Speaking Part 2 · ObjectsIn the May–Aug 2026 forecast
Describe Something You Use Every Day
In short
“Describe Something You Use Every Day” is a common IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card. You get 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1–2 minutes, covering all four points below. This page gives you a Band 9 model answer, an idea map so you can make it your own, the Part 3 follow-up questions with answers, and the vocabulary examiners reward.
The task card
Describe Something You Use Every Day. You should say:
- •What the object is
- •When and how often you use it
- •How you got it
- •And explain why you would find it hard to live without
Band 9 model answer
Okay, so the thing I'd like to talk about is my pair of wireless earbuds — a fairly ordinary set I bought a couple of years ago. I know it's hardly the most glamorous object in the world, but honestly, if you asked me what I reach for the most in a single day, it would be these, without a doubt. They're the very first thing I pop in when I leave the house and pretty much the last thing I take out before I go to sleep.
I use them almost constantly — I'd say I've got them in for four or five hours a day, easily. I actually ended up with them almost by accident. My old wired pair snapped on the way to work one morning, and I was so fed up with the tangled cable and the crackly sound that I marched into a shop that same lunchtime and bought the first decent-looking pair I could find. It was a bit of an impulse buy, to be honest, but it's turned out to be one of the better decisions I've made.
As for what I use them for, it's a real mix throughout the day. In the mornings I listen to podcasts or the news on my commute; during the day I'll play a bit of quiet background music while I'm working, which genuinely helps me concentrate; and in the evenings I use them for phone calls with my family, who live quite far away, so I can potter around the flat and chat hands-free. The noise cancellation is easily the feature I love most — with one tap it just blocks out the world around me.
The main reason I'd genuinely struggle without them, though, is that they've somehow become a little pocket of personal space that I can carry around with me anywhere. I remember one morning last winter when the battery had completely died and I'd forgotten to charge them the night before. I had to do the whole journey on a packed, noisy train with nothing in my ears, and I felt oddly exposed and irritable the entire way. That was the moment it really hit me how much I lean on them — not just for entertainment, but to create a little bubble of calm in an otherwise hectic day. They help me switch off, focus and unwind, all with the same tiny device, and I think that's why I've come to take them completely for granted.
So although they're just a small, everyday gadget that most people wouldn't look at twice, to me they're a perfect example of how something so simple can quietly become indispensable. If I lost them tomorrow, I'd almost certainly be back in that shop replacing them within the hour.
Make it your own: three angles
A piece of technology like a phone or earbuds
Easy to describe frequent use and to add an anecdote about a day it failed, which naturally brings in past tenses.
A simple non-tech object like a water bottle or a bag
Sounds fresh and genuine, and avoids the clichéd 'my phone' answer that examiners hear all day long.
Something with sentimental value you use daily
Gives you the emotional 'why' the last bullet asks for, so the answer feels personal rather than a product review.
What the examiner is listening for
Don't default to 'my phone' — a slightly less obvious object such as earbuds, a bag or a bottle sounds fresher. Spend most of your long turn on the final bullet, and slip in a short anecdote about a day the object failed you to show past tenses and genuine feeling.
Part 1 warm-up questions
- What is one thing you use every single day?
- Do you prefer buying new gadgets or keeping your old ones?
- Is there anything you owned as a child that you still use?
- Do you think people rely too much on their phones these days?
Part 3 follow-up questions & answers
Do you think people today own more possessions than they used to?
Definitely, without a doubt. Because things are so much cheaper to mass-produce now, the average person accumulates far more than their grandparents ever did — think of how many gadgets, clothes and appliances we all own. I'd say it's a mixed blessing, though, because a lot of it ends up unused and simply adds to clutter and waste.
Why do some people become so attached to their possessions?
I think it's usually because objects carry memories rather than just having a practical use. A watch might remind you of the person who gave it to you, for instance, so getting rid of it would feel like erasing part of your past. In that sense, we're often attached to the story behind the object rather than the object itself.
How has technology changed the objects we use every day?
Massively, I'd say. Devices like smartphones have swallowed up dozens of separate objects we used to rely on — cameras, maps, calculators, alarm clocks and so on. On the plus side it's incredibly convenient, but it also means we're now completely dependent on a single device, which can be a bit worrying when it breaks or the battery dies.
Is it better to buy expensive, long-lasting products or cheaper ones?
On the whole I lean towards buying fewer, better-made things, even if they cost more upfront. Cheap products tend to break quickly and end up in landfill, so they're often a false economy. That said, it really depends on the item — for something you'll only use once or twice, spending a fortune makes no sense at all.
Should schools teach children how to look after their belongings?
I think there's real value in it, yes. If children learn to repair and maintain things rather than throwing them away, they grow up more responsible and less wasteful. It doesn't need to be a formal subject, but building those habits early would benefit both them and the environment.
Do you think we will use fewer physical objects in the future?
Quite possibly, at least when it comes to things that can be digitised, like books, tickets and money. However, I don't think physical objects will ever disappear entirely, because people still crave tangible things they can hold and own. So I'd expect a gradual shift rather than everything going digital overnight.
Why do some people choose to own fewer things, like minimalists?
I think a lot of it is a reaction against consumerism and the stress that clutter can cause. People who adopt minimalism often say that owning less actually gives them more freedom and mental clarity. Personally I can see the appeal, though I'd probably find it hard to be quite that disciplined myself.
Useful vocabulary
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| an impulse buy | something you buy suddenly without planning to |
| indispensable | so useful that you cannot manage without it |
| to reach for something | to move to pick up or use something, often out of habit |
| noise cancellation | technology that blocks out background sound |
| to switch off | to stop thinking about work or stress and relax |
| hands-free | able to be used without holding it in your hands |
| to lean on something | to depend on it for support or comfort |
| to take something for granted | to fail to appreciate something until it is gone |
| a mixed blessing | something that has both good and bad sides |
| a false economy | an apparent saving that actually costs you more later |
More cue cards
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