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IELTS Speaking Part 2: Individual Long Run - 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 a piece of technology that you find difficult to use.

You should say:

• what it is
• when you bought or got it
• how it is useful 

and explain why you find it difficult to use.

[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.]

[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]

Model Answer 1:

Introduction:
I must say that it is quite an interesting topic to talk about! Well, one piece of technology that I find particularly difficult to use is "Adobe Premiere Pro" - which is an advanced video editing software. As someone who is planning to start a YouTube channel as a vlogger, I recognised the need for high-quality video editing to enhance my content. So I need to learn this.

What it is:
"Adobe Premiere Pro" is a professional video editing software widely used in the film and media industry. It offers a plethora of features, including multi-track editing, advanced colour grading, and various special effects. These capabilities make it an incredibly powerful tool for creating polished and engaging videos.

When you bought or got it:
I purchased a subscription to Adobe Premiere Pro a couple of months ago in preparation for my upcoming vlogging project.

How it is useful:
The software is immensely useful because it allows for precise control over video editing, enabling users to cut, splice, and arrange video clips seamlessly. Additionally, it supports various file formats and integrates well with other Adobe products, which is beneficial for creating complex projects involving graphics and audio.

And explain why you find it difficult to use:
Despite its advantages, I find Adobe Premiere Pro difficult to use due to its complex interface and the sheer number of features available. When I first opened the software, I was overwhelmed by the layout and terminology. Understanding how to navigate the timeline, layers, and multiple editing tools felt daunting. Additionally, the learning curve is steep; it takes time to become proficient in using shortcuts and mastering the various functions. This complexity can be frustrating, as I want to create high-quality content quickly without getting bogged down in technical details.

Model Answer 2:

Introduction:
Oh, speaking about this topic should be easy for me as I often find using new technology a bit more difficult than others! And a piece of technology that I find difficult to use (I still do!) is my Samsung Galaxy Watch. I got it as a gift recently, and despite its impressive features, I’ve found it somewhat challenging to navigate and fully utilise.

What it is:
The Samsung Galaxy Watch is a state-of-the-art smartwatch that boasts a range of functionalities, including fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and the ability to make calls, send messages, and interact with various apps directly from your wrist. It’s an advanced piece of technology designed to make daily life more convenient by offering instant access to important information and tasks.

When you bought or got it:
I received the Samsung Galaxy Watch as a gift around two months ago. At the time, I was excited about its potential to help me stay on top of my health and productivity, as well as to stay connected while on the go. It was a birthday gift from one of my uncles.

How it is useful:
For me, this smartwatch is useful in several ways. It can track my physical activities, such as steps, calories burned, and workouts, giving me real-time insights into my health. It also monitors my sleep patterns and provides suggestions to improve my rest. The watch helps me manage notifications and messages from my phone without needing to take the phone out of my pocket, which can be especially convenient when I’m busy or exercising. Furthermore, it allows me to control music, make calls, and even pay using Samsung Pay, all from my wrist.

And explain why you find it difficult to use:
Well, although the Samsung Galaxy Watch has all these incredible features, I find it difficult to use primarily because of its complicated interface and the number of functions it offers. The touchscreen and physical bezel controls can sometimes be difficult to navigate, especially when I’m in a rush. Many of the settings and features require a steep learning curve to master for a non-technical person like me, which can be frustrating. For instance, syncing it with my phone took longer than expected, and some of the advanced health tracking features are not very intuitive, making it hard for me to get the most out of them. Additionally, managing notifications and using apps on such a small screen can be cumbersome, and I often end up unintentionally activating functions or missing important alerts.

Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:

Sometimes, new technologies can be challenging to use, especially when they come with advanced features or complex interfaces. Here are some ideas that you can use to describe a piece of technology that you may find difficult to use:

1. Advanced Video Editing Software:
For example, you might talk about using Adobe Premiere Pro, which you bought a few months ago when you decided to start video editing. The software is extremely useful for creating professional-quality videos, but the vast array of features and complex interface make it hard to learn. You find it difficult to use because of the steep learning curve and the numerous settings that can be overwhelming.

2. Smart Home System:
You might have recently installed a smart home system like Amazon Alexa or Google Home. It’s very useful for controlling lights, appliances, and security systems through voice commands. However, you find it challenging to use because of the complex integration with various devices and occasional connectivity issues.

3. High-End DSLR Camera:
You bought a professional DSLR camera a year ago to pursue your passion for photography. It is useful for capturing high-resolution images, but the problem is mastering the manual settings like ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. You find it difficult because the camera settings are quite technical and require in-depth knowledge to get the perfect shot.

4. Smartwatch:
You received a Samsung Galaxy Watch as a gift a few months ago. It’s useful for tracking your fitness, monitoring your heart rate, and receiving notifications. However, you find it complicated because of the intricate menus and syncing issues with your phone, making it frustrating at times.

5. Graphic Design Software:
You started using Adobe Illustrator when you enrolled in a design course. It’s highly useful for creating vector graphics and professional designs, but the abundance of tools and options makes it hard to grasp. You often struggle to remember how to use different functions effectively.

6. Drone with Advanced Controls:
You bought a drone with a high-resolution camera for aerial photography. It’s fantastic for capturing stunning landscape views, but you find it difficult to control due to the advanced navigation features and complex remote settings. You often worry about crashing it while trying to maneuver.

7. Virtual Reality (VR) Headset:
You got a VR headset to experience immersive gaming. It’s exciting and useful for entertainment, but you find it hard to adjust the settings properly, and sometimes you feel dizzy after prolonged use. Calibration issues also make it challenging to get the desired experience.

8. 3D Printer:
You purchased a 3D printer to create custom objects for your project. It’s useful for prototyping and crafting unique designs. However, you find it difficult because of the intricate calibration, material settings, and troubleshooting when the print quality is poor.

9. Advanced Sound Mixer:
You bought an audio mixer for your home studio setup to produce high-quality music. It’s useful for combining multiple sound inputs, but the numerous knobs, dials, and settings make it overwhelming to configure. You often struggle to get the audio balance right.

10. Complex Project Management Software:
You started using software like Microsoft Project for work. It’s essential for planning and tracking tasks, but you find it hard to navigate due to its dense interface and overwhelming features. It takes a lot of time to understand how to generate accurate reports.

These ideas offer a variety of technological items that can be challenging to use. Choose one that you are familiar with and build your response around it.

Vocabulary for this topic:

When describing technology that's difficult to use, you can enhance your response with the following vocabulary and phrases:

User interface (UI) – The layout and design through which users interact with technology.
Steep learning curve – A situation in which technology is difficult to learn initially.
Intuitive – Easy to understand or operate without explicit instructions (often used negatively when difficult).
Overwhelming – Describes something complicated, causing confusion or frustration.
Complex integration – Difficulty in connecting and coordinating different technologies or devices.
Feature-rich – Having many advanced options or functionalities.
Intricate – Complicated; containing many detailed elements that are hard to understand.
Calibration – The act of adjusting settings precisely for proper functionality.
Compatibility issues – Problems that occur when two systems or devices don’t work well together.
Troubleshooting – Identifying and fixing technical problems.
Configuration – The arrangement or setup of a device or software to make it operational.
Technical jargon – Specialized vocabulary that makes instructions difficult to understand.
Firmware updates – Software updates needed for devices, sometimes complicated to install correctly.
Synchronization (sync) – The process of coordinating data across multiple devices or platforms.
Glitch – A minor malfunction or unexpected technical problem that affects device usability.

Using these words will help you clearly explain why you find a particular piece of technology challenging and allow you to express your ideas with greater precision.

Part 3 - Details discussion:

Discussion topic: "Technology and education"

Q.  What is the best age for children to start computer lessons?
Q.  Do you think that schools should use more technology to help children learn?
Q.  Do you agree or disagree that computers will replace teachers one day?

Discussion topic: "Technology and society"

Q.  How much has technology improved how we communicate with each other?
Q.  Do you agree that there are still many more major technological innovations to be made?
Q.  Could you suggest some reasons why some people are deciding to reduce their use of technology?

Please visit the "Speaking Test 107: Part 3 - Details Discussion" for the answers to those questions.

If you prepare for the topic "Describe a piece of technology that you find difficult to use", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:

1) Describe a new piece of technology that you have recently started using.
2) Describe a piece of software that you often use.
3) Describe something that you use to help you in your studies or work.
4) Describe a technological device that you think helps you a lot.
5) Describe something you want to purchase.
6) Describe a piece of technology which you think will become popular in the future.

• IELTS Cue Card
• Candidate Task Card
• Speaking Part 2

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