutely delicious.
Buyer’s remorse: A feeling of regret experienced after making a purchase.
Example: Thankfully, I have absolutely no buyer’s remorse because I use it every day.
Necessity: The fact of being required or indispensable.
Example: For me, a reliable vehicle is a necessity, not a luxury.
Treat myself: To do or buy something special for oneself.
Example: I decided to treat myself to a spa day after a very stressful month.
Top-of-the-line: – The best and most expensive in a category.
Example: I bought the top-of-the-line model because I wanted it to last for many years.
Similar Cue Card Topics
If you prepare for the topic “Describe something expensive you have recently purchased”, you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a product you have bought and felt happy about.
2) Describe something expensive you purchased and regretted.
3) Describe something you own which is very important to you.
4) Describe an expensive clothing item which you bought lately.
5) Describe something you purchased but had not used much.
6) Describe a luxury item you would like to own.
7) Describe something you liked and bought for your home.
8) Describe an expensive gift item you once received.
9) Describe a memorable gift you have ever received.
10) Describe a gift you gave to someone.