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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 an occasion when you forgot something important.

You should say:

• what you forgot
• how important it was
• why you possibly forgot it

and explain what you did when you remembered it.

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

Model Answer 1:
I am not usually a forgetful person, even on my worst day, since I try to keep everything in my possession as organised as possible. But, then again, I am also a human, and as such, I do tend to forget about important things on a rare occasion, just like I forgot to carry my train ticket the other day.

Well, forgetting a train ticket wasn’t supposed to be a big deal if I had bought it on the internet. But, unfortunately, like the other times, I couldn’t buy it online, as according to the railway ticket authority, the computer server was not working properly, which meant that I actually needed to travel quite a distance to buy that ticket from the rail station two days before the intended travel. I had placed my ticket in a drawer in my home.

And, that’s probably the reason that I forgot to pick up the ticket from my home before heading to the rail station. Since I always buy my train tickets online, I don’t really have to have a hard copy of the ticket in my hand, as the ticket authority always sends me a text message on my phone and to my email address. So, when I go to the station, all I do is just show that message or the email. In other words, there is no issue here of carrying the hard copy of the ticket. But that day, it did not happen, and I forgot my train ticket copy that I bought from a counter. By the way, that ticket was really important as I needed to travel to my corporate head office in another town in order to attend an important training session. 

So, as soon as I remembered that I forgot to pick up the ticket, I contacted the customer service department of the train station, and they suggested that I should either get back home to get the ticket if I live nearby, or ask someone at my home to take a picture of the ticket and send it to my email. If I can show them the picture of the ticket, they would be able to verify it and reissue a ticket if required. I opted for the second option and asked my elder brother to send me a picture of the ticket on WhatsApp. After verifying the ticket and my identity, the ticket issuing clerk printed a copy of that ticket and saved me from further trouble.

Sample Answer 2:
I have recently graduated from college, and my memories of my college years are still vivid. On one occasion, I forgot to submit an important assignment, and for this topic, I would like to talk about this event.

I was in my 8th semester, and we were supposed to submit an assignment, which alone carried 40% marks of this course. The pass mark for each coursework was 75%, and due to this, the assignment was crucial for every student.

At the end of the semester, our course teacher assigned individual assignments to every student and gave us a deadline for the submission. He told us that any sort of plagiarism in his assignment would be severely punished. I diligently worked on the assignment and completed almost 80% to 85%. Unfortunately, I got a severe fever at that time. I had to see a doctor and take medicine to recover from this viral fever. After a week, I joined the class, but unfortunately, I completely forgot my deadline for the assignment! I possibly forgot it due to my sickness and the distractions caused by it. Sometimes the fever was so severe that I had to take several pills together.

Soon after I realised that I had missed my deadline, I tried to contact Professor Stuart, but I heard that he would not be available until next week. It was quite a frustrating experience for me. I then concentrated on finishing my assignment and waited for the professor to return. Next week, I met him and explained everything. To my surprise, he did not seem convinced! I told him that I could show him my medical as well as test reports, but he looked like he did not care. He got busy on his phone, and I felt miserable! After he finished his phone conversation, he suddenly asked me the name and address of the doctor whom I saw during my illness. He, in fact, did contact this doctor, which I learned later. He wanted to be sure that I was not making an excuse for the delay in submitting my assignment and was genuinely sick. To my relief, two days later, he gave me an email address. He asked me to send my assignment to this email address within the next 24 hours. I'd like to mention before ending that I got a straight 'A' on this assignment.

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

Forgetting something important can often lead to stressful situations, but it can also teach us valuable lessons about organisation and mindfulness. This topic asks you to describe a time when you forgot something important, why it happened, and what actions you took once you remembered it. To make your answer great, be sure to explain the significance of what was forgotten, how you handled the situation, and how you felt when you realised your mistake. Here are a few ideas to help you structure your response:

1. Forgetting an important meeting:
Once, I completely forgot about a crucial business meeting that I had scheduled for the afternoon. It was important because the meeting was with a potential client, and I had prepared for weeks. I probably forgot it because I was juggling multiple tasks that day, and the reminder got lost in the hustle. When I remembered, I immediately apologised to the client and rescheduled the meeting. I was stressed but managed to make up for it by being more organised going forward.

2. Forgetting a friend’s birthday:
There was a time when I forgot my best friend’s birthday, even though it was very important to me. I forgot because I had been so busy with work and personal commitments, and it slipped my mind. Once I remembered, I quickly called her to wish her a happy birthday and apologised for not sending a gift on time. I made it up to her by planning a surprise celebration for the following weekend, which she really appreciated.

3. Forgetting to submit an assignment:
There was a time in college when I completely forgot to submit an important assignment. It was crucial because it would affect my final grade. I forgot it because I had been overwhelmed with other assignments and exams. When I realised, I immediately emailed the professor, explained the situation, and submitted the assignment late. Luckily, the professor was understanding, but I made sure to manage my time better in the future.

4. Forgetting to lock the door:
One day, I forgot to lock the front door of my house before leaving for work. It was important because I wanted to ensure my home was secure. I likely forgot it because I was running late and distracted. When I remembered, I rushed back to double-check the door, feeling a bit anxious. I made sure to double-check every time I leave the house afterwards to avoid a repeat incident.

5. Forgetting an appointment with the doctor:
I once forgot about a doctor’s appointment that was crucial for a health check-up. It was important because it was a routine appointment to monitor a health condition. I forgot it because I was caught up in other personal matters. Once I realised, I immediately called the doctor’s office to reschedule the appointment. I felt guilty but made sure to set a reminder for future appointments.

6. Forgetting to pay a bill:
There was an occasion when I forgot to pay an important utility bill on time. It was important because it was due to avoid service disruption. I forgot because I didn’t keep track of the due dates properly. Once I remembered, I quickly paid the bill online and contacted the provider to explain the situation. I felt stressed, but I made a habit of setting reminders for all my bill payments afterwards.

7. Forgetting a deadline for a work project:
One time, I missed a deadline for an important work project. It was critical because it was tied to the success of the team’s performance. I likely forgot because I had been juggling multiple tasks and didn’t manage my time well. When I realised, I worked overtime to complete the task as quickly as possible and communicated with my manager about the situation. I learned to prioritise tasks more effectively afterward.

8. Forgetting to pick someone up:
There was a time when I forgot to pick up my younger sibling from school. It was important because they were relying on me to be there. I forgot because I was preoccupied with work and lost track of time. When I remembered, I immediately drove to the school to pick them up and apologised for the delay. I made sure to be more mindful of their schedule after that.

9. Forgetting to bring an important document:
I once forgot to bring an important document to a job interview. It was crucial because it contained my qualifications and references. I forgot it because I was nervous and focused on preparing for the interview itself. Once I realised, I immediately called the interview location and arranged to send the document over. I was stressed, but I learned to double-check everything before leaving for important events.

10. Forgetting to send an important email:
There was an occasion when I forgot to send an important email to a colleague regarding a project deadline. It was important because it contained critical information about the project. I forgot it because I got distracted by other tasks and didn’t follow through. When I remembered, I quickly sent the email and apologised for the delay. I felt frustrated with myself, but made sure to set reminders and follow-up strategies for important emails in the future.

More hints to develop an answer to talk about this Candidate Task Card topic:

1. You forgot your driving licence while driving somewhere.  
2. You forgot to bring a train/ air ticket to the railway station/ airport.
3. You forgot to bring money/ credit card while dining at a restaurant.
4. You forgot to call your superior/ manager at the office.
5. You forgot to bring your child home from his/her school.
6. You forgot about a class test.
7. You forgot your luggage.
8. You forgot about a friend who was waiting for you.
9. You forgot someone's birthday.
10. You forgot to turn off something before you left home.
11. You forgot to return a book that you borrowed from a library.
12. You forgot to attend a meeting.
13. You forgot to send an email to someone.
14. You forgot a project deadline.
15. You forgot to apply for a job.
16. You forgot to lock your house/ car.
17. You forgot to pay your utility bill in due time.
18. You forgot to visit a sick relative who was in the hospital.
19. You forgot to bring your admit card for an exam.
20. You forgot to send someone an important SMS/ text.

Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:

When describing an occasion when you forgot something important, using precise vocabulary can effectively convey the significance of the forgotten item, the reasons behind the lapse in memory, and your subsequent actions. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the situation and your reaction, making your response clear and engaging. Here are some relevant words and phrases:

Oversight: – An unintentional failure to notice or do something.
Example: It was a significant oversight on my part, with considerable consequences.

Crucial: – Extremely important or necessary; decisive.
Example: The document I forgot was absolutely crucial for the meeting.

Absentmindedness: – The state of being lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions; forgetful.
Example: My forgetfulness was likely due to a bout of absentmindedness that morning.

Slipped my mind: – Was forgotten.
Example: Unfortunately, the deadline completely slipped my mind.

A momentary lapse in memory: – A brief failure to remember something.
Example: It was just a momentary lapse in memory, but the timing was terrible.

Preoccupied with other matters: – Having one's attention dominated by other concerns.
Example: I was heavily preoccupied with other matters that day, which might explain it.

Realised with a jolt: – Became aware suddenly and with a shock.
Example: I suddenly realised with a jolt that I had left it at home.

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

Frantically retraced my steps: – Hurriedly went back along the route I had taken, trying to find what was lost or forgotten.
Example: I frantically retraced my steps, hoping it was still where I'd left it.

Tried to mitigate the damage: – Attempted to reduce the negative effects of the mistake.
Example: I did my best to mitigate the damage caused by my forgetfulness.

Offered sincere apologies: – Expressed regret for the mistake in a genuine way.
Example: I offered sincere apologies for the inconvenience my oversight had caused.

Learned a valuable lesson: – Gained important knowledge or understanding from the experience.
Example: I definitely learned a valuable lesson about the importance of double-checking.

1) Describe a time when you missed a deadline for an assignment or a project.
2) Describe a time when you had to wait for someone or something to arrive.
3) Describe an occasion when you had to do something in a hurry.
4) Describe something difficult you successfully did.
5) Describe a memorable event from your school or college.
 

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