Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe a time when you missed a bus, train or aeroplane - Cue Card # 503
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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 a time when you missed a bus, train or aeroplane.
You should say:
- when it happened
- where you were supposed to go
- how you missed it
and explain what you did after you missed 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:
I always try to remain punctual with my schedule, whether I am attending an important meeting or casually meeting a friend at a café. But I never thought that I would miss a train one day, in spite of being a punctual person for the most part. Let me tell you what exactly happened on that day.
It was about a couple of years ago, one day, when it was raining really hard, and I needed to go out of the town to attend the wedding ceremony of one of my best friends. The plan was to take an “express train” and reach my friend as early as possible. I even purchased the train ticket well in advance because waiting till the last hour would put me at risk of not getting the ticket at all.
Anyway, everything went according to my plan and schedule, but the non-stop rain, with occasional torrential storms, made it really difficult for me to catch a taxi in time. But, on the other hand, I was becoming a bit mad (at myself, perhaps) and nervous because the departure schedule for my train was approaching fast, and I couldn’t do anything about it except wait for the rain to stop. Anyway, eventually, the rain relented a little, and I finally got a taxi to arrive at the station. But by the time I reached the train station after manoeuvring an ocean of traffic, which had built up due to the bad weather and road conditions, I was already too late.
Anyway, after missing the train, I became a bit frustrated, and immediately tried to get some information on the next train schedule and its itinerary. But, unfortunately, it wouldn’t help me reach my destination in time. Next, I tried to catch a bus, but that too wasn’t much of a help because it wouldn’t hit the road unless the weather improved further. Finally, I called my friend and left the station, feeling a bit dejected, after explaining the situation to him. Finally, the weather conditions improved after two hours, and I took a bus to reach my destination.
Sample Answer 2:
Well, this is an interesting topic, and I'd love to talk about my experience of missing a train one day. I've missed a bus on several occasions, but missed a train only once. For this topic, I would like to talk about my experience when I missed my train from (...tell a train station name...) to (...another train station name...).
It was 2022, and I was around 19 years old. We were invited to one of my cousins' wedding ceremonies, and my parents could not arrange leave from their office. Therefore, they requested me to attend the programme. I booked my train ticket online. On that day, the train was supposed to leave at 9:00 am, and I reached the train station half an hour early. To my dismay, the train did not arrive on time. I got frustrated at 11:30 am as the train was yet to come! Whenever I saw a train at the station, I ran into it only to find that it was not my train. After a while, I heard from an officer at the train station that there was a minor accident, and that was the reason for the delay. I was hungry already, and went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. After that, I went to a shopping mall to purchase some items to kill some time. My "fate" must have been against me! When I returned to the train station, I heard that my train had arrived 20 minutes ago and had already left! I felt like I was hit by a thunderbolt. I hardly spent 40 minutes finishing my lunch and shopping, and during this time, I missed my train!
I immediately contacted the trainmaster, and he advised me to take another train that would leave at 3.00 pm. As I heard that it would not directly go to the (...destination train station's name...), I discarded this advice. I went home and took a bus the next day. There was no hiccup on my bus journey, but the previous day's event, when I missed my train, became an unusual event, as this was the first time I had missed a train. Afterwards, I have never left the bus or train station while waiting for a train or bus to arrive.
Sample Answer 3:
Introduction:
Missing public transport can be an annoying and sometimes stressful experience, but it often leaves behind a story worth telling. So thank you so much for the time you have given me to talk about such an experience. As soon as I looked at this topic, I clearly remembered one particular occasion when I missed a bus, and though it was frustrating at the time, it turned out to be quite a memorable experience.
When it happened:
This incident took place about a year ago, during the winter season, when I was supposed to travel to another town to attend a close friend’s wedding.
Where you were supposed to go:
The wedding was in a town that was around three hours away by bus, and since the ceremony was scheduled for the evening, I had planned to take a bus in the morning so that I would arrive comfortably on time.
How you missed it:
Unfortunately, I underestimated how long it would take me to get ready and reach the bus station. To make matters worse, the traffic was unusually bad that morning. By the time I arrived, the bus had already left just a few minutes earlier. That moment gave me an instant sinking feeling.
And explain what you did after you missed it:
At first, I was extremely upset because I thought I might miss the wedding altogether. However, after calming myself down, I quickly enquired about the next available bus. Luckily, another one was scheduled within an hour. I booked a ticket immediately and used the waiting time to call my friend and explain the situation. In the end, I managed to arrive at the wedding a bit later than planned, but still in time for the main ceremony. While it was stressful in the moment, it also showed me that even if things don’t go exactly as planned, there are usually alternative solutions if you stay calm and think logically.
Model Answer 4:
Thank you very much for this interesting topic. It reminds me of a rather frustrating experience I had a couple of years ago when my travel plans were completely derailed by a single, unfortunate incident. Please bear with me, and I will share the experience with you.
This happened about two years ago, right at the start of my summer vacation. I was incredibly excited because I was supposed to fly to Istanbul for a long-awaited trip. I had planned to spend a week exploring the city's rich history and culture with a friend who was already there.
The whole ordeal began when my taxi got stuck in unexpected, heavy traffic on the way to the airport. I had left with what I thought was plenty of time to spare, about two and a half hours before my flight's scheduled departure.
However, a major accident on the main highway caused a complete gridlock. What should have been a forty-minute drive turned into a two-hour standstill. I was frantically checking the time, feeling my heart pound with every passing minute. I tried to find an alternative route, but it was impossible. By the time I finally reached the airport, I was met with the sight of a closed check-in counter. I had missed the flight by just a few minutes. The check-in deadline had passed, and the gate was already closed.
I felt an immediate mix of shock and utter disappointment. I knew I couldn't just stand there, so the first thing I did was approach the airline's customer service desk. I explained my predicament, and the staff member, thankfully, was very understanding. They looked up the next available flight to Istanbul, but the earliest one was not until the following morning. I had to pay a rebooking fee, which was a bitter pill to swallow, but I had no other choice. After securing my new ticket, I had to call my family and my friend to explain the situation and inform them of the delay. The final thing I had to do was book a nearby airport hotel to spend the night. It was an expensive and frustrating mistake. The next day, I arrived at the airport extra early and, with a great sense of relief, finally boarded my flight.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe a time when you missed a bus, train, or aeroplane. To give a compelling answer, you should mention when it happened, where you were supposed to go, how you missed it, and explain what you did after missing it. Here are several ideas to help you develop your own response:
1. Oversleeping on the morning of an exam:
It happened during my second year at university when I was heading to campus for a midterm. I was supposed to catch the 7:10 a.m. bus, but I overslept by twenty minutes after a late-night study session. By the time I reached the stop, the bus had gone, and the next one was delayed. I grabbed a rideshare, informed my professor on the way, and arrived a little late but still managed to take the test, feeling both embarrassed and relieved.
2. Traffic jam en route to the airport:
One Friday evening, I was flying to another city for a friend’s engagement ceremony. Despite leaving early, a major accident caused a standstill on the highway, and I reached the airport just as the gate closed. I missed the flight by minutes. I rebooked the earliest available flight for the next morning, called my friend to explain, and spent the night at a nearby budget hotel, promising myself to use public transport or earlier rides next time.
3. Wrong platform confusion at a big station:
I was travelling to a neighbouring city for a job interview and arrived at the central station well in time. Unfortunately, a last-minute platform change was announced, and I didn’t notice it on the display board. I waited at the original platform and watched “my” train depart from the other side. After a moment of panic, I purchased a ticket for the next train, emailed the recruiter about the delay, and still made the interview - just with a humbler attitude.
4. Holiday timetable mix-up for a regional train:
On a public holiday, I planned to visit my grandparents. I read last week’s schedule and assumed the usual train time, not realising the holiday timetable had fewer services. I arrived to find a long gap until the next train. I called my grandparents, grabbed a coffee, and used the extra time to pick up some fruit and gifts from a market near the station.
5. Misreading AM/PM on a bus timetable:
I intended to visit a friend out of town and confidently planned for a 7:30 departure - only to realise at the station that the bus I’d memorized was 7:30 a.m., not p.m. The evening service had different times. I laughed at myself, booked the next available coach, and used the unexpected break to call my friend and catch up before actually travelling.
6. Getting stuck in the ticket line at a festival weekend:
I was heading to a coastal town during a popular festival. The station was overflowing, and the ticket machines kept breaking down, so the manual ticket line was enormous. By the time I reached the counter, my intended train had departed. I accepted the situation, bought the next ticket, and spent the wait people-watching and taking photos of the colourful crowd.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a time you missed a bus, train, or airplane, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey the situation, your intended destination, the reason for the delay, and your subsequent actions. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the feelings of frustration, panic, and disappointment, as well as the resolution of the problem, making your response both personal and relatable. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Missed a connection: – Failed to catch a connecting flight, train, etc.
Example: We missed a connection because our first flight was delayed by over two hours.
Departure: – The action of leaving, especially to start a journey.
Example: We arrived at the station just after the train's scheduled departure time.
On schedule: – At the planned time.
Example: Everything was going perfectly, and we were on schedule until we hit traffic.
Unforeseen circumstance: – A situation that was not anticipated or predicted.
Example: An unforeseen circumstance, like the sudden heavy rain, caused us to miss our train.
Hectic: – Full of feverish activity, confusion, or haste.
Example: It was a hectic morning, and I was rushing to get to the airport.
Panic-stricken: – Affected with a feeling of panic.
Example: I felt panic-stricken when I saw the plane was already gone.
Frustrated: – Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something.
Example: I was so frustrated with myself for not leaving home earlier.
Anxious: – Feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease.
Example: I felt anxious and unsure about what to do after I missed the bus.
Repercussions: – An unintended consequence occurring sometime after an event or action, especially a negative one.
Example: Missing the flight had serious repercussions for my travel plans.
Altered plans: – Changed or modified intentions or arrangements.
Example: We had to come up with completely altered plans for our trip.
Alternative transport: – Another form of transportation that is available.
Example: I had to find alternative transport, which was a very expensive option.
Rescheduled: – Changed the time or date of a planned event.
Example: The airline was helpful and rescheduled my flight for the next day at no extra cost.
Scrambled: – To move or climb in an awkward or hurried way.
Example: I scrambled to find a ticket for the next available train.
Stranded: – Left without the means to move from somewhere.
Example: I felt stranded at the station with no idea what to do.
Lesson learned: – Gained knowledge or experience from a difficult or unpleasant situation.
Example: It was a difficult experience, but it was a lesson learned about time management.
Resilient: – Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
Example: The experience taught me to be more resilient and not panic in such situations.
Your ability to talk about this cue card topic would enable you to talk about the following topics:
1. Describe a sad experience you have had.
2. Describe a time when you were late.
3. Describe an event when you were forced to change your plan.
4. Describe a time when you waited for someone or something to arrive.
5. Describe an event when you were late for an important appointment.
6. Describe a journey you remember well.
7. Describe a journey that was not up to your expectations.
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