# Describe a toy you liked as a child: IELTS Speaking sample answers

Speaking Part 2 - Objects

Describe a toy you liked in your childhood.

You should say:
- what the toy was
- who gave it to you
- how you played with it
- and explain why you liked it so much

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

## Band 7 sample

Well, the toy I want to talk about is a red remote-control car that I got when I was about eight years old. It wasn't anything special by today's standards, but at that time it felt like the most amazing thing in the world.

It was a present from my uncle, who was working abroad in those days. He came home for a holiday just before my birthday, and he brought this big box wrapped in shiny paper. I still remember tearing it open and seeing the car inside. It had big rubber tyres, a little antenna on the controller, and it could go surprisingly fast.

Most of the time I played with it in the courtyard in front of our building. I used to build ramps out of old books and pieces of wood, and then I'd try to make the car jump over them. Sometimes my friends from the neighbourhood joined me and we made a kind of race track with chalk on the ground. To be honest, we crashed it into the wall more times than I can count, so after a few months it was quite scratched and one of the light stopped working.

I think I liked it so much for a couple of reasons. First, it was the first toy I have ever had that was actually electronic, so it made me feel very grown-up. And second, it was connected with my uncle, who I didn't see very often, so it reminded me about him. Actually, I think it's still in a cupboard at my parents' house, though the batteries are definitely dead by now.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 answer speaks at length with a clear personal story and covers every point on the card. There is good range, with phrases like "by today's standards" and "more times than I can count", and the past habits ("used to build", "I'd try") are handled well. There are a few typical errors: a tense slip in "the first toy I have ever had" (rather than "the first toy I'd ever had"), "reminded me about him" (rather than "reminded me of him") and the agreement slip "one of the light" (rather than "one of the lights"). For Band 8, the speaker would need more precise and idiomatic vocabulary used naturally, and smoother, less predictable organisation than "first... and second". Delivered in clear chunks, it would be easy to follow.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/speaking/topics/describe-a-toy-from-your-childhood).

## 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.