The IELTS Speaking test often includes questions about personal experiences, and describing something important you lost in the past is a common topic. This subject allows examiners to assess your ability to narrate events, express emotions, and reflect on past experiences. Let’s explore how to tackle this topic effectively to achieve a high band score in your IELTS Speaking test.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
In Part 1, the examiner may ask general questions related to lost items. Here are some possible questions and sample answers:
- Have you ever lost anything important?
Sample answer (Band 7-8):
“Yes, I have. A few years ago, I misplaced my grandfather’s vintage watch, which held great sentimental value for me. It was quite distressing at the time, but the experience taught me to be more careful with precious belongings.”
- How do you usually react when you lose something?
Sample answer (Band 8-9):
“Initially, I tend to feel a surge of panic, which is quite natural. However, I’ve learned to remain calm and methodical in such situations. I typically retrace my steps mentally and physically, and if necessary, I enlist the help of others. I find that maintaining a clear head often leads to better outcomes when searching for lost items.”
Describe a book you have read many times can also be a topic that requires you to reflect on personal experiences, much like discussing a lost item. Both topics allow you to demonstrate your ability to describe emotions and memories in detail.
Part 2: Long Turn (Cue Card)
Here’s a sample cue card related to the topic:
Describe Something Important That You Lost In The Past
You should say:
- What the item was
- When and where you lost it
- Why it was important to you
- How you felt when you lost it
Sample answer (Band 6-7):
“I’d like to talk about a time when I lost my smartphone. It happened about two years ago when I was on a business trip to New York. I realized I had misplaced it after leaving a taxi. The phone was important to me because it contained all my contacts, photos, and work-related information. I felt really worried and anxious when I discovered it was missing. I spent hours trying to find it, calling the taxi company and retracing my steps, but unfortunately, I never recovered it. The experience taught me to be more careful with my belongings and to regularly back up important data.”
Sample answer (Band 8-9):
“I’d like to recount an incident from a few years ago when I lost a cherished family heirloom – my grandmother’s antique locket. This irreplaceable piece of jewelry had been passed down through generations and held immense sentimental value. The unfortunate event occurred during a summer vacation in Paris, where I inadvertently left it in a quaint café near the Eiffel Tower.
The locket was of paramount importance to me, not just because of its monetary worth, but primarily due to its rich family history. It served as a tangible connection to my ancestry and bore witness to countless family stories. When I realized it was missing, I was utterly devastated. A wave of panic and regret washed over me as I frantically retraced my steps through the bustling Parisian streets.
Despite my best efforts and the help of local authorities, the locket remained elusive. This loss taught me a profound lesson about the value of memories and the importance of safeguarding our most treasured possessions. It also sparked a deeper appreciation for the stories and traditions passed down in my family, prompting me to document and preserve our history in other meaningful ways.”
Follow-up questions:
- How did you try to find the lost item?
- Did this experience change your behavior in any way?
Sample answer for follow-up questions (Band 8-9):
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“In my desperate attempt to recover the locket, I employed a multi-faceted approach. I immediately returned to the café, meticulously searching every nook and cranny. I liaised with the local police, filed a detailed report, and circulated descriptions of the locket to nearby pawn shops and jewelry stores. I even leveraged social media platforms, creating posts that were shared by locals and fellow tourists alike. Despite these exhaustive efforts, the locket remained elusive.”
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“This experience was truly transformative in terms of how I handle personal belongings, especially those with sentimental value. I’ve become significantly more vigilant and systematic in keeping track of my possessions, particularly when traveling. Moreover, it’s instilled in me a deeper appreciation for intangible memories. I now make a conscious effort to document family stories and traditions, ensuring that even if physical mementos are lost, the essence of our family history is preserved for future generations.”
Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Examiner: Let’s discuss the broader implications of losing important items. Do you think people today are more or less likely to lose important things compared to in the past?
Sample answer (Band 6-7):
“I think people today might be more likely to lose important things compared to the past. We have more possessions now, especially electronic devices like smartphones and laptops, which are easy to misplace. Also, our lives are busier and more fast-paced, which can make us more forgetful. However, technology also helps us track our belongings better, so it’s a bit of a mixed situation.”
Sample answer (Band 8-9):
“This is an intriguing question that requires careful consideration. On one hand, our modern lifestyle, characterized by its frenetic pace and information overload, could potentially make us more prone to misplacing items. We’re often juggling multiple tasks and devices, which may lead to decreased attention to our belongings.
However, I would argue that we might actually be less likely to lose important things nowadays. The advent of technology has provided us with numerous tools to keep track of our possessions. GPS tracking devices, smart tags, and various apps allow us to locate lost items with relative ease. Moreover, the digitization of important documents and memories means that even if we lose a physical item, we often have a backup.
That being said, this technological safety net might be creating a false sense of security, potentially making us less cautious with our belongings. It’s a double-edged sword – while we have more means to recover lost items, we might be becoming more careless in the first place.
Ultimately, I believe the likelihood of losing important things comes down to individual habits and awareness, regardless of the era. The key is to strike a balance between utilizing modern tools for safeguarding our possessions and maintaining a mindful approach to caring for our important items.”
Describe a time when you helped a stranger in need is another topic that can help you practice expressing empathy and describing personal experiences, which are also useful skills when discussing lost items.
Key Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores
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Cherished (adjective) – /ˈtʃer.ɪʃt/ – dearly loved
Example: The lost locket was a cherished family heirloom. -
Irreplaceable (adjective) – /ˌɪr.ɪˈpleɪ.sə.bəl/ – impossible to replace or replicate
Example: The photos on my lost camera were irreplaceable memories of my travels. -
Inadvertently (adverb) – /ˌɪn.ədˈvɜː.tənt.li/ – unintentionally or accidentally
Example: I inadvertently left my passport at the hotel reception. -
Tangible connection (noun phrase) – /ˈtæn.dʒə.bəl kəˈnek.ʃən/ – a physical link or association
Example: The old letters provided a tangible connection to my ancestors. -
Utterly devastated (adjective phrase) – /ˈʌt.ər.li ˈdev.ə.steɪ.tɪd/ – completely destroyed or upset
Example: I was utterly devastated when I realized I had lost my wedding ring.
Examiner’s Advice
To excel in the IELTS Speaking test, particularly when describing something important you’ve lost:
- Practice narrating personal experiences with a clear structure – beginning, middle, and end.
- Use a variety of descriptive adjectives to convey emotions and the importance of the lost item.
- Incorporate idiomatic expressions naturally to demonstrate language proficiency.
- Reflect on the impact of the loss to show depth of thought.
- Vary your sentence structures to maintain the examiner’s interest.
Remember, the key to a high score is not just in what you say, but how you say it. Speak clearly, maintain good eye contact, and show enthusiasm for the topic. Regular practice with a variety of subjects will help you feel more confident and perform better on test day.
Describe a performance you enjoyed watching recently can be another opportunity to practice using descriptive language and expressing emotions, skills that are equally valuable when discussing lost items.
By following these guidelines and incorporating rich vocabulary, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle any question about lost items in your IELTS Speaking test. Remember, the examiner is looking for fluency, coherence, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. With practice, you can excel in all these areas and achieve the band score you’re aiming for.