In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you get this card, one minute to prepare and up to two minutes to speak. Below: the notes a strong candidate might make in that minute, a natural Band 7–8 answer, the words that make it work, and the Part 3 discussion the examiner usually moves on to.
The cue card
Describe a time you were late for something important
You should say:
- what the event was
- why you were late
- what happened as a result
- and explain why you remember it
One-minute notes
Notes in the preparation minute should be keywords, not sentences — one line per bullet, plus the one detail that makes your story yours. Something like:
- a job interview, 3 years ago
- metro broke down; left with only 15 min margin
- ran, arrived 25 min late, soaked with sweat
- they still saw me; I didn't get the job
- remember: lesson — always leave an hour early now
Band 7–8 sample answer
The time I'd like to describe is when I was late for a job interview about three years ago. It was for a position I really wanted, at a design company I'd admired for years, so being late was about the worst thing that could have happened.
The problem was partly bad luck and partly my own fault. I'd planned my journey so that I would arrive about fifteen minutes early, which I thought was plenty. But halfway there, the metro stopped between two stations for nearly twenty minutes because of a technical problem. There was no signal underground, so I couldn't even call the company to warn them.
When the train finally got to the next station, I ran the rest of the way — in a suit, on a hot summer day. I arrived about twenty-five minutes late, out of breath and, honestly, soaked in sweat. To their credit, the interviewers were very understanding and still saw me. But I was so flustered that I didn't present my work well, and a week later they told me they'd chosen another candidate.
I remember it for two reasons. First, it was genuinely painful at the time, because I'm sure I would have had a better chance if I'd arrived calm. Second, it completely changed my habits. Now, for anything important, I leave at least an hour of extra time. Most of the time I end up sitting in a café nearby for forty minutes, but I've never been late for anything important since.
About 254 words — roughly two minutes at a relaxed pace. Notice what it does: one specific story instead of general statements, every bullet covered, natural spoken linking rather than "firstly… secondly…", and the "why" part of the card answered properly at the end — that is where many candidates run out of things to say. Use it to see the structure; don't memorise it. Examiners are trained to spot memorised answers, and your own story will always sound more fluent.
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Useful vocabulary
- plenty (of time) — more than enough
- out of breath — breathing hard after running
- to their credit — used to praise someone despite a situation
- flustered — nervous and confused
- a safety margin — extra time or space in case of problems
- run late — to be behind schedule
Part 3: questions and model answers
After your two minutes, the examiner moves to a discussion linked to the card's topic. These questions are more abstract: give an opinion, a reason and an example, and it's fine to say "it depends" — as long as you explain on what.
Is punctuality equally important in all cultures?
No, attitudes vary a lot. In some countries arriving five minutes late to a meeting is considered rude, while in others it's completely normal, especially for social events. Even within one country, people are usually stricter about work than about seeing friends.
Should employees be punished for being late?
Repeated lateness should have consequences, because it's unfair on colleagues who are on time. But it depends on the job and the reason. If someone is occasionally late because of transport problems, a conversation makes more sense than a punishment. Flexible hours can also solve the problem in many jobs.
Why do some people always arrive late?
Sometimes it's poor planning — people underestimate how long things take. For others it's a habit of trying to do one more thing before leaving. And in a few cases it can be a sign of stress or a lack of respect for the other person's time.
Has technology made people more or less punctual?
Both, in a way. Navigation apps tell us exactly how long a journey will take, which should make us more punctual. But because we can easily send a message saying 'running ten minutes late', many people feel lateness is more acceptable than it used to be.
More cue cards about experiences and events
- Describe a journey you remember well
- Describe an important decision you made
- Describe a time someone helped you
- Describe a goal you achieved
- Describe a time when you were very busy
- Describe an interesting conversation you had
- Describe a change that improved your life
- Describe a celebration you enjoyed
- Describe a time you changed your mind about something
- Describe a piece of good advice you received
- Describe a time you taught someone something
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