Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired IELTS Cue Card
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired
You should say
What it is?
How was it broken?
Why do you remember it? And how do you feel about it?
Sample Answer 1
Introduction:
In the contemporary epoch, the central focus of the business houses is on providing products loaded with features. Due to this reason, there is a decline in the quality.
What it is?
Last month while working I damaged my laptop. Although it was not my fault, I had to pay for its repair.
How was it broken?
Due to the Corona Pandemic, our nation was in a state of lockdown. And I did not have any other option but to work from home.
At home, we have the comfort of doing our office and study work on the bed. As I do the bulk of my work on my laptop. I started using it on my bed. And one day, my brother had sat on my laptop lying on the bed, and he broke it.
Why do you remember it? And how do you feel about it?
As the administration had closed the shops due to lockdown, getting the laptop repaired was a daunting task for me. I had decided to look for a vendor working from home.
After making numerous calls and running from pillar to post, I had managed to find a laptop repairing expert. Luckily he was staying close to my residence.
After toiling hard for three hours, he repaired it. I had to shell out 5,000 Rs from my pocket for its repair.
After getting the laptop back in working condition, I had a sigh of relief. Although it works fine, the marks of the damage are still visible. Due to this reason, I still remember it.
I have decided to replace the outer body of the laptop so that it doesn’t look damaged.
Sample Answer 2
Introduction:
Being a planned person, I take utmost care of my belongings. However, many times due to negligence I have broken things at home.
Recently I had such occasion when I broke a thing of immense value,
What it is?
It is my television.
How was it broken?
Last year due to the corona pandemic, our country was in a state of lockdown. During those days, spending leisure time was a daunting task.
To enjoy my favourite shows in my bedroom, I decided to shift the Tv from the drawing-room to the bedroom. Since there was no one at home, I decided to do it myself.
While transfer it had slipped from my hands and fell on the floor. When had I picked it up, I realized that the front part was ok, but there was damage on the backside.
I tried to repair it myself by watching numerous videos on Youtube, but I got confused. Finally, I called one mechanic, he relaced the affected part with a new one. Finally, I installed the tv with the help of one of my friends, and it started working fine.
Why do you remember it? And how do you feel about it?
I remember it because spending life without watching Tv is an uphill task for me. Moreover, I had a fear, whether it would be repaired or not.
The whole experience is fresh in my memories. After that day, whenever I have to shift expensive items from one place to another, I take the help of others.
Sample Answer 3
Introduction
In the contemporary epoch, the central focus of the manufacturers is on designing products loaded with numerous features. However, the quality is going for a toss.
Due to this reason, many home appliances stop working within a short time. Recently one of my kitchen equipment stopped working.
What it is?
It was my microwave oven.
How was it broken?
The microwave was just one year old. However, its usage was too much. Every day I used to cook my meals on it. One day, while reheating rice, I forgot to collect the spoon from the bowl. Due to this, the magnetron inside the oven had broken down, and the machine stopped working.
Why do you remember it?
I vividly remember it because, during that time, my city was in a state of lockdown due to the corona pandemic. I found it extremely difficult to repair it because most repairpersons had closed their shops.
As I thrive primarily on my microwave for cooking, getting it repaired was the need of the hour for me. To do so, I ordered a magnetron from the Amazon website. Luckily I received it in two days. After that, I watched videos on Youtube to understand the replacement process.
After putting in earnest efforts, for one hour, I repaired it, and it started working with a bang.
And how do you feel about it?
I felt relieved because spending life with a microwave oven is a daunting task for most people. Moreover, I am proud of myself because I found a smart solution for the problem.
Conclusion
Finally, I realized that, in the contemporary epoch, we can solve our conflicts adroitly by using technology.
Sample Answer 4
Introduction:
Being a planned person, I always strive hard to take care of things in my possession. However, despite our best attempts, they do break.
Recently I had to do tremendous hard work to repair a thing inside my house.
What it is?
It is the double bed in my bedroom.
How was it broken?
The bed is about 50 years old. Due to regular use, the foundation weakened, and one day when we five friends sat on that, one of the pillars broke down.
Why do you remember it?
I remember it because we all friends fell and there were guffaws of laughter in my home. Fortunately, that moment got recorded on one of my friend’s cameras, and whenever I watch it, I feel like laughing.
And how do you feel about it?
Initially, I did not take it seriously and thought that I would buy a new bed, however, due to the corona pandemic, most of the furniture shops were not operational. So I had to leave the idea of buying a new one.
After that, I decided to go for the repair of the bed. I was under the impression that repairing it would be an easy task. However, to my dismay, the carpenter quoted me a high amount. In his opinion, replacing all the pillars was necessary to give the bed a new life.
As I found it challenging to have a comfortable sleep in the absence of bed, I decided to go for its repair. The carpenter took four hours to repair it. The bed was back in shape.
Sample Answer 5
Introduction
Since my childhood, I have had the habit of keeping my house spic and span. Due to this reason, when something breaks down at my home, I feel bad.
What it is?
One year back, the dining table at my house suffered damage.
How was it broken?
Last year due to the corona pandemic, I was at home for a sizeable portion of time. During that period, it was not worthwhile to go out. That is why I decided to play table tennis at my apartment by using the top of the dining table.
During the play, I became so charged that I put my whole body on the table: due to that, the glass top broke down.
Why do you remember it?
I remember it because getting it repaired during the pandemic was a daunting task for me. I called numerous shops, but no one was ready to provide repair service at my home.
Being under immense stress, I decided to do something beyond the conventional domain. To do so, I browsed the internet for hours, and on one of the websites, the display of marble top dining tables was there.
Since I have a marble shop nearby my home, I went there and got the top cut down as per the dimensions of my dining table.
And how do you feel about it?
Initially, I was upset with the damage. But later on, I realized that the experience I gained while repairing it enhanced my knowledge and will help me handle future conflicts adroitly.
Follow up Questions
Here are some examples of follow up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to cue card “ Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired ”.
1. Are IT-related jobs valued more by society?
In the contemporary epoch, people have realized the significance of information and technology. They are aware of the fact that in the past two years, this industry has brought a paradigm shift in the lives of people.
Moreover, most businesses are going digital nowadays. A large percentage of tasks thrive primarily on IT technology. Due to these reasons, IT-related jobs are valued more by society.
2. Is the quality of products worse than before?
In recent years, the central focus of the manufacturers remains on two things. Firstly, their attention is on strengthening their bottom line. Due to this, they are paying less heed to the quality of products they produce.
Moreover, there is no denying this conviction that customers focus more on features than quality. That is why the products come loaded with features but have inferior quality. Because many manufacturers have realized that customers of the contemporary epoch run after features. And companies leave no stone unturned to produce products that come loaded with innumerable features. Moreover, instead of focusing on quality companies put attention on introducing new features in the existing products or new product range.
3. What kinds of things do people like to repair by themselves?
Due to do it yourself websites and videos the percentage of people who like to repair things by themselves is inclining at a considerable rate. Mainly those people who love to play with screwdrivers and nuts usually prefer to repair at home instead of hiring mechanic’s services. Such people take inputs from others and do the repair. Moreover, in the contemporary epoch, a plethora of websites are available on the internet which focuses on do it yourself. For every problem related to products, there is a boatload of videos available on the internet.
4. Why do people like to get their mobile phones repaired in specialised stores?
The people like to get their mobile phones repaired in authorized stores, due to two reasons. Firstly, they have this fear in mind that the warranty would be void.
Another notable reason is trust. People have this implicit faith that specialised stores have genuine parts and experience repair persons. And due to this reason, they visit such stores.
5. Is repairing expensive in your nation?
In my nation repairing is an unorganised sector. Due to these reasons, the rates are not fixed and the charges depend on the repair person. And, many servicemen charge hefty prices for their services.
6. Is repairing always the best option?
Repairing is a good option in those cases where the repaired product could run for a sufficient period of time post repair. However, in those cases where the product has become obsolete or the repair cost is equal to the price of the new product, it is not worthwhile to go for repair.
Some more cue cards
1.Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired
2.Describe an ambition you haven’t achieved
3.Describe a time when you organized a happy event successfully
4.Describe something you received for free
5.Describe a famous person that you are interested in
6.Describe a toy you liked in your childhood
8.Describe a person you met only once and want to know more about
