# Describe a time you borrowed something: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Experiences

Describe a time you borrowed something.

You should say:
- what you borrowed
- who you borrowed it from
- why you needed to borrow it
- and explain how you felt about borrowing it

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

I'd like to talk about a time when I borrowed a laptop from my classmate, Mina. This happened in my final year of university, about two years ago.

It was the week before we had to submit our final project, which was a long report about renewable energy. One evening, I was working on it as usual and suddenly my laptop screen went black. I tried everything, restarting it, charging it, even asking my cousin who knows a lot about computers, but nothing worked. The repair shop told me it will take at least ten days to fix, and the deadline was in six days.

Luckily, I had saved most of my work online, but I needed a computer to finish it. I didn't have enough money to buy a new one, and the university library was always full, so I felt quite desperate. When I told Mina about the problem, she immediately offered to lend me her old laptop, which she didn't use any more because she had bought a new one.

To be honest, I had mixed feelings about borrowing it. On one hand, I was extremely grateful, because without it I don't think I could finish my project on time. On the other hand, I felt a bit uncomfortable, because I don't like to depend on other people, and I was really worried that I might damage it. I was so careful with it, I didn't even eat or drink near it.

In the end I submitted my report on time and got a good grade. I gave the laptop back to Mina with a small thank-you present, a box of her favourite chocolates, and since then we've become even closer friends.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer explains the situation clearly and gives a balanced account of the speaker's feelings. Vocabulary is appropriate ("submit our final project", "quite desperate", "depend on other people"), and complex sentences are mostly accurate. However, the feelings are organised with a predictable "On one hand... On the other hand" frame, and there are typical slips: "I don't think I could finish" (rather than "could have finished") and a missed backshift in "The repair shop told me it will take" (rather than "it would take"). Band 8 would express the feelings with more precise, idiomatic language and control past modals accurately.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-time-you-borrowed-something).

## Common questions

### How long should an IELTS Speaking Part 2 answer be?

You get one minute to prepare and then speak for up to two minutes; the examiner stops you at two. Aim to keep talking for the full time, which is usually 220 to 300 words.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and a learned script is marked down. Use the samples to see what each band does, then answer in your own words.