Pens and Pencils - IELTS Speaking Sample Answer

IELTS Speaking Part 1 gives a general topic on which you are expected to speak eloquently and cover the topic from various angles. This IELTS speaking sample article contains questions based on pens and pencils. In IELTS speaking part 1, the examiner asks generic questions based on a wide range of topics. The target of this task is engaging in general conversation with the test-taker that includes IELTS speaking topics like home, education, work, family, academics, and more. If your answer is too short your interviewer will provoke you to speak further by asking you questions like “why” or “why not” you like something.

Topic: Pens and Pencils

Question 1: Do you usually use a pen or a pencil?

Answer 1: In the pre-COVID era, when students like me physically attended classes, the pen was the go-to tool for jotting down notes during lectures. However, when the talks shifted online, I mostly took notes on my laptop. When it comes to assignments, the professors prefer typed ones as it is much easier to comprehend.

Vocabulary:

• Comprehend – to understand, grasp mentally.
• Physically – being present somewhere in person and not virtually.

Answer 2: Being a student of architecture, my pencil is a quintessential part of my academic life. Although most of the work is done on specialised software with technological advancement, you never know the efficiency of a pencil that can be used without any setup.

Vocabulary:

• Quintessential – the most perfect or typical way or example of something.
• Efficiency – the quality of being not wasteful and not using many resources to achieve a particular objective.
• Specialised – Best or an expert for a particular topic, subject or activity.

Answer 3: Usually, using electronic devices like laptops or smartphones makes me very comfortable. So, I neither use a pen nor a pencil. I even use electronic sticky notes for giving me easy reminders. A fun fact! I chose this IELTS centre away from my home city since there was no computer-delivered IELTS centre. I am sceptical of using a pen or a pencil for my exam.

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Question 2: Which do you prefer using a pen or a pencil?

Answer 1: Mostly, pen. When filling up forms or documents online, it involves signing the name I use a pen. Furthermore, we must keep in mind that no official records are valid in my country if signed or filled up using pencils since it is considered an informal tool.

Vocabulary:

• Informal – a casual, relaxed, friendly, unofficial manner or style.

Answer 2: I have always preferred pencils. They are great, especially for a person like me who tends to make mistakes. So, the chances of spoiling something is minimised whenever I use a pencil along with an eraser in place of a pen.

Answer 3: Interesting question. Well, I think an appropriate answer for such a question is the context that one considers. So, if I am doing something of a very official nature, like giving an exam or filling up a form offline, I prefer a pen. Also, a pencil is never accepted in these cases. When it comes to taking notes, or when I doodle to counter my stress, I prefer pencils.

Vocabulary:

• Appropriate – suitable or proper in a current context or circumstances.

Question 3: When was the last time you bought a pen or a pencil?

Answer 1 : I have been talking about pens only, so let me tell you about the last time I bought some pencils. It was an online art competition that was held in the month of November. I had been an avid artist in my childhood, but being out of touch for quite a long time, I had no spare pencils at my place. I ordered a dozen pencils online, and gladly I got the third position in that online event.

Vocabulary:

• Avid – having or showing a keen enthusiasm or interest in something.
• Out of touch – lacking in updated knowledge or being away from something or someone.

Answer 2 : Unfortunately, the last memory of buying a pen is not a very pleasant one. It was the last day of the study holiday, and the next day one of the most challenging exams at my university was scheduled. I had to buy two pens before my exam, and while buying them, I remember I was pretty anxious.

Vocabulary:

• Pleasant – a sense of satisfaction and happiness.

Answer 3 : My friends and I are part of a social welfare club in my locality. During last Christmas, we had planned to give underprivileged children some stationery items to continue their studies from home. Apart from different colourful exercise books we bought about two hundred pencils along with fifty pens. It was one of the cherishable experiences of seeing smiles on children's faces during the holidays.

Vocabulary:

• Welfare – social effort or policy to ensure the physical and material well being of people in need.
• Underprivileged – Not enjoying the same rights, material well being and opportunities as the majority does.
• Cherishable – Something memorable in an affectionate way.

Question 4: What do you think if someone gives you a pen or a pencil as a gift?

Answer: I will be delighted if it is a pen. In my school days, I had a hobby of collecting expensive and vintage pens, and I had spent a lot of my pocket money on that. Getting it as a gift is fun, exciting and inexpensive at the same time. It will be strange for me if it's a pencil since it will be unexpected as they have very minimal use.

Vocabulary:

• Delighted – feeling or showing great pleasure in something.
• Hobby – An activity time done in one's leisure time for pleasure.
• Vintage – representing a best of its kind, usually from the past.
• Inexpensive – cheap.