Cue Card Sample
Something you bought but did not use much - Cue Card # 654
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- Written by IELTS Mentor
IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
Describe something you bought but did not use much.
You should say:
- what you bought
- when you bought it
- why you bought it
and explain why you did not use it much.
[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:
We buy things either because we need them, or we like them. Sometimes we buy things just because we think we might need them! But, just because we buy something, we need, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we use it much. Sometimes, we don’t even use them at all, and leave them in a storeroom. One such thing, that I bought a few years ago, was a nice-looking and expensive sound system, made by a very famous German company. However, I scarcely used it ever.
It was a sound system which was really unique and special to me at the time of its purchase because of its many cool and advanced features. In fact, I bought the system after making very careful consideration of the coverage requirements for my rooms, the walls, the ceiling and the floors as so that the sound system could interact perfectly with its surroundings. Anyway, I bought the sound amplifier, of course, because I wanted to listen to some of my favourite soft rock and pop music in isolation from the crowds and noise of the “rest of the world”.
However, after using it for the first few weeks in a random fashion after buying it, I didn’t exactly use my favourite sound system much anymore mainly because I just didn’t have enough time. Besides, changing and resetting the speaker system, every time you want to listen to a different genre of songs, can be a bit frustrating and time-consuming. On top of that, my family members didn’t exactly like the way I was enjoying my “free time” by listening to music in isolation from the rest of my family.
Finally, I have a smartphone now in my hand which allows me to listen to my favourite songs with just a “click” of the buttons. But, just because I don’t use my speaker system much anymore, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I don’t like it anymore. In fact, I still like it just like the time when I bought it first, and I will keep it with me as long as I can!
Model Answer 2:
Introduction:
Thank you so much for the time and the topic. I can, in fact, remember several such items that I purchased and hardly used. One purchase that stands out when considering something I bought but did not use much is a barbecue grill. Here, I will talk about this item.
What you bought:
The barbecue grill was a deluxe model I purchased about three years ago from a special outdoor cooking store. It boasted multiple burners, a spacious cooking surface, and an array of additional features designed to elevate the outdoor cooking experience.
When you bought it:
I bought the barbecue grill during a summer sale three years ago or so, enticed by the promise of hosting memorable backyard cookouts and enjoying delicious grilled meals with friends and family.
Why you bought it:
Well, I was drawn to the idea of expanding my cooking skills beyond indoor cooking and exploring the art of grilling. The allure of sizzling steaks, juicy burgers, fish barbecue, and perfectly charred vegetables was irresistible at that time. Additionally, I also thought that it would be a perfect opportunity to invite a few friends and relatives and enjoy the outdoor barbecue party with them.
And explain why you did not use it much:
Despite my initial excitement and anticipation, I found that I had hardly used the barbecue grill. In fact, as far as I can recall, I used it only twice. I think unpredictable weather conditions just after buying the barbecue grill disrupted my outdoor cooking plans during the first couple of weeks, with unexpected rain showers or scorching heat waves deterring me from firing up the grill. Later on, I realised that the time and effort required for preheating the grill, preparing ingredients, and cleaning up afterwards seemed daunting, especially on busy weekdays when convenience was paramount. Moreover, as the novelty of owning a barbecue grill wore off, and the realities of maintenance and upkeep set in, I found myself gravitating back towards simpler, indoor cooking methods that better suited my lifestyle.
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