In IELTS Speaking Part 2, Buying Things and Shopping are popular topics.
This lesson looks at one Part 2 Cue Card where you can learn lots of useful vocabulary, collocations and idioms for this topic. In addition, you will practice your listening and pronunciation skills  Â
IELTS Speaking Part 2 - Cue Card
Describe something you have bought but never or rarely used
You should say:
- What it was.
- Where you bought it.
- Why you rarely or never use it
and explain how you feel about this purchase now.
Getting Ideas for IELTS Speaking Part 2
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Listen to the audio to hear me discussing the ideas for answering this question, as stated below.
1. Clothes – if they don’t fitÂ
2. Books – if you don’t have timeÂ
3. Equipment for a hobby – if you don’t have time to start
4. Cheap items (pen, notebook, cups…) – if they break
5. Kitchen items – (blender, sandwich toaster, rice maker – when you realise they are a waste of time!
How to use this sample answer
- Guess the missing words before you listen
- Play, listen and check the missing words
- Listen again, pause and repeat short phrases.
- Listen again and read at the same time
- Note useful words, chunks and phrases
1. Guess the words
Before you listen to the sample answer, try to guess the missing words below!
- I wanted to get ________ ______ shape
- I ________ ________ to the shops.
- I will get _______ to using them.
Put your answers in the comment box below!
2. Now listen and check your answers.
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3. Listen again, pause and repeat each phrase.
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4. Listen and read
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Click here to read script
I wanted to get back into shape. I had been rather lazy and inactive and needed to do some exercise.
In addition, I had seen other people, young people and old people skating in the local park, so I was quite envious, envious of their freedom, their energy, I coveted their skates, they were really groovy.
I think deep down I just wanted to be cool and hip like them.
So, I nipped down to the shops. I browsed a few different sports shops, and as usual when you buy something for the first time, you need to educate yourself.Â
I wanted to find out why some skates were so expensive, so much more expensive than others, what made good-quality, what I needed to look out for when buying roller skates.
I was on a bit of a tight budget, so in the end, I opted for an affordable pair of nice, black skates.
Of course, the salesman also convinced me to buy the protective gear; the helmet and that.Â
That was in Autumn, then November came and it was windy and rainy. Then winter set in and it started snowing, and I just didn’t go out.
So the skates sat on the shelf and gathered dust.
I don’t feel bad about it. I am hopeful that one day I will get round to using them.
That’s my story of something I bought and never used – yet!
5. Note useful words and phrases
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See Vocabulary I coveted their skates (v.) = I was envious of their skates groovy (adj.) = cool and fashionable I nipped down to the shops (v.) = I went to the shops for a short time. what I needed to look out for (v.) = be careful with I was on a bit of a tight budget (n.) = I had little money to spend I opted for an affordable pair (v./ adj.) = I chose a fairly cheap pair (that I could afford). I will get round to using them. (v.) = I will finally use them (after not using them for so long)
Now you know how to talk about Buying Things and Shopping, why not go and explore more tips on how to do well in IELTS Speaking Part 2
4 thoughts on “IELTS Speaking Model Answer – Buying Things”
Back into
Nipped down
Round
1.Back into
2. Nipped down
3.round.
Excellent work Fatima!
1. back into
2. nipped down
3.get around