IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a time you replaced a broken phone

A Band 8 model answer with the one-minute plan behind it, the vocabulary that lifts it, and the Part 3 questions that follow.
  • 268 words
  • An experience
  • 1 minute to prepare
  • 2 minutes to speak

The cue card

Describe a time you replaced a broken phone

You should say:

  • →when and how it got damaged
  • →what you did immediately after it happened
  • →how you chose a replacement
  • →and explain how you felt about the whole experience.

One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.

An experience

How to plan it in one minute

  1. 1

    Jot down the setting (Edinburgh trip) and the mishap (cobbled pavement, cracked screen).

  2. 2

    Note the immediate reaction (repair shop verdict) and decision criteria (budget, battery, camera).

  3. 3

    Outline the emotional shift from initial panic to relief about cloud backup and future precautions.

Model answer

Band 8 model answer

Band 8268 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.

I'd like to talk about an incident that happened about two years ago during a weekend trip to Edinburgh. I was taking a quick photo of the castle when someone accidentally bumped into my elbow. My mobile phone slipped straight out of my hand and landed face down on the cobbled pavement. When I picked it up, the glass was completely shattered, and the touch screen wouldn't respond at all.

To be honest, I felt a wave of panic because I relied on that handset for practically everything, including my return train tickets and hotel booking. Luckily, I was travelling with a friend, so we managed to look up a nearby electronics repair shop and headed straight there. The technician took a look inside and told me the internal display connector was broken beyond repair, meaning buying a new one was really my only sensible option.

Since I hadn't budgeted for an expensive flagship model, I decided to go for a dependable mid-range device instead. I prioritised decent battery life and a good camera over flashy features. The shop assistant was extremely patient, and after comparing a few options, I settled on a reasonably priced handset that felt sturdy. They even helped me restore my contacts and photos from a cloud backup, which was an enormous relief.

Looking back, the whole ordeal was pretty frustrating, mainly because of the unexpected expense and the disruption to my holiday. At the same time, I was grateful that modern technology makes data recovery so straightforward. It certainly taught me to always use a heavy-duty protective case whenever I'm out and about.

Say it out loud and get a band

Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.

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8 words

Vocabulary from the answer

  • cobbled pavement

    a walkway paved with rounded stones

  • handset

    a mobile phone device

  • beyond repair

    damaged too badly to be fixed

  • flagship model

    the best or most expensive product from a manufacturer

  • cloud backup

    copies of digital files stored on remote internet servers

  • ordeal

    a difficult, painful, or stressful experience

  • sturdy

    strongly built and not easily damaged

  • heavy-duty

    designed to withstand harsh conditions or rough treatment

5 questions

Part 3 questions that follow this card

  1. 1Why do so many people feel anxious when they are separated from their mobile phones?
  2. 2In what ways have electronic devices changed the way people communicate with family and friends?
  3. 3Do you think modern appliances and gadgets are built to last as long as they used to be?
  4. 4What environmental problems are caused by people replacing their gadgets too frequently?
  5. 5How might personal technology evolve over the next few decades to replace handheld devices?

Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. Read Band 8 answers to these Part 3 questions: consumer electronics and modern dependency.

Frequently asked questions

How should I start the cue card "Describe a time you replaced a broken phone"?+

Jot down the setting (Edinburgh trip) and the mishap (cobbled pavement, cracked screen).

How long should my answer be?+

Speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.

Can I use this model answer in the exam?+

Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.

Keep practising

More cue cards: an experience

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