IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Cue Card
Describe a time when you accidentally broke something important.
You should say:
what it was
what you did about it
how you felt
Sample Answer
Honestly speaking, I’m not someone who usually breaks things because I’m fairly careful by nature, but there was one incident that I still remember clearly because of how important the item was to me. A few years ago, I accidentally broke my laptop, which I used almost every single day for my studies, work-related tasks, and personal use.
This incident happened late at night when I was working on an important assignment. I had placed a cup of coffee next to my laptop, which in hindsight was a terrible idea. While reaching for my phone, I accidentally knocked the cup over, and the coffee spilled straight onto the keyboard. Within seconds, the screen went blank and the laptop shut down completely. I froze for a moment because I realised how badly I had messed up.
After the initial shock, I quickly wiped the surface and turned the device upside down, hoping to minimise the damage. The next morning, I took it to an authorised service centre to get it checked. Unfortunately, the technician told me that the motherboard had been damaged due to the liquid spill, and repairing it would cost almost as much as buying a new laptop. Since I had no other option, I went ahead with the repair because all my important files and data were stored on that device.
Emotionally, I felt extremely stressed and guilty at that time. I was angry with myself for being careless, especially because the laptop was expensive and essential for my daily routine. I also felt anxious about losing my data and missing deadlines. However, once the laptop was repaired and everything was restored, I felt a huge sense of relief.
Looking back, this experience taught me a valuable lesson about being more responsible with important belongings. Since then, I have become much more cautious, I never keep liquids near electronic devices, and I always back up my data regularly. Although it was a stressful experience, it definitely made me more organised and careful in the long run.
Lexical Resource
accidentally broke – unintentionally damaged
depended on heavily – relied on a lot
in a hurry – rushing
screen shattered – cracked badly
panicked – felt sudden fear or anxiety
authorised service centre – official repair shop
learned the hard way – learned through a bad experience
in hindsight – when looking back
careless – not paying attention
valuable items – important possessions
