Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers

Describe an experience when you lost something important - Cue Card # 331

Details: Written by IELTS Mentor

IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]

Describe an experience when you lost something important.

You should say:

what you lost
where and how you lost it
how important it was to you

and explain how you felt about it.

[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer 1:

Well, to be honest, I am usually a careful person when it comes to taking care of the things which belong to me. But unfortunately, despite our best efforts, almost everybody loses things just as I lost my pen drive (flash drive) about a few months ago.

Everybody these days uses a pen drive or flash drive, which is a small peripheral computer storage device which is used to save or store important files like - documents, pictures, movies or songs.

Needless to say, I also had many important files of some old movies, songs, documents and rare pictures of my family, friends and relatives from some time ago. In fact, I would say that some of those files were as old as 4 years, and included pictures and documents from my high school days. So, I guess that you can understand how valuable and dear that pen drive was really to me. But, unfortunately, I lost it one day on a rainy day when I probably tried to take the bus ticket out of my pocket (yes, I had the habit of carrying that pen drive to my work once in a while so that I could listen to some of my favourite songs from the old days there) in order to show it to the bus supervisor in a crowded bus.

However, I didn’t realise that I had lost my favourite pen drive until after I had actually reached my home. I also figured out that I may have lost it on the bus, while I was on my way home because I clearly remember keeping it in my pocket before leaving my office.

Anyway, after losing that little and favourite pen drive of mine, I felt like I lost a part of me because it contained many dear and valuable memories of mine from the past. I also felt that I should have been more careful in securing that pen drive, especially, on a rainy day when the buses in the city, where I live, are overcrowded.

Sample Answer 2:

Even though this topic reminds me of a time when I felt miserable and upset, I would like to thank you for allowing me the time and opportunity to let me talk about an occasion when I lost something important.

Well, I was a college sophomore back then, and one day, I lost my laptop with other important documents. I was on a public bus on my way home from the university. I had my bag with me, and it contained my laptop, charger, some music DVDs, a pen drive, 2 books and some other necessary papers. I lost the bag - God knows how - and the things that I had in my bag were also lost.

I remember I had my bag with me and I had to stand on the bus as there was no seat available. After an hour I left the bus and took a shared taxi. Finally, I walked for a while to get home. When I entered my room, I realised the bag was missing, and I had no recollection of the exact moment I lost it. That was a devastating experience! I got so upset! Soon, I went to the taxi stand and then the bus stand, and tried to remember exactly where I might have lost my bag. But nowhere could I find my bag! I lodged a written complaint with the bus company but never recovered my bag or its contents.

I felt so low and depressed that I could not sleep at night. Even though I knew that it was impossible to get the lost items back, I tried really hard. I reported to the nearby police station and contacted the bus authority but after 7-8 days, I gave up the hopes of getting them back. The laptop was hugely important to me as it had lots of valuable study materials, many family pictures, academic files and presentations. I felt so stupid and blamed myself for this nightmarish experience. Honestly, the whole experience and the feelings were pretty depressing.

Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

This topic asks you to describe an experience when you lost something that was important to you. To make your answer great, you should answer the four questions that come with the topic, i.e. explain what the item was, how and where it got lost, why it mattered so much to you, and how you reacted or felt afterwards. Here we have composed a few ideas to help you develop your own response. Hope you will find them useful.

1. Losing a mobile phone on public transport:
I once lost my mobile phone on a crowded bus during rush hour. I was standing and holding onto the rail when I noticed it was no longer in my pocket. The phone contained important contacts, personal photos, and work-related documents. I felt shocked and helpless because it was both emotionally and professionally valuable. Despite reporting it to the transport office, I never got it back.

2. Misplacing my university ID card:
During my first semester at university, I misplaced my student ID card on campus. I believe it fell out of my bag while rushing to class. The card was essential for accessing the library, submitting assignments, and entering examination halls. I was anxious and panicked until I eventually had to apply for a replacement. It taught me to be more careful with personal belongings.

3. Losing a wallet at a shopping mall:
Once, I lost my wallet while shopping at a mall. It had some cash, my driver’s license, and debit cards. I think I left it at the food court. The wallet was important because it held all my daily essentials, and losing it caused a lot of inconvenience. I was frustrated and worried, especially about someone misusing my cards. Fortunately, a kind stranger returned it to the mall’s lost-and-found the next day.

4. Forgetting a passport at a hotel:
While travelling abroad, I once left my passport in a hotel room after checking out. I realized it only after reaching the airport. The passport was incredibly important, as it was necessary for my return journey. I felt extremely nervous and stressed, but luckily, the hotel staff found it and sent it through a travel representative just in time for my flight.

5. Dropping an heirloom necklace:
I lost a gold necklace that had been passed down from my grandmother. I wore it to a family event, and I suspect it slipped off my neck while I was dancing. It was not just expensive but also held deep sentimental value. I felt devastated and guilty for being careless. Even though I searched everywhere, it was never recovered.

6. Losing exam notes before finals:
A few days before my final exams, I lost a notebook that contained all my revision notes. I had likely left it behind in the library. Those notes were crucial for my preparation, and their loss threw me into a panic. I had to redo most of them from memory, which was stressful. The experience taught me to keep digital backups in the future.

7. Leaving a laptop in a café:
I once forgot my laptop at a coffee shop after working there for a few hours. It had all my work files and personal data. I only realized it was missing when I got home. I was horrified because I hadn’t backed up anything. Fortunately, I rushed back, and the staff had kept it safe. It was a wake-up call about being mindful and backing up data regularly.

8. Losing a diary on a school trip:
As a teenager, I once lost my personal diary during a school trip. I think I left it in the hotel room or on the bus. That diary was like a best friend to me - it had personal thoughts, dreams, and even secrets. I was heartbroken and afraid someone might read it. Losing it felt like losing a part of myself, and it took weeks to get over it.

9. Misplacing a USB drive:
One time, I lost a USB flash drive that had an important presentation for my internship. I might have dropped it while transferring files between two offices. The presentation was due the next day, and I had to start all over again. I felt angry and disappointed in myself. After that, I began using cloud storage to avoid similar situations.

10. Losing house keys in a park:
Once I lost my house keys while jogging in a nearby park. I think they slipped out of my pocket without me noticing. I didn’t realize until I got back home. It was a stressful situation because I was locked out, and my family wasn’t home either. I had to wait for hours and eventually get a locksmith. It made me more careful with my keys ever since.

Sample Answer 3:

Thank you very much for the opportunity you have given me to talk about my experience of losing something important. In my preparation time for the given topic, I thought about many occasions when I lost something and finally, I decided to talk about the experience I had when I lost my University ID card. In fact, I had to go through a series of unexpected events because I lost this ID card and probably that’s why I remember this event so vividly.

I lost my ID card during the 4th semester at my university. You can realise how important the ID card is for a student, and it was a bit more important for me because our university was pretty strict about students carrying proper ID cards all the time!

I remember putting the ID card in my pocket while leaving home and to reach the University. I took a public bus and I don’t know exactly where I lost it! I noticed it while entering the library of my University where every student is advised to show their ID card. That was the first time I noticed that the ID card was missing. I searched everywhere but to my dismay, I could not find it anywhere.

This ID card was pretty important to me as it was required to enter the University building, library or even the classrooms. This was the only valid form of Identification I had at that time to show anyone in case I needed to. So losing it was a disaster for me at that time.

I felt pretty bad and was blaming myself for being such a careless person. I wrote an application to the University authority and they suggested I make a General Diary to the nearest police station. I had to submit several applications and run to different places before I was issued another ID card after almost fifteen days. Meanwhile, I had to face lots of problems and had to submit several applications that made me remember this event pretty vividly.

Model Answer 4:

Introduction:
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to talk about an experience when I lost something that was extremely important to me. I can recall that losing it was a stressful and alarming experience, but thankfully, I eventually found it.

What you lost:
The item I lost was my passport, which, as you can imagine, is one of the most vital documents we carry when we travel to a different country. You already know that a passport is essential for international travel, and without it, I would have been unable to complete my trip or return home. It holds my identity and is something I absolutely cannot afford to lose. Losing it caused me a great deal of anxiety and worry.

Where and how you lost it:
I lost my passport while I was staying at a hotel during a trip abroad. I had just arrived in the country and checked into my hotel. After settling in, I went out to explore the city. I don't know where I missed it, but when I returned to the hotel later that evening, to my horror, my passport was missing. I searched everywhere - under the bed, in my bag, and around the room - but it was nowhere to be found. I realized that I must have misplaced it or, worse, someone might have taken it.

How important it was to you:
My passport was extremely important to me. Aside from being a travel necessity, it contained my identity and was crucial for my return flight. Without it, I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything related to my trip. The idea of being stranded in a foreign country without it filled me with a sense of panic. I also felt a sense of vulnerability, knowing that losing such an important document could lead to major complications. I knew I had to act fast to try and retrieve it.

And explain how you felt about it:
The moment I realized my passport was missing, I was overwhelmed with a mixture of panic and frustration. I immediately called the hotel reception to report the loss. I felt a sense of helplessness, knowing that it could take time to resolve the issue, and I feared the worst - that I lost it outside. However, after a tense period of searching and contacting various departments in the hotel, I received a call from the front desk. To my immense relief, it was revealed that I forgot to take the passport with me when I went out to explore the city, and the housekeeping staff had found my passport on the floor of my hotel room.

In the end, I felt a rush of relief and gratitude. It was such a relief to know that everything was sorted out, and I could continue my trip without any more worries.

Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

When describing the experience of losing something important, using the right vocabulary can effectively convey the significance of the item, the circumstances of its loss, and your emotional response. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the sense of distress and the impact of the loss, making your response relatable and impactful. Here are some relevant words and phrases:

Misplaced: – Placed in a wrong or inappropriate position or place.
Example: I must have misplaced my passport somewhere in the rush.

Invaluable: – Extremely useful; indispensable.
Example: The item was invaluable, not just for its monetary worth, but its sentimental value.

Irreplaceable: – Incapable of being replaced.
Example: It was an irreplaceable family heirloom that had been passed down for generations.

A wave of panic washed over me: – I suddenly felt very anxious and frightened.
Example: When I realized it was gone, a wave of panic washed over me.

Frantically searched: – Hurriedly and desperately looked for something.
Example: I frantically searched my bag and retraced my steps, but to no avail.

Utter despair: – Complete loss of hope; extreme hopelessness.
Example: I felt a profound sense of utter despair, thinking it was gone forever.

Sentimental value: – Importance based on personal feelings rather than material worth.
Example: Its sentimental value was immense, far outweighing any monetary cost.

Gnawing anxiety: – Persistent and troublesome worry or uneasiness.
Example: A gnawing anxiety settled in, making it hard to focus on anything else.

Held deep personal significance: – Was very important to me on a personal level.
Example: The item held deep personal significance as a gift from my grandmother.

Lost my composure: – Lost my self-control or calm demeanour.
Example: For a brief moment, I completely lost my composure and felt like crying.

A bitter pill to swallow: – An unpleasant or painful fact or situation that is difficult to accept.
Example: Accepting that it was truly lost was a bitter pill to swallow.

Felt utterly helpless: – Experienced a complete lack of ability to do anything to improve a situation.
Example: I felt utterly helpless, with no idea where to even begin looking.

A stark reminder: – A very clear and unpleasant reminder of something.
Example: It served as a stark reminder to be more careful with my belongings.

Lingering sadness: – A feeling of unhappiness that continues for a long time.
Example: Even after all these years, there's a lingering sadness associated with that loss.

Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers

Describe an experience when you lost something important - Cue Card # 331

Describe an experience when you lost something important.

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