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

Describe a useful thing that you once borrowed

: You should say

what was it
who you borrowed it from
why you borrowed it
and explain why it was important for you to borrow it

: Sample Answer

Well, this candidate task card reminds me of several occasions when I had to borrow something useful and important from others. I would, however, go with my first instinct and talk about the event that came first in my mind. It was a recent event when I borrowed a thermometer from a neighbour. Though a thermometer is a small tool and is required only a few times, in particular, when someone suffers from fever, it is quite useful in my opinion

It was almost midnight and all of a sudden my younger brother, Sam, started feeling ill. He was complaining about feeling very cold and that was a symptom of getting caught by the seasonal flu. I rang one of my doctor friends and he told me not to worry too much unless Sam’s body temperature was really high. He also advised me some medicines and assured me that he would visit our home in case things get worse. It was at the beginning of the last month and my younger brother suffered from the fever for about 5 days. Luckily he recovered sooner than many others I know about, who were caught by the same viral flu

Speaking of that night, after I finished talking to my doctor friend, Rick, I searched for the thermometer to check Sam’s temperature. I assumed we would have at least two thermometers at our house, one in my desk and another one is in the fast-aid box that my father had. To my surprise, I could not find a single one! I searched everywhere and after 30 minutes of ceaseless searching, I quit and decided to borrow it from Paula, who was one of our closest neighbours

I called her and she was luckily awake. I explained her Sam’s condition and that I needed to borrow a thermometer from her. In 10 minutes she rushed to our house with the thermometer and talked to Same for a couple of minutes. She also brought some vitamin C enriched fruits with her and advised me to stay awake for a couple of hours to accompany Sam. She also talked with my parents and after an hour she left. She is still a caring and tender-hearted women who we consider our family friend

The thermometer I borrowed from Paula was really needed at that time. We had to check Sam’s body temperature in every 30 minutes. In the next morning, I bought three thermometers and gave my father one to keep it in his fast-aid box. I returned Paula’s thermometer after couple od days and thanked her for her support and care for us