IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card

Describe an item of clothing you purchased that you didn’t like

: You should say

what the clothing was
from where and why you bought it
what colour and style it had
and explain why you didn’t like it

: Sample Answer

Well, that’s an interesting topic to talk about. A few months ago I purchased a tie that I’ve never used and did not like it just after I brought it home. I bought this tie from a street market near the city shopping mall and it cost me around 7 dollars. In my office, we are allowed to wear casual dresses on Thursday. However, we are required to wear complete formal dresses on Monday and Tuesday and tie is mandatory on these two days in office. I purchased the tie specifically to use it in my office

It was a blue colour tie with vertical white stripes all over it. I have had three ties and none of them had any stripes on it. I thought the striped tie would add some variations to my tie collection but unfortunately, I did not like it at all. Surprisingly I liked it when I picked it from the shop but as soon as I tried it at home, my disliking grew for it

Since I bought it from a street market, I did not have the chance to trial it before purchasing. I chose it as it was and after I wore it at home, I found that it was shorter in length than usual. The making of the tie was poor and the stripes did not match me at all. After that, I thought to return it but it was quite impossible as the street market sellers often change their locations. Honestly speaking, I liked the colour and style of this tie but the poor making ruined it all

I still have this tie at home and I have no intention of wearing it ever again. This purchasing experience taught me a valuable lesson – never purchase an item of clothing too hastily and without actually trialling it first. I will perhaps never buy a tie from a street market