Describe a piece of technology that you find difficult to use.
You should say:
- 1what it is~30s
- 2when you got it~30s
- 3what you got it for~30s
- 4and explain how you feel about using it~30s
Reported in July 2026 Technology & Media
Plan it in one minute
What each point needs, about 30 seconds on each.
- 1What it isSet the scene: a real time, place or person. Specific beats impressive.
- 2When you got itOne keyword and one example is enough.
- 3What you got it forSay it in one line, then add one detail.
- 4Explain how you feel about using itThis is your ending. One clear reason or lesson, said with confidence.
Sample answers: Band 6, 7 and 8
One story told three ways. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Band 6
Um, the piece of technology is my Garmin smartwatch. I got it in March, when I was preparing for a charity run in Da Nang - a five-kilometre run - no, sorry, ten kilometres. I bought it because I wanted to keep track of my running1, and I also wanted to see messages without taking my phone out. My older cousin helped me set it up, but it have so many functions2, so I didn't understand everything at first. The main problem is the small screen. The menus is quite difficult to read, especially when I'm running, and I sometimes press the wrong button. I can use the basic timer, but I still struggle to change the training plans. You know, I was very excited when I bought it3 because I thought it would make running easier. Now I feel a bit frustrated, but also happy because it tells me how far I ran. Um, I don't hate it, because it helps me exercise. I just think the instructions should be clearer, so I can use more of its features. I still wear it, but I don't use every function.
Why it's a Band 6
I bought it because I wanted to keep track of my running
This gives a clear reason using a simple link with because.it have so many functions
This contains a small agreement slip, but the meaning is clear.You know, I was very excited when I bought it
The filler You know makes the speech sound natural but less controlled.
What lifts it to Band 7 Change “it have” to “it has” and “The menus is” to “The menus are”, then “I feel a bit frustrated” to “I feel frustrated because the menus are hard to navigate”.
Phrases to borrow
keep track of
/kiːp træk əv/
follow or record something over time
This app helps me keep track of my spending.
set up
/ˌset ˈʌp/
prepare a device so it is ready to use
My brother helped me set up the new printer.
Band 7
The piece of technology I find difficult to use is my Garmin smartwatch. I got it in March last year, just before I joined a charity run in Da Nang. I bought it mainly to keep track of my distance and heart rate, but I also liked the idea of checking messages without pulling out my phone. My cousin helped me set it up, although there was so many settings that I needed a couple of evenings1 to understand them. Um, I can manage the basic functions now, but I still haven't completely got the hang of changing the training plans. The screen is quite small, and the menus are not very easy to use, so when I'm moving quickly, one wrong tap can take me somewhere unexpected2. That really throws me off, especially if I'm trying to start a timed workout. I mean, the watch is useful, but it isn't as convenient as I imagined. The whole thing is really nice in theory, but I only use a few features3, so I sometimes wonder if I chose the right model. At the same time, it has encouraged me to run more regularly. When I see my weekly distance, I feel motivated to make the most of each training session. So my feelings are mixed. I like what it can do, but I wish it was more simple for a normal user. I still wear it on every run, although I mostly leave the advanced settings alone.
Why it's a Band 7
there was so many settings that I needed a couple of evenings
This links the number of settings to the time needed, with one small agreement slip.one wrong tap can take me somewhere unexpected
This uses specific vocabulary to explain exactly why the watch is difficult.The whole thing is really nice in theory, but I only use a few features
This gives a balanced opinion with a natural contrast and slightly general wording.
What lifts it to Band 8 Change “there was so many settings” to “there were so many settings”, “more simple” to “simpler”, and “The whole thing is really nice in theory” to “The watch is impressive in theory”.
Phrases to borrow
keep track of
/kiːp træk əv/
follow or record something over time
This app helps me keep track of my spending.
set up
/ˌset ˈʌp/
prepare a device so it is ready to use
My brother helped me set up the new printer.
get the hang of
/ɡet ðə ˈhæŋ əv/
gradually learn something through practice
It took me a week to get the hang of the software.
throw someone off
/θrəʊ ˈsʌmwʌn ɒf/
make someone confused or less confident
The sudden change in plans threw me off.
make the most of
/meɪk ðə məʊst əv/
use something as well as possible
We made the most of our short holiday.
Band 8
The device that still tests my patience is my Garmin smartwatch, which I bought in March last year, a few weeks before I took part in a charity run in Da Nang. I got it to keep track of my distance, heart rate, and recovery, and I was also attracted by the promise of reading notifications without reaching for my phone. My cousin helped me set it up, but the initial excitement faded when I realised how many layers of menus it had1. I can use the essentials without thinking, yet I still haven't fully got the hang of creating a personalised training plan. The tiny screen is the biggest obstacle. When I'm running, my fingers are sweaty and my attention is elsewhere, so a single accidental tap throws me off and sends me into a completely different section. To be fair, the watch isn't badly designed - it's just made for people who already know what they're doing. The problem is that I don't want technology to become a second job2. I bought it to make the most of my training, not to spend my evenings watching tutorials. Even so, it has changed my habits for the better because the data makes my progress visible. I'm grateful for that, but, honestly, it's also shown me something a bit embarrassing about myself. I enjoy having advanced tools, but I don't always have the time to learn them properly3. Anyway, I still wear it on every run - I've just stopped fighting with the fancy settings.
Why it's a Band 8
the initial excitement faded when I realised how many layers of menus it had
This develops the problem with a clear time link and precise vocabulary.The problem is that I don't want technology to become a second job
This uses a natural idiom to explain the feeling clearly and accurately.I enjoy having advanced tools, but I don't always have the time to learn them properly
This balanced sentence links the device's strengths with the speaker's behaviour.
What would make it a 9 For Band 9, change “I’ve just stopped fighting with the fancy settings” to “I’ve just stopped fiddling with the interval and recovery menus”.
Phrases to borrow
keep track of
/kiːp træk əv/
follow or record something over time
This app helps me keep track of my spending.
set up
/ˌset ˈʌp/
prepare a device so it is ready to use
My brother helped me set up the new printer.
get the hang of
/ɡet ðə ˈhæŋ əv/
gradually learn something through practice
It took me a week to get the hang of the software.
throw someone off
/θrəʊ ˈsʌmwʌn ɒf/
make someone confused or less confident
The sudden change in plans threw me off.
make the most of
/meɪk ðə məʊst əv/
use something as well as possible
We made the most of our short holiday.
Part 3: what the examiner asks next
Real follow-up questions candidates reported with this card.
- What technology products do people use most these days?
- Why do large companies keep producing new products?
- Why are people so keen to buy the newest phone models, even when little has changed?
- How have electronic devices changed over the years?
- Do you think everyone needs to know how to use electronic devices?
- Do you think we could live without electrical appliances now?
Your turn: talk through the card
Describe a piece of technology that you find difficult to use.
Talk for one to two minutes, one point at a time. Nothing is uploaded.
0:00 / 0:00
Answer it with the examiner
Sign in free, then speak for 1–2 minutes and get a band score with one thing to fix.
Which phrase means…
follow or record something over time
“This app helps me keep track of my spending.”
keep track of
heytardy