A couple of years ago, I decided to spruce up my living room, and I ended up purchasing a handcrafted mid-century modern velvet armchair. I found it in a tucked-away independent boutique called 'The Curated Nest' during a weekend trip to Brighton. I had been browsing online for weeks, looking for something that struck a balance between aesthetic appeal and actual comfort, but most high-street options felt either too flimsy or overly formal. When I spotted this particular chair, I was immediately drawn to its rich, forest-green hue and the tapered walnut legs which gave it a sophisticated yet inviting profile. I chose it because it felt like a statement piece that wouldn't dominate the space but would instead tie together the neutral colours of my flat. Since bringing it home, it has quickly become my favourite spot in the house. I adore it because the fabric is incredibly tactile and soft, making it the perfect place to curl up with a book after a long, draining day at the office. There is something profoundly satisfying about owning an item that is both functional and beautiful. It brings a sense of warmth to the room that wasn't there before, and I find that the deep, saturated colour really pops against my grey walls. It is one of those rare purchases where the reality actually exceeded my expectations; it elevates the entire atmosphere of my living room and makes the space feel truly curated and personal, rather than just a collection of mass-produced furniture pieces.
The cue card
Describe something you liked very much that you bought for your home.
You should say:
- →What you bought?
- →When and where you bought it?
- →Why did you choose this particular thing?
- →And explain why you liked it so much.
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
An object
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Select an item you can describe using sensory details like colour, texture, or smell.
- 2
Jot down the location and timeframe first to ensure you have the context ready.
- 3
Use the bullet points as a roadmap to keep your story flowing in logical order.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.
Say it and get a band free →8 words
Useful vocabulary for this cue card
spruce up
to make a place look cleaner or tidier
tucked-away
hidden in a quiet or hard to find place
flimsy
weak and likely to break or bend easily
tapered
becoming gradually narrower towards one end of something
statement piece
a bold item designed to attract positive attention
tactile
pleasant or attractive to touch with hands
saturated
a colour that is very deep and intense
curated
carefully chosen and organised by a specific person
6 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1Why don't some people care about how their home looks?
- 2Do you think it is very expensive to make a home look nice?
- 3Why do some people buy lots of things for their home?
- 4In what ways is living in a flat/apartment better than living in a house?
- 5Do you think homes will look different in the future?
- 6Do you agree that the kinds of homes people prefer change as they get older?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe something you liked very much that you bought for your home."?+
Select an item you can describe using sensory details like colour, texture, or smell.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
Keep practising
More cue cards: an object
- Describe a beanbag chair in your bedroom
- Describe a bedside table you use in your bedroom
- Describe a board game you enjoy playing
- Describe a colourful beach towel you own
- Describe a colourful tie or scarf you wear
- Describe a comfortable armchair or sofa you like
- All 705 IELTS cue cards 2026
- IELTS speaking practice with AI scoring
- IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and answers
- IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions
- IELTS speaking predictions
- IELTS pronunciation practice
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