IELTS Technology Vocabulary

IELTS Technology Vocabulary
Topic Vocabulary >> Lesson 3: Technology
The subject of ‘Technology’ frequently comes up in the IELTS Speaking exam. You
may be asked to talk about something you own, your favourite websites, how
technology has impacted on education etc. You’ll need to show the examiner your
ability to express yourself using as wide a range of vocabulary as possible.
Read the following IELTS-style questions and answers below and pay attention to the
phrases in bold. Use the ‘Definitions’ section at the bottom of the page to check the
meaning of any phrases you don’t understand.
Part 1-style questions
Examiner: Do you enjoy using technology?

Stephan: Well … I wouldn’t call myself a techie or a computer
buff but I enjoy using computers … I’d like to find out more
about how they work … when my computer crashes I never know
what to do.
"Examiner: Do you use the Internet for your studies?

Sophie: Yes … I’d be lost without it … I do lots of video
conferencing to practise speaking and social media like Facebook is a
good way to meet up with other students … and I download
podcasts that teach English vocabulary and grammar.
"Examiner: Do you have your own computer?

Tania: Yes … I have a Macbook Pro … I use it all the time …
for word processing … browsing websites and catching up with TV
programmes I’ve missed.
Part 2-style task
Describe an item of technology you have that is very important. You should say:
• what the technology is

• when you got it
• how often you use it
and say how different your daily life would be without it.
Mattie: I don’t have many gadgets … just a computer … a laptop and

my mobile phone … but I’ll talk about my computer as it’s so useful
… it’s funny really … 2 years ago I was still learning to use computers
… how to use email … send attachments how to access websites …
then I decided to do a digital editing course for video and photography
… and so I bought the laptop when I started the course … my
husband had a desktop PC but it was very slow so I decided to
upgrade to a powerful one because we do a lot of video editing on the
course … it’s a high-spec laptop … very fast … the latest operating
system … it boots up really quickly and it’s fun to use so it makes
working a pleasure … I’ve become a competent computer user now …
if I didn’t have it I daresay I’d have to spend more time at college
using their computers … but on the positive side I suppose I’d read a
lot more if I didn’t have it … I probably waste a lot of time surfing
the web … but hopefully I won’t have to be without it …
Part 3-style questions
"Examiner: What do you think are the important things people need to
learn when they start using computers?
Alejandro: Well … there are things like how to use the Internet …
how to enter a web address … how to navigate websites … that kind
of thing but it’s also important to know how to back up your files in
case your computer crashes … and all about Internet security.
"Examiner: What kind of technological developments have made the

biggest impact on our lives?
Faydene: In my lifetime it has to be the Internet of course but I also
think wifi has made a huge difference to how we interact with the
Internet … wireless networks at home and public wifi hotspots mean
we can go online easily … access our mail … log into our work
intranet and basically be connected wherever we are.
Examiner: Do computers make it much easier to study?

Jane: Definitely yes … researching information is much easier with the
Internet .. you can bookmark webpages for future reference and
writing essays is much easier … being able to cut and paste sections
of text means you can experiment with organisation … so yes …
compared to years ago when you had a pile of books on your desk and
a pen and paper … it’s now much easier.
Definitions
• to access websites/email: to locate

• to back up files: to make a copy of files in case of a computer problem
• to boot up: to start a computer
• to bookmark a webpage: to mark a webpage for future reference
• to browse websites: to look at websites
• a computer buff: an expert computer user
• to crash: to suddenly stop working
• to cut and paste: to move text or images from one place in a document to another
place
• a desktop PC: a computer that isn’t portable and remains in situ on a desk
• digital editing: to edit digital materials like audio or video files
• download (podcasts): to save a copy of a file from the internet to your own device
• to enter a web address: to type the address of a website into the address bar of
your browser
• a gadget: a technological tool like a mobile phone or camera
• to go online: to start using the Internet
• high-spec (laptop): powerful computer with top quality components
• Internet security: Internet safety
• intranet: a network of connected computers within an organisation that is not
accessible by unauthorised visitors
• to navigate a website: to find your way around a website
• operating system: the software that tells the computer how to work
• send an attachment: send an email with an accompanying file
• social media: media used to interact with other people such as Facebook or Twitter
• to surf the web: to look at a series of websites one after the other
• a techie: somebody who has an interest in technology
• to upgrade: to obtain a more powerful or feature-rich computer or piece of
software
• video conferencing: to see and hear people from different locations using the
Internet
• wireless hotspot: a public place where you can access the Internet
• wireless network: a network where users can access the Internet without the use of
fixed cables
• word processing; producing written texts on a computer
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Test yourself on topic vocabulary to talk about technology.

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IELTS Technology Vocabulary

Topic Vocabulary >> Lesson 3: Technology

Part 1-style questions

Examiner: Do you enjoy using technology?

"Examiner: Do you use the Internet for your studies?

"Examiner: Do you have your own computer?

• what the technology is

Mattie: I don’t have many gadgets … just a computer … a laptop and

Part 3-style questions

"Examiner: What kind of technological developments have made the

Examiner: Do computers make it much easier to study?

• to access websites/email: to locate

Test yourself on topic vocabulary to talk about technology.

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