IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe the most expensive item you have ever bought

Describe the most expensive item you have ever bought

Suggested ideas for each part

• When and where you bought it: 🛍️ Last year / A few months ago / 🏬 In a shopping mall / 🛒 Online
• What it was: 📱 A high-end smartphone / 💻 A laptop for work/study / 🚲 An expensive bicycle
• What you used it for: 🎓 Studying / 💼 Work / 📸 Photography and entertainment
• How you liked it: 😍 Totally worth it / 😕 Regretted spending so much / 🤩 Impressed by its quality

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last year, I bought an expensive laptop for my studies.
2. Past continuous: At that time, I was looking for a high-quality device.
3. Present perfect: I have used it for more than a year now.
4. Comparisons: It is way more powerful than my old one.
5. Conditional sentence (Type 3): If I had known, I would have chosen a cheaper model.

Collocations

1. Luxury item 💎 (món đồ xa xỉ)
2. High-end brand 👑 (thương hiệu cao cấp)
3. State-of-the-art technology 🔥 (công nghệ tiên tiến nhất)
4. A significant investment 💰 (một khoản đầu tư đáng kể)
5. Splurge on something 🛍️ (chi tiêu mạnh tay cho thứ gì đó)
6. Get my money’s worth 💵 (đáng đồng tiền bát gạo)
7. Buyer’s remorse 😩 (cảm giác tiếc nuối khi mua hàng đắt tiền)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One of the most expensive things I have ever bought is my MacBook Pro, which I purchased last year 💻. At that time, I was looking for a powerful laptop for my studies and work. After doing some research, I decided to get a high-end brand 👑 because I wanted something durable and reliable. I bought it at an Apple store in a shopping mall 🏬, and I must admit, it was a significant investment 💰.

The main reason I bought it was for studying and working on my assignments. I also use it for entertainment, like watching movies and editing photos 📸. The laptop is equipped with state-of-the-art technology 🔥, so everything runs smoothly. The design is sleek, and the battery life is excellent, which makes it perfect for long study sessions. Although it was quite pricey, I felt that I got my money’s worth 💵 because of its performance and durability.

However, I did hesitate before making the purchase because it was a luxury item 💎. I even experienced a bit of buyer’s remorse 😩 right after paying, but as soon as I started using it, I realized that it was totally worth it! If I had chosen a cheaper laptop, I might have faced issues with slow performance and battery problems. So in the end, I’m really happy with my decision 🤩.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. Do people spend too much time shopping these days? Why?

Ideas

• 🛒 Online shopping makes it easier and more addictive
• 📢 Advertising and sales promotions attract buyers
• 😫 Some people shop for fun or stress relief

Collocations

1. Retail therapy 🛍️ (mua sắm để giải tỏa tâm trạng)
2. Impulsive buying ⚡ (mua sắm bốc đồng)
3. Consumer-driven society 🏬 (xã hội tiêu dùng mạnh mẽ)

Sample answer

Yes, I believe people today spend too much time shopping 🛒. With the rise of online shopping, it has become incredibly easy to buy things with just a few clicks. Many people also engage in retail therapy 🛍️, buying things to improve their mood rather than out of necessity. Advertising and social media constantly promote new products, leading to impulsive buying ⚡. In today’s consumer-driven society 🏬, shopping is not just about necessity but also about entertainment and status.

2. Do you think expensive things are worth their prices?

Ideas

• ✅ Some expensive things offer high quality and durability
• ❌ Some luxury brands overprice their products just for branding
• 💡 It depends on the item and personal needs

Collocations

1. Premium quality 🎖️ (chất lượng cao cấp)
2. Exorbitant price 💸 (giá quá đắt đỏ)
3. Long-term investment 🏦 (đầu tư lâu dài)

Sample answer

It really depends on the item. Some expensive products are worth the money because they offer premium quality 🎖️, better performance, and durability. For example, high-end smartphones and laptops can be seen as a long-term investment 🏦. However, in some cases, luxury brands charge an exorbitant price 💸 just for their logo, even though the quality may not be significantly better than mid-range products. So, I think people should be careful and consider whether they are paying for quality or just for branding.

3. Do you think women enjoy buying expensive things more than men?

Ideas

• 🛍️ Some women enjoy fashion and luxury items
• 🎮 Men also spend on gadgets, cars, or collectibles
• 🤷 It depends on personal interests rather than gender

Collocations

1. Luxury fashion brands 👗 (thương hiệu thời trang cao cấp)
2. High-tech gadgets 📱 (thiết bị công nghệ cao)
3. Personal preferences 💭 (sở thích cá nhân)

Sample answer

I don’t think enjoyment of expensive things depends on gender, but rather on personal preferences 💭. Many women love shopping for luxury fashion brands 👗, such as designer handbags and jewelry, while men often splurge on high-tech gadgets 📱, expensive watches, or even cars. In the end, both men and women can enjoy buying expensive things, but the types of products they prefer might be different.

4. Why do some people like collecting expensive items?

Ideas

• 🎨 Some people see it as a hobby or passion
• 💰 Luxury items can be a good investment
• 🌟 Owning rare or high-end products gives a sense of prestige

Collocations

1. Collector’s item 🎁 (món đồ sưu tầm có giá trị)
2. Status symbol 🌟 (biểu tượng địa vị)
3. Appreciate in value 📈 (tăng giá trị theo thời gian)
4. A sense of accomplishment 🏆 (cảm giác đạt được thành tựu)

Sample answer

Some people enjoy collecting expensive items because it gives them a sense of accomplishment 🏆. For example, rare watches, luxury handbags, or even vintage cars can be seen as collector’s items 🎁. In some cases, people buy these things as a status symbol 🌟, showing their success and wealth. Others see it as an investment because certain items appreciate in value 📈 over time. Personally, I think if someone has the financial ability, collecting expensive items can be a meaningful and enjoyable hobby!