Describe a time when missed or were late for an important meeting/event IELTS Cue Card
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
Describe a time when missed or were late for an important meeting/event
You should say:
- When it happened
- What happened
- Why you missed/were late for it
- Explain how you felt about this experience
Sample 1
Being punctual, I leave no stone unturned to arrive on time for important meetings and events. However, there are some situations when it is beyond your control to arrive on time.
I have been late in many scenarios. One such instance is worth mentioning. It happened six months back when I had to attend a meeting in New Delhi. It was winter, and I was going via train to participate in that meeting. On the way, there was a lot of fog.
The train started moving at a deficient speed, so the meeting was about to begin at 10. But my train reached New Delhi at 12, and it took me half an hour to get to the office. So, I reached my office at 12:30.
I was late for two and a half hours, which was a bad experience for me because I did not get much time to speak in the meeting because I was late, so my turn was over. Moreover, I lost the chance of getting promoted because my appraisal was due that day.
But since I was late, the manager who had to interview me went without meeting me, again a disappointment. Thirdly, in that whole scenario, it was not my fault. So I had to pay the price because of the delay in getting the train.
But in the end, I accepted it, and after two months again, a meeting happened. There, I arrived on time and gave a presentation. I also received an appraisal, a salary hike, and a promotion. So, all in all, the delay in reaching the meeting did not affect me professionally.
Sample 2
I was late for my annual day program because my friends and I were in a group that was having one program, and we went together. We were waiting for one of our friends, and he was very late. We arrived at that event very late, but we were not that late because our event was also late.
We dressed very fast and went to the program because we were late and had no chance to practice. But then we also performed a good thing on the stage, and everyone liked it, and I got that experience.
I liked it very much and experienced how it feels when we are late because we are in a hurry. We were also tense because if we were late, everyone would be sad.
After all, we planned, and other members who reached there early and practised were also tense because they needed to know whether we had practised. After the program, we all were happy because we had done a good thing, and everyone liked it.
Sample 3
There is hardly any time that I miss an important event or meeting because I am always punctual with my work, but it happened once when I got late in my summer camp class during my summer vacations.
I went to that class late, which embarrassed my teachers and friends, who were planning group activities and fun games for us. As we all thrive primarily on our school education, it was a moment to brush up on our skills, and teachers were having a central focus on ourselves.
Besides these things, I want to share my experience. I was busy with work, so I got late to my summer camp because my bike got stuck in the mu due to the harsh environment. As the rain was torrential at that time and this happened due to a sudden surge in weather, this occurred around 7 am; I was late for this reason, which I conveyed to my teacher and felt disappointed. She conveyed this message to my parents, who also told me not to be late in future and not break the bridge gap between teachers and other students. Finally, I apologized to her for not repeating this mistake in the future.
Follow-ups
Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to the cue card “Describe a time when missed or were late for an important meeting/event”.
Are you a punctual person?
Yes, I am a punctual person. I wake up early in the morning, do my work by myself, and come to do my studies on time.
Do you think it is essential to be on time?
Yes, it is essential to be on time because if you are always late, your work can be done late, and you will always be tired and feel stressed that I am late, so you should arrive before the time.
Do you always avoid being late?
Yes, I always avoid being late because I do not prefer to be late. After all, it does not make me feel happy and others. So I like to get up early and reach the place.
Why are people often late for meetings or appointments?
People cannot wake up early in the morning, which is the main reason they have parties or sleep late at night. So they cannot wake up early and are getting late for meetings and everything.
Are people in your country often late for meetings?
In our country, people are often late for meetings because if we see the politicians, they are also 2-3 hours late. Many big business people are late to the given time because they are busy or doing other work and do not give importance to that.
Do you think people are born with time management skills, or can they develop them?
People are not born with time management skills; they must develop them. They can be created at a young age when the mother can prepare the children for school very early.
She can make her routine very efficient so that the children adopt these routines all over their lives.