This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of writing a letterto a friend about a gadget.

Please consider supporting my efforts to creative high quality IELTS materials for students around the world by signing up for my Patreon (and don’t miss any of my exclusive IELTS Ebooks)!

Dave

IELTS Essay: A Gadget

You recently bought an electric gadget for your home. Your friend wants the same gadget and needs your advice. In this letter you should include:

  • What the gadget is
  • What you think about it
  • Advice about other alternatives your friend could buy

Hey Jimmy,

I know you’ve been considering getting a smart speaker so I wanted to let you know I just got a Google Home speaker. It’s not the latest model, I bought one of the last gen versions because I saw it on sale on Amazon for close to half off. If you check now, the sale might still be going on.

Anyway, I absolutely love it so far. It syncs with my Spotify account and also my robot vacuum. It naturally works with voice commands and I haven’t had any issues with it recognizing me for the most part. I use it for tons of stuff now: setting reminders, alarms, timers, asking random questions, sending messages, etc.

It is a bit on the costly side so if you missed the discount there are a few other viable options. Amazon has some cheaper voice assistants – though some people I know have trouble syncing those with Spotify so I wouldn’t want one personally. Other than that, I think the home speakers by companies like JBL and Sonos are out of your price range, frankly.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Dave

Analysis

1. Hey Jimmy,

2. I know you’ve been considering getting a smart speaker so I wanted to let you know I just got a Google Home speaker. 3. It’s not the latest model, I bought one of the last gen versions because I saw it on sale on Amazon for close to half off. If you check now, the sale might still be going on.

  1. Address the letter to someone.
  2. You can begin with a greeting.
  3. Include the first bullet point.

1. Anyway, I absolutely love it so far. 2. It syncs with my Spotify account and also my robot vacuum. 3. It naturally works with voice commands and I haven’t had any issues with it recognizing me for the most part. 4. I use it for tons of stuff now: setting reminders, alarms, timers, asking random questions, sending messages, etc.

  1. Begin to develop the second point.
  2. Add more detail to it.
  3. This one is focused on second point so include a lot.
  4. The more you add, the higher your task achievement mark.

1. It is a bit on the costly side so if you missed the discount there are a few other viable options. 2. Amazon has some cheaper voice assistants – though some people I know have trouble syncing those with Spotify so I wouldn’t want one personally. 3. Other than that, I think the home speakers by companies like JBL and Sonos are out of your price range, frankly.

4. Let me know if you have any other questions!

5. Dave

  1. Develop the last point.
  2. Keep developing it.
  3. Add an ending sentence.
  4. Use a phrase like regards or sincerely.
  5. Write your name at the end of the letter.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take notes on a piece of paper to aid memory retention.

Hey Jimmy,

I know you’ve been considering getting a smart speaker so I wanted to let you know I just got a Google Home speaker. It’s not the latest model, I bought one of the last gen versions because I saw it on sale on Amazon for close to half off. If you check now, the sale might still be going on.

Anyway, I absolutely love it so far. It syncs with my Spotify account and also my robot vacuum. It naturally works with voice commands and I haven’t had any issues with it recognizing me for the most part. I use it for tons of stuff now: setting reminders, alarms, timers, asking random questions, sending messages, etc.

It is a bit on the costly side so if you missed the discount there are a few other viable options. Amazon has some cheaper voice assistants – though some people I know have trouble syncing those with Spotify so I wouldn’t want one personally. Other than that, I think the home speakers by companies like JBL and Sonos are out of your price range, frankly.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

Dave

Answers

Practice writing sentences with the words below on a piece of paper:

considering thinking about

smart speaker a speaker you can talk to

Google Home speaker Google’s version of a smart speaker

latest model newest one

last gen versions models from before

on sale on Amazon discounted on a website

close to half off nearly 50% less

check look at

going on happening

Anyway regardless

absolutely definitely

so far up to this point

syncs match and work with

Spotify account music streaming platform

robot vacuum device for cleaning a house

naturally works with voice commands of course your must talk to it to activate it

issues problems

recognizing noticing

for the most part generally

tons of stuff lots of things

setting reminders making notes

alarms wake-up calls

timers alarms

asking random questions asking things

sending messages messaging people

etc. and so on

a bit on the costly side a little expensive

missed didn’t get

discount on sale

viable options usable choices

cheaper not expensive

have trouble have difficulty

personally for me

Other than that besides that

out of your price range too expensive for you

frankly honestly

Let me know if you have any other questions ask me anything else you want to know

Pronunciation

Practice with this tip using Google voice search to improve your pronunciation:

kənˈsɪdərɪŋ 
smɑːt ˈspiːkə 
ˈguːgəl həʊm ˈspiːkə
ˈleɪtɪst ˈmɒdl
lɑːst ʤɛn ˈvɜːʃənz 
ɒn seɪl ɒn ˈæməzən 
kləʊs tuː hɑːf ɒf
ʧɛk 
ˈgəʊɪŋ ɒn
ˈɛnɪweɪ 
ˈæbsəluːtli 
səʊ fɑː
sɪŋks 
spɒtifaɪ əˈkaʊnt 
ˈrəʊbɒt ˈvækjʊəm.
ˈnæʧrəli wɜːks wɪð vɔɪs kəˈmɑːndz 
ˈɪʃuːz 
ˈrɛkəgnaɪzɪŋ 
fɔː ðə məʊst pɑːt 
tʌnz ɒv stʌf 
ˈsɛtɪŋ rɪˈmaɪndəz
əˈlɑːmz
ˈtaɪməz
ˈɑːskɪŋ ˈrændəm ˈkwɛsʧənz
ˈsɛndɪŋ ˈmɛsɪʤɪz
ɪtˈsɛtrə.
ə bɪt ɒn ðə ˈkɒstli saɪd
mɪst 
ˈdɪskaʊnt 
ˈvaɪəbl ˈɒpʃənz
ˈʧiːpə 
hæv ˈtrʌbl 
ˈpɜːsnəli
ˈʌðə ðæn ðæt
aʊt ɒv jɔː praɪs reɪnʤ
ˈfræŋkli
lɛt miː nəʊ ɪf juː hæv ˈɛni ˈʌðə ˈkwɛsʧənz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Hey Jimmy,

I know you’ve been c____________g getting a s____________r so I wanted to let you know I just got a G________________r. It’s not the l_____________l, I bought one of the l__________________s because I saw it o_________________n for c_________________f. If you c_____k now, the sale might still be g________n.

A_______y, I a___________y love it s______r. It s_____s with my S________________t and also my r_______________m. It n_____________________________s and I haven’t had any i______s with it r______________g me f________________t. I use it for t_____________f now: s________________s, a________s, t_______s, a___________________s, s______________s, e____.

It is a_____________________e so if you m__________d the d__________t there are a few other v_____________s. Amazon has some c______r voice assistants – though some people I know h____________e syncing those with Spotify so I wouldn’t want one p__________y. O___________t, I think the home speakers by companies like JBL and Sonos are o____________________e, f_________y.

L_________________________________________!

Dave

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/best-gadgets-cool-gadgets

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Mobile Phones and Smartphones

  1. What are the advantages of smartphones?
  2. Should children be allowed to own smartphones?
  3. Do you thinks have a major or minor impact on mental health?
  4. Where in your country is it not appropriate to use a phone?
  5. Do you think smartphone usage may decline in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Your friend is going to stay in your apartment while you are away. Write a letter to your friend and include:

Where the key is

Instructions to look after the apartment

What should he/ she do on the day of your return

Recommended For You