Sample IELTS Speaking Part 1: Losing things

Undoubtedly, Losing Things is one of the most familiar topics for candidates. Right below is a sample of IELTS Speaking Part 1: Losing things with a band score of 7.0+, prepared by PREP's top-tier teachers. If you are self-studying for the IELTS exam at home, don't miss out on this article!

I. Questions related to IELTS Speaking Part 1: Losing things

Below are 10 questions related to IELTS Speaking Part 1: Losing things, which examiners may use to assess candidates' speaking skills that PREP has compiled:

• Do you often lose things?
• What can we do to avoid losing things?
• Why do some people tend to lose things more often than others?
• What would you do if you found something lost by others?
• What causes losing things?
• Why do some people lose things easily?
• How do I stop losing things so often?
• Where do people lose things the most?
• How do I stop losing things at school?
• What kinds of people lose things often?

II. Sample IELTS Speaking Part 1: Losing things

Refer to some sample answers right away on IELTS Speaking Part 1: Losing things with a band score of 7.0+, prepared by PREP's top-tier teachers. Take a look at them below!

1. Do you often lose things?

Yes, as an absent minded person, I often forget things. It’s not an excuse but my days are usually packed with various activities – classes, extracurriculars, social events – and I have to carry numerous items like books, gadgets, and personal belongings. This hustle and bustle can lead to misplacing things.

• absent-minded (adj): Having a tendency to forget things or be inattentive.
• hustle and bustle (idiom): A busy and noisy activity or commotion.
• misplacing (verb): Putting something in the wrong place or losing track of its location.

2. What can we do to avoid losing things?

I think it can be helpful to develop a routine or system. First, you should have a designated spot for most important items like keys, wallet, or phone because consistently placing them in the same location reduces the chance of misplacing them. Second, I feel like maintaining a tidy and organized living space can help as clutter often leads to things getting lost.

• designated (adj): appointed or assigned for a specific purpose or use.
• organized (adj): arranged or structured in a systematic and orderly manner.
• clutter (n): a disorderly collection of objects or things that are scattered about in an untidy or chaotic way.

3. Why do some people tend to lose things more often than others?

Some people lose things more often due to factors like their level of organization, attention span, and memory. Stress and busy lifestyles can also contribute, as can certain personality traits. Those who are less organized, easily distracted, or lead more hectic lives are generally more prone to misplacing items.

• Attention span: the length of time during which a person can concentrate or focus on something.
• Hectic (adj): characterized by a lot of activity, confusion, or busyness.
• Prone to: having a tendency or likelihood to do something.

4. What will you do if you find something lost by others?

Well, if I ever come across something that someone else has misplaced, I guess the first thing I'd do is try to figure out if there's a way to identify the owner. Maybe there's a name tag or contact info? If it's something valuable or important, like a wallet or a phone, I'd probably hand it over to the local authorities if there's one nearby. I remember once finding a set of keys in a park and I handed them to the park's office. It's just about doing what feels right and hoping if I ever lose something, someone else would do the same for me.

• Come across (phrasal verb): to encounter or find something by chance.
• Valuable (adj): having great worth, importance, or significance.
• Hand something over (v): to give or pass something to someone.
• Local authorities (n): the governing bodies or officials at the local level, responsible for managing and governing a specific area or locality.

III. Achieve a solid Band 7.0+ in Speaking by understanding and creating a positive impression with the IELTS examiner

Speaking confidently and fluently in English before a native-speaking examiner is not an easy task for many candidates, especially those who lack a practice environment to become familiar with the pressure. But don't worry, PREP is here to guide you with helpful tips throughout your learning and Speaking test, helping you achieve a Band 7.0+ right from your first attempt.

• Speaking in a native-like accent is not necessarily highly valued. Instead, focus on accurate English pronunciation, which is one of the scoring criteria evaluated by the examiner. 
• Pronunciation is the fundamental aspect of communication and determines 25% of your Speaking band score. Therefore, it's important to have a solid understanding of pronunciation-related knowledge, such as the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and other techniques like Chunking (pausing), Linking sounds, and Stress.
• Thousands of PREP students, despite starting from a basic level, have found the learning and practice process much easier by mastering foundational knowledge and accurate pronunciation from the beginning.
• Instead of cramming high-level idioms or collocations to "grab attention" from the examiner, focus on speaking fluently and using appropriate vocabulary naturally.
• Remember that Lexical Resource (one of the four important scoring criteria) evaluates not only the use of difficult or rare vocabulary but also the flexibility and precision of meaning and context. Therefore, learn vocabulary and understand its usage thoroughly.

Additionally, find a dedicated mentor who can accompany you and help you become the "best version" aligned with what the IELTS examiner is looking for. And where else to find that mentor than through high-quality practice assessments from teachers and PREP's virtual practice room? Apart from receiving feedback and understanding your strengths and weaknesses, you can also learn useful collocations and idioms that teachers correct and AI suggests for your speaking ideas.

Start practicing the IELTS Speaking Part 1: Losing things proficiently at home to confidently participate in the real test and achieve your targeted band score. Good luck!