Describe a piece of technology you find difficult to use.
This test has appeared in 9 seasons · 3 reported by test takers
- Jan–Apr/2026
- Sep–Dec/2025
- May–Aug/2025
- Sep–Dec/2024
- May–Aug/2024
- Jan–Apr/2024
- Sep–Dec/2023
- May–Aug/2023
- Jan–Apr/2023
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Work or study
- Do you work, or are you a student? (Why?)
- Why did you choose that job or that subject? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do you enjoy most about it? (Why?)
- Is there anything you would like to change about it? (Why?)
Singing
- Do you like singing? (Why is that?)
- What kind of songs do you like to sing? (Tell me more about that.)
- Did you sing much when you were a child? (Why is that?)
- Do you think singing is a good way to relax? (Why is that?)
Swimming
- Can you swim? (Why is that?)
- Where do people usually go swimming in your area? (Tell me more about that.)
- When did you learn to swim? (Tell me more about that.)
- Do you think all children should learn to swim? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a piece of technology you find difficult to use.
You should say:
- what it is
- when you started using it
- what makes it difficult to use
and explain how you feel about using it.
Follow-up question after your talk: Have you ever asked anyone for help with it? / Do you still use it now?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
technology that is hard to use
- Can you describe the kinds of devices that ordinary people find hardest to use?
- In general, which groups of people have the most trouble with new devices?
- What could be done about instructions that ordinary people cannot follow?
learning to use new technology
- Can you explain why people ask family members for help rather than reading a manual?
- What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching older people to use computers in free classes?
- Can you speculate on how easy everyday machines will be to use in the future?
Test titles follow test-taker reports and each season's forecasts — IELTS does not publish its papers. "Reported" means someone reported meeting this topic in a dated test. The questions are written by us in the format of the real test.