IELTS Speaking · Part 2 Cue Card
Describe something you own that is very important to you
A complete preparation guide: the cue card itself, a 60-second prep framework, a band 7.5 sample answer, topic vocabulary, and likely Part 3 follow-up questions.
Cue card
Describe something you own that is very important to you.
You should say:
- •What it is
- •How you got it
- •What you use it for
- •And explain why it is important to you
How to use your 1 minute of prep time
Specific to this cue card — not generic advice.
- 1Pick an object whose value is sentimental rather than expensive — easier to get to interesting language.
- 2Describe the physical object briefly, then move to the story attached to it.
- 3If possible, link the object to a person — that opens up richer vocabulary.
- 4Avoid phones, laptops, or cars unless you have a non-obvious angle.
Sample answer (band 7.5)
Read it once for shape, then aloud for rhythm. Don't memorise it — examiners can tell.
The object I want to talk about is a fountain pen that belonged to my grandfather. It's a Japanese Pilot pen, dark green with a gold nib, probably from the late 1970s. He used it to write his column in a regional newspaper for nearly thirty years, and when he passed away my grandmother gave it to me because I was the only grandchild who liked writing by hand. I use it almost every day, mainly for journaling and for handwritten letters, which I still send a few times a year. The ink it produces has a slightly thicker line than modern pens, and you have to write quite slowly with it, which is actually part of the appeal. It forces a different pace. The reason it's important isn't really the object itself — it's the continuity. When I write with it, I feel like I'm doing the same physical action my grandfather did for decades, and that's a very direct line back to him. It's also reminded me that some objects accumulate meaning the longer you use them, instead of losing it. Most things I own depreciate; this one does the opposite.
Topic vocabulary & collocations
Phrases used in the sample answer that lift fluency naturally.
gold nib
the writing tip of a fountain pen
by hand
manually, not on a computer
part of the appeal
one of the attractive features
a direct line back to
a strong connection to (someone in the past)
accumulate meaning
gather sentimental value over time
depreciate
lose value over time
Likely Part 3 follow-up questions
The examiner will move from your story (Part 2) to broader, abstract questions (Part 3). Prepare answers for these.
- Why do people often value old objects more than new ones?
- Should children be encouraged to take care of expensive belongings?
- Is the throwaway culture in modern society a serious problem?
- How are the things people consider valuable changing?
- Do digital items (photos, files) carry the same emotional weight as physical ones?
Common pitfalls on this card
- ⚠Describing a phone or laptop — too generic, hard to differentiate.
- ⚠Saying it's important without anchoring the importance in a specific person or moment.
- ⚠Spending the first 90 seconds describing the object's appearance.