Describe a time when you were not allowed to use a mobile phone
IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card with a full sample answer, a Band 9 model of the two-minute long turn.
The cue card
Describe a time when you were not allowed to use a mobile phone
You should say:
- when it was
- why you couldn't use it
- what you did instead
- and explain how you felt
Sample answer
I'd like to describe a time when I wasn't allowed to use my mobile phone, which was during an important final exam at university.
This happened a couple of years ago, during my exam period. Like in most formal examinations, we were strictly prohibited from bringing any electronic devices, including mobile phones, into the exam hall.
The reason I couldn't use it was, quite simply, to prevent any possibility of cheating. To ensure the integrity of the exam, all students had to switch off their phones and leave them at the front of the room, or in their bags outside, for the entire three-hour duration. It was a strict rule that everyone had to follow without exception.
Instead of using my phone, I obviously focused entirely on completing the exam, which required my full concentration anyway. During the short breaks, however, rather than mindlessly scrolling through my phone as I normally would, I found myself simply resting my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves, and chatting briefly with a fellow student. It was a strange but oddly refreshing change.
As for how I felt about it, my feelings were actually quite mixed. At first, being separated from my phone made me feel a little anxious and disconnected, as I've grown so used to having it constantly within reach. It's almost become an extension of myself, so being without it felt unusual. However, as the exam went on, I realised that not having my phone was actually a blessing in disguise. Without the constant temptation of notifications and distractions, I was able to concentrate far more deeply than I usually can.
In fact, the experience made me reflect on just how dependent I've become on my phone, and how much more focused and present I feel without it. Since then, I've deliberately tried to spend more time away from my phone, which I believe has been genuinely good for my wellbeing.
322 words — roughly 2–3 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 2 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How long should I speak for in Part 2?
Between one and two minutes. The examiner stops you at two, so aim to still be talking at the ninety-second mark rather than finishing early — running out at forty seconds is the most common problem in this part.
What do I do with the one minute of preparation time?
You get one minute and a pencil and paper. Most candidates waste it writing full sentences they then read aloud, which sounds flat. Note a few keywords against each bullet instead, so you have four things to say and can speak naturally from them.
Do I have to cover all four bullet points?
They are prompts, not a checklist, and you are not penalised for skipping one. In practice they are the easiest way to fill two minutes, so covering them is usually the simplest way to keep going.
Does it matter if the story is not true?
No. You are assessed on your English, not on whether the events happened. Inventing detail is fine and often easier than recalling a real memory under pressure.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.