Aditya from Bengaluru works in IT, but in his Part 3 practice he kept saying technology is “very useful”. He couldn’t find words for the risks he wanted to describe.

Learn IELTS technology vocabulary as phrases with their usual partners, not as single words. The 15 phrases below sit in two groups, with three Task 2 questions and three Part 3 questions to practise on.

Why Do Technology Answers Sound Vague?

In Speaking, the public Band 7 descriptor for Lexical Resource mentions vocabulary used flexibly across a variety of topics, and effective paraphrase. Repeating “very useful” shows little of either.

UPI and other digital payments, online classes and smartphones give you everyday examples; the tables give you the phrases.

Technology Words: Everyday Technology

Word or phrase Meaning Example
screen time Time spent using a phone, computer, tablet or television. Many parents try to limit screen time for young children.
digital payments Payments made electronically instead of with cash. UPI and other digital payments let people pay without carrying cash.
tech-savvy Good at using modern technology; informal, so better for speaking. Tech-savvy students quickly learn how to use new apps.
user-friendly Easy for ordinary people to use or understand. The bank’s app became more user-friendly after the redesign.
cutting-edge Very new and advanced; used before a noun. The company uses cutting-edge technology to speed up deliveries.
obsolete No longer used because something newer has been invented. Dial-up modems became obsolete when faster broadband arrived.
rely heavily on To depend very much on something or someone. Modern businesses rely heavily on cloud servers to store files.
innovation The introduction of new ideas, methods or products. Technological innovation changes how people work and communicate.

Technology Words: Risks and Change

Word or phrase Meaning Example
digital divide The gap between people with internet access and people without it. A lack of affordable internet can widen the digital divide.
automation Using machines and computers to do work people once did. Automation can speed up factory production but reduce the number of jobs.
artificial intelligence Computer systems that can copy intelligent human behaviour. Artificial intelligence can help doctors read medical scans more quickly.
data privacy Protecting the personal information that companies collect about you. Strong data privacy rules limit how companies use customers’ personal details.
cybersecurity Measures that protect computers and data from criminal attacks. Banks invest in cybersecurity to protect customer accounts from hackers.
online fraud Crime in which people are tricked out of money over the internet. Fake shopping websites are one kind of online fraud.
job displacement Workers losing their jobs because technology replaces them. Automation may cause job displacement among workers who do routine tasks.

Collocation and Word Form: Errors to Avoid

Incorrect: “Many companies invest in the cutting-edge to improve production.”

Correct: “Many companies invest in cutting-edge technology to improve production.”

“Cutting-edge” is an adjective that comes before a noun.

Incorrect: “Modern banking relies heavily in digital payment apps.”

Correct: “Modern banking relies heavily on digital payment apps.”

Dictionaries give rely on (or rely upon) something; “in” does not follow rely.

IELTS Writing Task 2: Technology Practice Questions

Give yourself five minutes to plan each answer, which is our advice, not an IELTS rule. Then write it using at least four phrases from the tables.

Practice question 1 (written for this post)

Some companies now use artificial intelligence to do tasks that employees once did. Is this a positive or negative development?

  • AI can handle routine office tasks, freeing staff for more creative work.
  • It may raise productivity in areas such as medical diagnosis and financial analysis.
  • Automation could cause job displacement among workers who do routine tasks.
  • Decisions made by AI may be hard to explain or challenge.

Practice question 2 (written for this post)

Some people believe that young children should not be allowed to own or use smartphones. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

  • Too much screen time can affect children’s sleep and physical activity.
  • Unrestricted access may expose children to unsuitable content and online bullying.
  • Phones give access to educational apps and let children contact parents.
  • Parents could use controls and time limits instead of a complete ban.

Practice question 3 (written for this post)

As more public services move online, some older people find them difficult to use. What problems does this cause, and what can be done about them?

  • Complicated websites can make banking or health services hard for older people to use.
  • A digital divide may leave some older people feeling isolated.
  • Free local workshops could teach basic digital skills.
  • Services should keep phone or in-person options alongside online ones.

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Technology Questions and Sample Answers

Part 3 is a discussion of general, abstract issues linked to your Part 2 topic, so practise extended answers on abstract topics and language for giving reasons.

How has technology changed the way families communicate?

Sample answer (illustrative Band 7)

It’s made staying in touch much easier, especially across long distances. Even my grandparents have become tech-savvy enough to use video calls. The downside is screen time at home: when everyone is on their phones during meals, we talk to each other much less.

Is it good to rely on technology for everyday tasks?

Sample answer (illustrative Band 7)

It saves a lot of time. With digital payments, for example, people don’t have to stand in a queue to pay a bill. But if you rely heavily on apps, you feel stuck when the network goes down, so I think it’s sensible to keep some basic skills offline.

Should governments control how companies use people’s data?

Sample answer (illustrative Band 7)

I think so, because individual users can’t protect their own data. Clear data privacy rules would limit how companies use personal details, and better cybersecurity could reduce online fraud. On the other hand, very strict rules might slow down innovation, so governments need to find a balance.

Tip

Say each phrase aloud in a sentence about your own phone or apps.

Key Takeaways

  • Learn technology phrases with their usual partners, not as single words.
  • Check word class and prepositions: cutting-edge technology, rely on.
  • In Task 2, cover both the benefits and the risks.

The bottom line: Next time you practise, build one answer around a benefit and a risk, such as digital payments and online fraud.