IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a situation when something in your house was broken and then repaired

Part 2: Describe a situation when something in your house was broken and then repaired

Suggested ideas for each part

• What was it?
  🖥️ Laptop / 🚿 Water heater / 📺 TV / 🚪 Door lock

• When it broke?
  ⏳ During an important task / ⚡ After a power surge / 💦 Due to wear and tear

• How you repaired it?
  🛠️ Fixed it yourself with YouTube tutorials / ☎️ Called a repair service / 🛒 Bought spare parts online

• How you felt?
  😤 Frustrated at first / 😌 Relieved when it was fixed / 🎓 Learned something useful

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple & past continuous
   • Last month, while I was working on my laptop, it suddenly stopped responding.
2. Passive voice
   • The water heater was repaired by a professional technician.
3. Cause and effect
   • Because I spilled water on my laptop, it started malfunctioning.
4. Conditional sentence (Type 2)
   • If I had known how to fix it earlier, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time.

Collocations

1. Essential household item 🏠 (vật dụng thiết yếu trong nhà)
2. Break down suddenly ⚡ (hỏng đột ngột)
3. Malfunction due to technical issues 🔧 (trục trặc do lỗi kỹ thuật)
4. Call a professional technician ☎️ (gọi thợ sửa chuyên nghiệp)
5. Do a DIY repair 🛠️ (tự sửa chữa tại nhà)
6. Feel a sense of accomplishment 🎉 (cảm thấy thành tựu)
7. Temporary fix ⏳ (sửa chữa tạm thời)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

Let me tell you about a time when my laptop broke down suddenly ⚡, and I had to go through quite a struggle to fix it.

It happened about three months ago, just a few days before an important deadline. I was working late at night, writing a long report when, out of nowhere, my laptop screen froze. I tried everything—clicking the mouse, pressing different keys, and even restarting it—but nothing worked. I felt really frustrated and panicked 😖 because I hadn’t saved my work, and I was afraid I would lose everything.

At first, I didn’t know what to do. I searched online for solutions 🔍 and found out that it could be an overheating problem. So, I turned off my laptop and let it cool down for a while. Unfortunately, when I turned it back on, the problem was still there. That’s when I realized I had to take matters into my own hands 🤲 and try to fix it myself.

I watched a step-by-step tutorial on YouTube 📺 and decided to open up my laptop for the first time. It was quite nerve-wracking because I had never done anything like this before. I carefully removed the back cover, and to my surprise, the cooling fan was covered in dust and dirt 😳! No wonder my laptop wasn’t working properly! So, I used a small brush and some compressed air to clean the fan thoroughly 🧹. I also replaced the thermal paste on the processor, which I had never even heard of before, but the tutorial explained it well.

After putting everything back together, I pressed the power button, hoping for the best. To my huge relief, my laptop turned on as if nothing had happened! It felt like such a big achievement 🎉. I was proud of myself because I managed to repair it without spending money on a technician.

From that experience, I learned a valuable lesson: taking care of electronic devices is super important. Now, I make sure to clean my laptop regularly and avoid overloading it with too many programs at once. Looking back, even though it was a stressful situation, I actually enjoyed the process of learning how to fix something on my own. And who knows? Maybe next time, I’ll be able to repair something even more complicated! 😆

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. What are the common home appliances that people use these days?

Ideas

• 🍳 Kitchen appliances (microwave, refrigerator, rice cooker)
• 📱 Entertainment devices (TV, gaming consoles, smart speakers)
• 🧹 Household helpers (vacuum cleaner, washing machine)

Collocations

1. Time-saving appliances ⏳ (thiết bị tiết kiệm thời gian)
2. Energy-efficient technology 🔋 (công nghệ tiết kiệm năng lượng)
3. Smart home devices 🏡📱 (thiết bị nhà thông minh)

Sample answer

These days, most households use a variety of time-saving appliances ⏳. In the kitchen, people rely on refrigerators, microwaves, and rice cookers 🍳. For entertainment, smart TVs and gaming consoles are very popular 📱. There are also energy-efficient technologies 🔋 like modern washing machines and robotic vacuum cleaners that make daily chores easier. Additionally, many families are investing in smart home devices 🏡📱, such as voice-controlled lighting and security systems.

2. Do you think modern technology makes people lazier?

Ideas

• ✅ Yes: Less physical activity due to automation
• ❌ No: Technology improves efficiency, not laziness

Collocations

1. Reduce physical effort 🏋️‍♂️➡️📱 (giảm công sức lao động)
2. Encourage a sedentary lifestyle 🛋️ (khuyến khích lối sống ít vận động)
3. Boost productivity 🚀 (tăng năng suất làm việc)

Sample answer

It depends. On one hand, modern technology helps us reduce physical effort 🏋️‍♂️➡️📱 by automating daily tasks, which can make people less active. For example, people can order food with a few taps on their phone instead of cooking. This may encourage a sedentary lifestyle 🛋️. However, I believe technology actually boosts productivity 🚀 rather than making people lazy. It allows people to work more efficiently and have more free time for hobbies and exercise.

3. What can people do to protect their equipment from technical problems?

Ideas

• 🔋 Use surge protectors to prevent damage
• 🧹 Clean and maintain devices regularly
• 📤 Update software and back up important data

Collocations

1. Preventive maintenance 🛠️ (bảo trì phòng ngừa)
2. Prolong the lifespan ⏳ (kéo dài tuổi thọ)
3. Take necessary precautions ⚠️ (thực hiện các biện pháp phòng tránh)

Sample answer

To avoid technical problems, people should focus on preventive maintenance 🛠️. For example, cleaning electronic devices regularly can help prolong their lifespan ⏳. It’s also important to take necessary precautions ⚠️, such as using surge protectors and keeping software updated. Additionally, backing up important data is crucial in case of unexpected failures.

4. When an electronic item of yours does not work, would you repair it or buy a new one?

Ideas

• 🛠️ Repair: If it’s a minor issue or cost-effective to fix
• 🛒 Replace: If repairs are too expensive

Collocations

1. Cost-effective solution 💰 (giải pháp tiết kiệm chi phí)
2. Environmentally friendly choice 🌱 (lựa chọn thân thiện với môi trường)
3. Weigh the pros and cons ⚖️ (cân nhắc lợi hại)

Sample answer

It depends on the situation. If the repair is a cost-effective solution 💰, I prefer to fix it rather than waste money on a new one. Plus, repairing is an environmentally friendly choice 🌱 because it reduces electronic waste. However, if the item is old and keeps breaking down, I might weigh the pros and cons ⚖️ and decide to replace it with a more efficient model.

5. Are you good at handling problems on your own?

Ideas

• ✅ Yes: I enjoy troubleshooting and problem-solving 🧠
• 🤷 Sometimes: I can handle minor issues but need help with complex ones
• ❌ No: I prefer to call professionals instead of making things worse

Collocations

1. Think on one’s feet 🏃‍♂️💡 (ứng biến nhanh chóng)
2. Take matters into one’s own hands 🤲 (tự giải quyết vấn đề)
3. Seek professional help 📞 (nhờ đến chuyên gia giúp đỡ)

Sample answer

I would say I’m fairly good at handling problems on my own 🤔. When something breaks, I usually try to think on my feet 🏃‍♂️💡 and come up with a quick solution. For example, when my laptop stopped working, I watched a YouTube tutorial and fixed it myself instead of rushing to buy a new one. However, if the issue is beyond my ability, I have no problem seeking professional help 📞 because sometimes, it’s better to let an expert handle it.

6. Are IT-related jobs valued more by society?

Ideas

• ✅ Yes: The demand for tech professionals is growing 📈
• 💰 High salaries: IT specialists are well-paid
• 👨‍💻 Impact: They play a crucial role in modern life

Collocations

1. In high demand 📈 (có nhu cầu cao)
2. Lucrative career 💰 (nghề nghiệp sinh lợi)
3. Technological advancements 🚀 (sự tiến bộ công nghệ)

Sample answer

Yes, IT-related jobs are definitely in high demand 📈 in today’s digital world. Technology is advancing rapidly, and skilled IT professionals are needed in almost every industry. This field is also considered a lucrative career 💰 because companies are willing to pay high salaries for talented programmers, data analysts, and cybersecurity experts. Moreover, IT experts contribute to technological advancements 🚀 that make life more convenient, which is why society values them so much.