IELTS Speaking Sample – Describe a toy that you received when you were a child

Describe a toy that you received when you were a child.

You should say:

1. What the toy was.

2. Who gave it to you.

3. How you used it.

4. An explanation of how you felt when you got this toy.

Band 8 Sample

Well, the first sentimental item that came to mind when I saw this topic was the stuffed animal named Marsupilami. This special toy was a birthday present. I can’t remember exactly how old I was, but I was probably about 5 or 6. This toy was important to me because I longed for it and it was a gift from my parents.

The toy was identical to the character in the cartoon I had watched. Therefore, I felt as if he had come from the movie. Marsupilami was a black-spotted yellow monkey-like creature with dog-like ears. The animals were characterized by an incredibly long, strong and flexible tail, used for almost any task.

As a kid, this was a fascinating and exciting toy for me. In the beginning, I did not allow any of my cousins and friends to touch Marsupilami. Marsupilami used to sit proudly on my bed each and every day, and every night he “slept” next to my pillow.

Thanks to the toy, I experienced a happy childhood. As the saying goes, “Teddy bears don’t need hearts as they are already stuffed with love.” This is also true for my beloved Marsupilami.

Vocabulary highlights

1. sentimental item: the object whose value derives from personal or emotional associations rather than material worth

2. stuffed animal: a toy with an outer fabric sewn from a textile and then stuffed with a flexible material

3. long for: want very much

4. identical: exactly the same

5. character: a person or an animal in a book, play or film/movie

6. creature: a living thing

7. characterize: be typical of

8. incredibly: in a way that is very difficult to believe

By ZIM Academic English School