IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a Thing You Cannot Live Without (Except a Cell Phone or Computer) 🎒

Describe a Thing You Cannot Live Without (Except a Cell Phone or Computer) 🎒

Suggested Ideas for Each Part

• What it is 🏷️

  • A wristwatch ⌚ (Helps keep track of time without checking a phone)
  • A backpack 🎒 (Carries all essentials when going out)
  • A water bottle 🍼 (Keeps you hydrated throughout the day)
  • A book 📖 (For relaxation and learning)

• Why you can’t manage without it ⏳

  • It’s essential for daily activities.
  • It helps me stay organized and prepared.
  • It brings comfort or has sentimental value.

• How long you have had it for 🕰️

  • For many years, since childhood
  • A recent gift that I immediately became attached to
  • Something I have upgraded over time but always needed

• How you felt when you were without it 😰

  • Lost and unorganized
  • Uncomfortable or anxious
  • Frustrated but learned to adapt

Useful Grammar Structures

1. Present Perfect for duration

   • I have had this item for over five years.
   • It has been a part of my daily life since high school.

2. Conditionals for hypothetical situations

   • If I didn’t have my watch, I would always be late.
   • If I forgot my water bottle, I would feel dehydrated all day.

3. Comparative & Superlative Structures

   • Among all my belongings, this is the most important thing for me.
   • This is even more useful than my phone in some situations.

Collocations & Vietnamese Translations

1. Daily essential 🎒 (vật dụng cần thiết hàng ngày)
2. Sentimental value 💖 (giá trị tình cảm)
3. Stay organized 📅 (giữ mọi thứ ngăn nắp, có tổ chức)
4. A practical item 🔧 (một món đồ tiện lợi, hữu ích)
5. A lifesaver ⛑️ (một thứ cực kỳ quan trọng, không thể thiếu)

Full Sample Answer (2 Minutes)

One thing I absolutely cannot live without is my backpack 🎒. I have had it for over five years, and it’s truly a daily essential that helps me stay organized 📅, whether I’m going to work, traveling, or even just going out for the day.

My backpack is not just an ordinary bag—it carries everything I need, from books and water to small emergency items like an umbrella or a power bank. I tend to pack everything in advance so that I don’t have to worry about forgetting something important. Without it, I feel like I’m missing something all the time. In fact, I once left home without my backpack and felt completely lost for the entire day!

Another reason why my backpack is so special is that it has sentimental value 💖. It was a birthday gift from my best friend, and over the years, it has traveled with me to many places. It’s durable, stylish, and incredibly practical, which makes it a lifesaver ⛑️ in many situations. If I ever lost it, I would feel extremely upset.

Overall, I believe that in today’s world, people rely too much on technology, but for me, having something practical 🔧 like a backpack makes life much easier. While a phone can run out of battery, my bag will always be there, keeping my essentials safe and accessible.

Part 3: Discussion Questions & Sample Answers

1. Why do you think teenagers always want to have the latest devices such as the iPhone? 📱

Ideas

• Social pressure and peer influence
• The excitement of new technology and features
• Status symbol and brand loyalty

Collocations

1. Keep up with trends 🎯 (bắt kịp xu hướng)
2. A status symbol 💎 (biểu tượng địa vị)
3. Latest cutting-edge features 🚀 (những tính năng tiên tiến nhất)

Sample Answer

Teenagers are always excited about the newest devices because they want to keep up with trends 🎯 and be part of their social circle. Owning the latest iPhone or gadget is often a status symbol 💎 that makes them feel more confident among their friends. Additionally, many companies introduce latest cutting-edge features 🚀, which makes new devices seem more appealing, even if their older phones still work perfectly fine.

2. Why do they often buy a new one even though they already have one? 🤔

Ideas

• Marketing and advertising influence
• The desire for better performance and new features
• Fear of missing out (FOMO)

Collocations

1. Consumer culture 🛍️ (văn hóa tiêu dùng)
2. Influenced by advertisements 📺 (bị ảnh hưởng bởi quảng cáo)
3. Fear of missing out (FOMO) 😰 (sợ bị bỏ lỡ điều mới mẻ)

Sample Answer

Many people upgrade their devices frequently because they are heavily influenced by advertisements 📺 that make older models seem outdated. We live in a consumer culture 🛍️ where companies constantly release new models to encourage spending. Additionally, some teenagers experience fear of missing out (FOMO) 😰 and feel pressured to buy the newest devices just to fit in.

3. What do they do with the old one after buying a new one? 📲

Ideas

• Keep it as a backup
• Sell it or trade it in
• Give it to a family member or donate it

Collocations

1. Trade in for an upgrade 🔄 (đổi lấy bản nâng cấp)
2. Pass it down to younger siblings 👶 (chuyển cho em nhỏ hơn)
3. Electronic waste 🚮 (rác thải điện tử)

Sample Answer

Some people trade in for an upgrade 🔄 when buying a new phone, while others pass it down to younger siblings 👶 or parents. However, not everyone recycles their old devices properly, leading to electronic waste 🚮, which is harmful to the environment. I think more people should consider selling or donating their old phones instead of letting them collect dust.

4. How hard is it for parents to convince their children not to buy an expensive phone? 👨‍👩‍👦📱

Ideas

• Children are influenced by social media and friends.
• Parents need to explain financial responsibility.
• Alternative rewards or compromises can help.

Collocations

1. Financial responsibility 💰 (trách nhiệm tài chính)
2. Set clear boundaries 🚧 (đặt ra giới hạn rõ ràng)
3. Alternative rewards 🎁 (phần thưởng thay thế)

Sample Answer

It can be really challenging for parents to convince their children not to buy expensive phones because kids are easily influenced by their friends and social media. However, teaching financial responsibility 💰 is important, so parents should set clear boundaries 🚧 about spending habits. Instead of simply saying no, they can offer alternative rewards 🎁, like saving up for something meaningful or buying a slightly older but still high-quality phone.