Describe a time when you got something for free.
This test has appeared in 8 seasons · 3 reported by test takers
- Sep–Dec/2025
- May–Aug/2025
- Jan–Apr/2025
- Sep–Dec/2024
- Jan–Apr/2023
- Sep–Dec/2022
- May–Aug/2022
- Jan–Apr/2022
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Your home
- Do you live in a house or an apartment? (Why?)
- Which room do you spend the most time in? (Why?)
- What would you like to change about your home? (Why?)
- Do you think you will live there for a long time? (Why not?)
Technology
- How often do you use technology in your daily life? (Tell me more about that.)
- Which piece of technology do you use most? (Tell me more about that.)
- What technology did you use when you were a child? (Tell me more about that.)
- Do you think people rely too much on technology these days? (Why is that?)
Making plans
- Do you usually make plans for your weekends? (Why is that?)
- How do you keep track of your plans? (Tell me more about that.)
- Have you ever had to change an important plan at the last minute? (Why is that?)
- Do you prefer to plan everything or be spontaneous? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a time when you got something for free.
You should say:
- what you got
- when and where you got it
- why it was free
and explain how you felt about getting it for free.
Follow-up question after your talk: Do you often get things for free? / Why do you think it was being given away?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
free things that companies offer
- Can you explain why companies give some of their products away for nothing?
- What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of giving customers free samples?
- In general, what do people think about a product that costs nothing?
free services in society
- Can you explain why services such as schools and hospitals are free in many countries?
- How would you compare services paid for by the government with services people pay for themselves?
- Can you speculate on how free content online will change the way people pay for news and music?
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.