IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe something you lost that was important

Describe something you lost that was important

Suggested ideas for each part

• What you lost: 📱 A smartphone / 💍 A ring from a loved one / 📔 A diary full of memories
• Where you lost it: 🚖 In a taxi / ☕ At a café / ✈️ At the airport
• How you felt: 😢 Devastated / 😟 Frustrated / 😞 Disappointed in yourself
• Why it was important: 🎁 A meaningful gift / 📝 Had valuable information / 💾 Stored precious memories

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last year, I lost my phone while traveling.
2. Past continuous: I was rushing to catch my flight when I left my bag behind.
3. Present perfect: I have never felt so frustrated before.
4. Conditional sentence (Type 3): If I had been more careful, I wouldn’t have lost it.
5. Relative clause: The ring, which was a gift from my grandmother, was extremely valuable to me.

Collocations

1. Sentimental value 💖 (giá trị tinh thần)
2. A treasured possession 🎁 (một vật sở hữu quý giá)
3. Frantically search for 🔍 (tìm kiếm trong hoảng loạn)
4. A sinking feeling 😨 (cảm giác tuyệt vọng)
5. Retrace my steps 👣 (nhớ lại từng bước đi để tìm đồ bị mất)
6. A heartbreaking moment 💔 (một khoảnh khắc đau lòng)
7. Learn a hard lesson 📚 (học được một bài học khó khăn)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One of the most heartbreaking 💔 moments in my life was when I lost my treasured possession 🎁—a beautiful silver ring that my grandmother gave me. This ring had sentimental value 💖 because it was a family heirloom, passed down from my great-grandmother. I had worn it every day for years, so losing it was truly devastating.

It happened about two years ago when I was on a trip to Đà Lạt with my friends. We had just finished a long day of sightseeing and decided to relax at a cozy little café ☕. I remember taking off my ring to wash my hands in the restroom, and I absentmindedly left it on the sink. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it until we had already left the café. As soon as I noticed, I frantically searched for 🔍 it in my bag and pockets, but it was nowhere to be found.

I immediately ran back to the café, hoping that the ring would still be there. However, when I checked the restroom, it was gone. I even asked the staff if they had seen it, but no one had turned it in. At that moment, I had a sinking feeling 😨 in my stomach because I knew I might never see it again.

The loss was extremely painful for me because the ring was not just a piece of jewelry—it carried deep emotional significance. It reminded me of my grandmother, who had always been my source of comfort and guidance. Losing it felt like losing a part of my past.

After this experience, I learned a hard lesson 📚 about being more careful with my belongings. Now, whenever I travel, I make sure to double-check my things before leaving any place. If I had been more mindful that day, I wouldn’t have lost something so valuable to me.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. What important things do people tend to lose in daily life?

Ideas

• 🔑 Keys and wallets
• 📱 Smartphones
• 📝 Important documents

Collocations

1. Everyday essentials 🎒 (những đồ dùng thiết yếu hàng ngày)
2. Misplace an item ❓ (để thất lạc một món đồ)
3. A moment of carelessness 😵 (một khoảnh khắc bất cẩn)

Sample answer

People often lose everyday essentials 🎒 such as keys, wallets, or smartphones. It usually happens due to a moment of carelessness 😵, like rushing out of the house or getting distracted. Many also tend to misplace an item ❓ in public places, such as cafés or shopping malls.

2. How do they solve the problem of losing these things?

Ideas

• 🔍 Retracing their steps
• 📞 Using technology (tracking apps, calling their phone)
• 📝 Being more organized (checklists, designated places for items)

Collocations

1. Retrace their steps 👣 (nhớ lại từng bước để tìm đồ bị mất)
2. Track their belongings 📱 (theo dõi đồ đạc của họ)
3. Develop a habit of organization 📋 (phát triển thói quen sắp xếp đồ đạc gọn gàng)

Sample answer

The first thing most people do is retrace their steps 👣 to figure out where they last had the lost item. Many also use technology to track their belongings 📱, like using GPS apps to locate a lost phone. To prevent future losses, people should develop a habit of organization 📋, such as always placing their keys in the same spot.

3. Why do some people lose things easily?

Ideas

• 😵 Absent-mindedness or forgetfulness
• 🏃 Being in a rush or distracted
• 😴 Lack of focus due to stress or fatigue

Collocations

1. Absent-minded personality 🤯 (tính hay quên, thiếu tập trung)
2. In a rush 🏃 (vội vàng)
3. Mentally overwhelmed 😵‍💫 (bị quá tải về mặt tinh thần)

Sample answer

Some people have an absent-minded personality 🤯, so they often forget where they put things. Others tend to lose items when they are in a rush 🏃 or feeling mentally overwhelmed 😵‍💫, as stress makes it harder to focus on details.

4. How should parents teach their children about losing things?

Ideas

• 📖 Teach responsibility and organization from a young age
• 📋 Use positive reinforcement when they take care of their belongings
• 🎲 Turn organization into a fun game

Collocations

1. Instill a sense of responsibility 🏆 (rèn luyện ý thức trách nhiệm)
2. Set a good example 👨‍👩‍👧 (làm gương tốt)
3. Teach organizational skills 📋 (dạy kỹ năng tổ chức sắp xếp đồ đạc)

Sample answer

Parents should instill a sense of responsibility 🏆 in their children by encouraging them to take care of their belongings. They should also set a good example 👨‍👩‍👧 by being organized themselves. Additionally, they can teach organizational skills 📋 through fun activities, like turning tidying up into a game.

5. Is organization important for a child?

Ideas

• 🏫 Helps with schoolwork and time management
• 🏡 Teaches responsibility at a young age
• 😊 Reduces stress and improves focus

Collocations

1. Develop good habits 🛠️ (hình thành thói quen tốt)
2. Stay focused and efficient 🎯 (tập trung và làm việc hiệu quả)
3. Reduce unnecessary stress 😌 (giảm căng thẳng không cần thiết)

Sample answer

Yes, organization is extremely important for children. It helps them develop good habits 🛠️ from a young age and allows them to stay focused and efficient 🎯 in school. Additionally, being organized can reduce unnecessary stress 😌 by making it easier to find things when needed.