Topic: Product
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Describe something you bought but difficult to use at first
You should say:
- What it was
- Where you bought it
- How you used it successfully
- And how you felt about it
Sample Answer
I’d like to talk about my mobile phone.
I’m not a tech-savvy person(1) , and it is challenging for me to adopt new technologies. Therefore, I have a tendency to (2) keep using my outdated phone until it’s broken. Until a year ago, I had been using my iPhone 5. However, it was suddenly broken, so I had no choice but to buy a new one. I decided to buy Samsung J7 Prime because it was highly recommended on the Internet at that time, and the most important thing is that it was affordable(3) .
Although it was said to be very user-friendly(4) , I had a lot of trouble (5) using it at first. The reason is that iOS and android are different in many ways: interface, icons of applications, and after using iPhone 5 for quite a long time, I struggled a lot to get used to the android system of this phone.
When I first got the phone, I couldn’t even work out how to do simple things such as adding contacts to my phone. I was totally baffled(6) . The problem was that there were no specific instructions for doing such things, so I needed to go online and find out. Sometimes, even though I followed the instructions I had found online, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. And sometimes, I couldn’t be bothered, so I just tried to do things on my own.
However, once I could use it smoothly, it turned out to be way too awesome(7) . The phone has a good design and is quite light. I can fit it easily into my pocket. Besides, the bigger screen allows me to enjoy videos, and I can take photos with better quality and save a lot of them on my phone. Now that I’ve come to like this phone very much, I’m not planning to change to a new one any time soon.
Vocabulary:
- A tech-savvy person /tekˈsæv.i/ /ˈpɜː. sən/
Ex: The state needs more tech-savvy workers for its hi-tech industries. - To have a tendency to do something:
Ex: She’s one of those authors who has a tendency to overwrite. - To be affordable /əˈfɔː.də.bəl/:
Ex: Affordable housing isn’t enough we also need job opportunities. - To be user-friendly /ˌjuː.zəˈfrend.li/:
Ex: This software is very user-friendly. - To have trouble doing something:
Ex: Parents often have trouble finding good carers for their children. - To be baffled /ˈbæf.əld/:
Ex: She was completely baffled by his strange behaviour. - Way /weɪ/ too much:
Ex: She spends way too much money on clothes.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
- What kinds of products do young people think are useful but old people may not?
The first product that came to mind is makeup. While young people care a lot about their appearance, especially when going to work or hanging out, many old people find putting on makeup time-consuming. Also, some old people don’t like technology devices. These people struggle a lot when trying to use smartphones or tablets and often turn to their tech-savvy children for help.
- Do you think product instructions are useful for users to use products better?
Definitely! Product instructions ensure that customers can use the products properly. Besides, I think some safety tips should also be involved in the instructions, as these tips play an important role in minimizing the risks of accidents happening when using the products.
- What do you usually do if you don’t know how to use the things you have bought?
The first solution I will take is to look at the product instructions. After that, I may try to look for some information on the Internet, either by reading the FAQs section on the company’s website or asking other users on social media. Finally, if I still can’t solve the problem, I’ll call the customer service department of the company.
- Do you think it is necessary to produce many new products nowadays?
Yes, I do think so. New products offer new value to customers, which can facilitate their work or leisure activities, allowing them to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle. Besides, new products allow companies to increase their revenue, and this contributes greatly to the economic development of nations.
