Scorify.uzThe cue card
Describe a time when you were late for something.
You should say:
- when it happened
- where you were going
- why you were late
- and explain how you felt about it
Band 7 sample answer
I remember a time last year when I was almost an hour late for an important exam. It was my final English test, and I was supposed to be in the classroom at nine o'clock.
That morning my alarm did not ring because my phone had run out of battery overnight. I woke up at eight thirty, got dressed in a rush and ran to the bus stop, only to find a long traffic jam on the main road. In the end I took a taxi, but I still arrived forty minutes late. Luckily, the teacher let me take the exam, although I had less time to finish.
I felt extremely embarrassed and anxious. Since then, I always charge my phone before going to bed, and I set two alarms. It taught me that small habits can prevent big problems, and now I try to leave home earlier than necessary.
The funny thing is that my friends found the story hilarious afterwards, and for weeks they joked that I should buy a more reliable alarm clock. I laughed with them, but privately I was relieved because the result of that exam was actually better than I expected.
About 197 words, roughly 2 minutes of natural speech.
Key vocabulary
- in a rush — hurrying
- run out of — have none left
- traffic jam — a long line of stopped cars
- embarrassed — ashamed or awkward
- punctual — arriving on time
- make it on time — arrive at the right time
- a lesson learned — something you learned from experience
Tips for this cue card
- Tell it as a short story with a problem and a result.
- Use past perfect for earlier events: “my phone had run out of battery”.
- Explain what changed afterwards.
Part 3 follow-up questions
Is punctuality important in your country?
Idea: In formal situations yes, though social events can be more relaxed.
Why are some people always late?
Idea: They may underestimate travel time, be disorganised or have too many commitments.
How does being late affect work?
Idea: It wastes colleagues' time, damages trust and can lower productivity.
More discussion questions with full answers: IELTS Speaking Part 3 topics.
Study guides
How Is IELTS Scored in Speaking and Writing? Criteria, Weighting and Rounding
The short answer first, then the Speaking and Writing criteria tables, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine and how the overall band is rounded.
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors Explained in Plain English
The IELTS Speaking test is marked on four criteria. Here is what each one means at bands 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, with short examples you can compare with your own answers.
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How Many Minutes to Speak (With a Practice Timer)
How long Part 2 lasts (1 minute to prepare, 1–2 minutes to speak), a practice timer, a four-step structure and a model answer.