Describe a time when your computer broke down

IELTS SPEAKING CUE CARD

IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC

NOTE – The examiner gives you one minute to plan your answer, and to help you prepare for the topic, the examiner provides you with a pencil and a notepad. You’ll have to answer the questions given on the topic for one-to-two minutes

Describe a time when your computer broke down

You should say
When it was?
What you were doing?
What did you do about it?
And how you felt about it?

Sample Answer

Introduction

• Due to advancement in technology, computers have become an integral part of our lives.
• Therefore when this machine stops working our lives come to a standstill.

When was it?, and What were you doing?

• Last year I came across such a situation.
• Due to corona pandemic, my city was in a state of lockdown.
• To keep the business running, my employer gave me an option to work from home.
• I brought a computer from my office and started working from the comfort of my home.
• I was enjoying the new freedom I had by working from my residence.
• However, my pleasure didn’t last too long.
• One day while using the computer, I spilt coffee on it.
• All of a sudden, the machine stopped working.

What did you do about it? 

• I tried to fix the problem by using whatever little knowledge I had for repairing a computer.
• To my dismay, I wasn’t successful.
• I had put the system in a bag and took it to a repair shop.
• The damage was massive, and the engineer had to replace a few parts.
• It took him 4 hours to repair the machine.
• After repair, the system started working as usual.

And how you felt about it? 

• I got a sigh of relief when the system started working again.
• Since I was working on the project of a prestigious client of my company.
• This problem could have led to disastrous repercussions.
• But thanks to almighty the issue got resolved in time.
• Now I have made it a habit of not placing any eatable on my computer table.

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 a time when your computer broke down”.

1. What do people use computers for?

In this contemporary epoch, the usage of computers has grown manifold, particularly in the last decade people across the globe are running their offices with the help of computers. We can save our documents and photographs, we can have online classes with them, and we can even play games and watch movies on computers. So, the usage differs according to the need and purpose of the user.

2. Should students be allowed to use computers at school?

There is no denying this conviction that the usage of computers at school could lead to a paradigm shift in the efficiency of the students. The prominent reason why I believe so is that computers would help them to decipher their lessons interactively with the help of illustrations and, learning gets a paradigm shift. This will also empower them to obtain data across the globe. Furthermore, they can share their ideas with their educators immediately with the help of a computer.

3. What do you think of people who are addicted to computers?

A large section of society opines that computer addiction is a threat, however, I have a counter opinion. I believe to achieve something worthwhile in life, a combination of passion plus addiction is a must-have. In this contemporary epoch, a large amount of work gets done with the help of computers. 

4. Do you think computers make our life simpler or more complex?

Computers in general add simplicity to our lives however, nowadays we do beaucoup tasks and wish to do all of them quickly, so due to this approach complexity has made inroads in our lives.