IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a piece of technology that you feel difficult to use

Describe a piece of technology that you feel difficult to use
You should say
When you got it
What you got it for
How often you use it
And explain how you feel about it

Useful Vocabulary and Expressions

1. When you got it:

• Vocabulary: received, purchased, acquired, bought, obtained
• Expressions:
  • “I got this piece of technology when…”
  • “I purchased it…”
  • “I acquired it in…”

2. What you got it for:

• Vocabulary: purpose, reason, intended, needed, required
• Expressions:
  • “I got it for…”
  • “The purpose of getting it was…”
  • “I needed it to…”

3. How often you use it:

• Vocabulary: occasionally, rarely, sometimes, infrequently, regularly
• Expressions:
  • “I use it…”
  • “I find myself using it…”
  • “I only use it when…”

4. How you feel about it:

• Vocabulary: frustrated, confused, overwhelmed, challenged, complicated
• Expressions:
  • “I feel very…”
  • “Using it makes me feel…”
  • “It is quite a challenge because…”

Collocations

1. complex interface
2. steep learning curve
3. technical difficulties
4. user-friendly design
5. frequent errors
6. initial setup
7. troubleshooting issues
8. digital skills
9. intuitive controls
10. tech support

Sample Answer

I got this piece of technology, a 3D printer, about six months ago. I purchased it with the intention of using it for prototyping and creating custom parts for my DIY projects.

The purpose of getting it was to enhance my ability to bring my designs to life and experiment with innovative ideas. I needed it to create precise models and parts that would be difficult to fabricate by hand.

However, I use it only occasionally because I find it quite challenging to operate. I only use it when I have a specific project that requires its capabilities. Most of the time, I avoid using it due to the technical difficulties I encounter.

I feel very frustrated and overwhelmed when using the 3D printer. Its complex interface and steep learning curve make it difficult for me to operate smoothly. The initial setup was particularly confusing, and I often run into frequent errors during printing. Troubleshooting these issues requires a level of digital skills and understanding that I find hard to grasp. Despite reading the manual and watching tutorial videos, I still struggle with its non-user-friendly design.

Using it makes me feel that it’s quite a challenge because it takes a lot of time and effort to get things right. Even though it has intuitive controls, the tech support isn’t very responsive, adding to my frustration. In summary, while the 3D printer has a lot of potential, the difficulties I face make it a daunting piece of technology to use.