Talk About a Special Thing You Would Like to Buy in the Future

Describe a luxury item cue card

Full IELTS Speaking Test & Answers

This IELTS test includes questions about:

  • trees
  • a special thing you would like to buy
  • shopping habits
  • consumerism
  • technology and shopping

IELTS Speaking Part 1

Where are you from?

I’m from Romania, but I’ve been in the UK for a couple of months now.

Do you work or study?

I’m studying at the moment; I’m doing an intensive English course so that I can study at university here in the UK in the future.

Are there a lot of trees where you live?

I suppose there are quite a few, in the street where I live, it’s an avenue so there are trees all along it on both sides. It’s nice because it’s very green even though it’s in a city.

Do you like trees, forests? Why?

Yes, I do, I used to like walking in the forest near my home. I think trees are really beautiful and I always used to feel happy when I spent time in the forest – they seem to have a relaxing effect on me. I guess I must be a nature lover.

Is there any special kind of trees in your country?

Well, there’s the Breite Nature Reserve which is famous for the oak trees which are there, there are some of them which have been there for over 800 years, and it’s a beautiful place as well as being a heritage site of some importance because of the different species you can find there.

Do you have any trees in your garden?

Not here, because I don’t have a garden, I live in an apartment, but back home we have two trees in our garden. They are both quite old, they’re oak trees, and they’re really big.

Did you ever plant a tree?

Yes, once when I was a child at school, we did a special project about environemental studies and part of it was planting some trees in a park near to our school. It was interesting and now those trees are really tall.



IELTS Speaking Part 2

Talk about a special thing that you would like to buy in the future

You should say:

  • What is it?
  • What does it look like?
  • How long will you keep it?

Describe A Special Thing You Would Like to Buy in the Future

IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer

I would like to buy a car when I go back home. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now and although I don’t mind not having a car here in the UK, because I’m only here for a short while, when I go back home it’s something I’d like to buy, maybe next year if I can save enough money from working.

I’d like to buy a Dacia Sandero, a silver one, because I think it looks nice. It’s a really popular car in Romania and my friend has one – and she loves it. It’s nor particularly sporty or elegant but it’s modern looking and very economical and fun to drive, so it’s ideal for me because I’m not a big fan of cars and stuff like that but I know what I like and I think it’s a nice looking car.

I’ll probably keep it for as long as I could and then maybe sell it or give it to my younger brother if he wants it. Hopefully, I’ll be able to buy it next year because I’ll be working full time before coming back to the UK to study my master’s degree. When I go back home I’ll probably use it a lot and when I’m in the UK my family can use it whenever they need to so it will be handy for them too.

How would you answer this IELTS speaking topic talk about something special you would like to buy



IELTS Speaking Part 3

Why would you like to buy it?

I think it would be useful to have when I’m back home because I will probably need to ravel for work, something I haven’t really needed to do in the past and commuting is much easier when you have a car. The buses can be very slow at times and in the winter, a car is much more comfortable than being out on the street waiting for a bus.

Where will you buy it?

If I can afford a new one, then I’ll probably buy it from the dealer in the city where I live. They are the main dealer for that particular make of car, so that would be my first choice, even if I can’t afford a new model, maybe I’d buy a second hand one but still from the same dealer because they have a good selection and also it’s safer than buying it privately through a newspaper ad or something like that.

Do you think our shopping habits have changed?

Absolutely, I mean nowadays almost everyone is shopping online for most things whenever they are available. Here in the UK it’s even more common than back home. I have some friends here that buy almost everything online – they rarely actually go to a physical brick and mortar store to buy something if they can get it online.

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

I suppose that’s a personal thing – I mean, how much time is too much time? It’s probably true that people shop more than they did in the past, but then it’s so much easier to do these days. You can shop from home; you can shop from your mobile phone or even from work.

The accessibility of shopping is much greater than in the past for sure. But do people spend more than they did in the past on shopping, I’m not sure, I guess you can only spend so much money on shopping because you only earn so much and I don’t think people earn a lot more in real terms than before but there are certainly more opportunities for shopping than before.

Does consumerism affect the economy? Why?

Yes, clearly the more people spend the better for the economy. It helps create employment for people, grow business and therefore more people are working and paying taxes, so I suppose in simple terms if more people consume then the better the economy will be.

But then it also depends on what people consume, doesn’t it? I mean purchasing lots of goods also means using more energy for their production, more packaging, more transport and so on, which is generally bad for the environment, so there’s a balance between how much consumption is a good thing and when it becomes detrimental to the environment.

Does technology affect our shopping habits? Why?

Yes, it’s probably been the biggest driver of consumerism in the last few decades. The emergence of e-commerce has meant that people can now shop and consume anytime, anywhere, every day of the year. Being able to buy almost anything from almost anywhere in the world clearly has an impact on how people shop, whether it’s for clothes, specialty foods, and anything else.

Just think, you can virtually wander around the world’s best shops online and see what’s on offer in less time now than it would have taken you to wander down the high street in the past and see what was available in your local stores.

E-commerce has made it easier, given us more choice, and so clearly has affected how, when and why we shop.



Describe a Luxury Item You Would Like to Own in the Future

Describe a luxury item cue card

There are so many luxury items that I would love to own in the future, but if I had to choose just one luxury item, it would have to be a yacht.

There's just something about being on the open water that is so relaxing and luxurious, and I can imagine spending hours out on the ocean with friends or family. Plus, it would be the perfect way to travel and explore new places!

Why would you buy it?

I'd buy a yacht because it's something I've always dreamed of owning. The ocean gets me every time, and there is nothing like the view from a luxury yacht! It would be the perfect getaway for my family and friends, and even if we couldn't go too far, we could enjoy exploring places around our coast.

Where would you buy it?

I would buy the yacht through an online website or store specializing in selling them (such as Yacht Island Design). Depending on its features and how large I want the yacht to be, I'd probably spend somewhere up to USD 20,000.

What are some expenses that would come with owning it?

The only expenses that would come with it are the cost of insurance, maintenance, and mooring/docking fees.

What are your thoughts on owning a yacht?

I thought that living in the city would limit my options of ever purchasing one, but now I can see how to make it happen. Owning a yacht has always been something I've wanted to do because it sounds like a fantastic experience, and there are so many things you could do with it.

Even if I only used 3-4 days out of the month, it would still be worth every penny! Living on a yacht may seem hectic and cramped at times (due to the lack of space), yet there is no better escape from reality than sailing away into open waters. For me, owning a yacht would be an extraordinary opportunity to get away from everything.



Follw-Up Questions

In today's world, how does the ownership of luxury goods like high-end automobiles and luxury mobile phones reflect a person's social status?

Sample Answer

Nowadays, luxury goods like a high-end automobile or state-of-the-art mobile phone have become symbolic representations of a person's income level and social status. They indicate a significant amount of personal income which allows for the acquisition and maintenance of such items. However, it's essential to remember that ownership of luxury items does not automatically equate to happiness or satisfaction.

Why do you think some people spend a significant amount of their income on luxurious items like a luxury car, instead of saving money or spending on basic requirements?

Sample Answer

The propensity to splurge on any luxury good stems from a desire to enhance one's social status and establish a certain lifestyle. It could also be a way of self-reward for hard work. Some individuals derive pleasure and satisfaction from owning and utilizing high-end items. Nonetheless, it's crucial to strike a balance between fulfilling basic requirements, saving for the future, and indulging in luxuries.

What would you say about the current trend of having live-in chefs or other similar luxurious services at home?

Sample Answer

Having live-in chefs and similar luxury services reflects a shift in lifestyle choices of those with higher incomes. It signifies not just the ability to afford such services, but also the value placed on time, convenience, and the desire for a personalized experience. However, it's important to note that the value of these services is subjective and varies from person to person.



Describe Something You Don't Have Now But Would Really Like to Own in the Future?

I'd love to have a Futurama-style robot butler that could do everything for me – from laundry and dishes to vacuuming and cleaning windows. It would be amazing to come home from a long day at work and have everything taken care of, so I could relax! Plus, it would be fun to have someone around who's always up for a game of chess or an interesting conversation.

Why would you buy this item?

I'm not the kind of person who would buy something just because I think it'd be cool to have. If I wanted a robot butler, it's for the reason I mentioned above – I could go home from work and relax instead of doing chores.

What do you imagine this item will look like?

Similar to the robots in "Futurama," except a little more human-looking. The main point is that they can perform simple household tasks without requiring human input. They're also non-intelligent, so they don't mind being bossed around by humans or performing repetitive tasks over and over again.

Do you think owning it will change your life? Please explain.

Not owning one could change my life if I don't get any chores done and starve to death because nobody cooks for me! Realistically speaking, having a robot butler would lighten my load at home. And since I currently work long hours, it could help free up some time so that I can relax when I get home instead of worrying about taking care of the place like a maid would (and probably doing other activities, such as eating and sleeping).

Where did you hear or see this product?

I first saw one of these on the news. And I've been fascinated by it ever since!

Is this product new, or has it been available for a while, but the price has recently decreased?

It's new. I saw it about a year ago. It's not really in production yet, though! I want to find out how much it will cost -so that I can start saving.

If you had a robot butler, what tasks would it be able to do?

Ideally, I would like to own one able to do everything a human butler could do, and I wouldn't need to lift a finger. If it had a choice between doing everything a human butler could do or just cleaning and bringing me food, I think I would prefer those things.