Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
When you got stuck in a traffic jam - Cue Card # 824
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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 got stuck in a traffic jam.
You should say:
- when it was
- where you were going
- how long you had to wait
and explain how you felt about this.
[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.]
[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]
Model Answer 1:
Living in a busy city and expecting it to be traffic-free is very much like jumping in a river during a very cold winter and expecting its water not to feel cold. But, given the choice, I would probably be more willing to jump in a cold river in the cold winter, but I just wouldn’t want to get stuck in a traffic jam, especially, when I am in a hurry to do something important. But luck is not always in our favour!
Now, talking about the cold winter, it was during this cold weather, about a couple of months ago, that I got stuck in a traffic jam when I was going to pick up my cousin from a domestic airport. Of course, the weather was normal then for that time of the year except, of course, there was some fog in the air.
But, after driving about 20 minutes or so, at a speed of 80 plus kilometres per hour, I was suddenly forced to reduce my speed to almost 10 kilometres, apparently because the traffic ahead of me had slowed down significantly. Little later, my car couldn’t move any further because a long line of cars in front of me had almost stopped moving, and the reason was that there was almost no or very little visibility on the road because of very dense fog. Now, I am still not too sure as to what really caused such a bad fog condition, but I had to wait almost 45 minutes in that traffic jam before starting to move faster.
Anyway, when I got stuck in that traffic, I felt both frustrated and panicky because I just didn’t know how long I would need to wait in that traffic jam before arriving at the airport. Besides, I felt a bit angry with myself because I didn’t care to keep a bit more extra time in my hand to arrive at the airport in time in case I was to get caught in this kind of bad traffic situation. But finally, I could receive my cousin from the airport without much trouble and delay.
Sample Answer 2:
Introduction:
Traffic congestion is a common issue that can happen to anyone on the road. I remember a particular instance when I got stuck in a traffic jam, and it was quite an unpleasant experience. This topic reminds me of the day, and here I'll share my experience of that day when I got stuck in bad traffic.
When it was and where you were going:
It happened a few years ago when I was travelling from my hometown to the nearest city for an important job interview. I had an early morning appointment and left home early to make sure that I arrived on time. The city was around 40 kilometers away from my hometown, and I had to drive on a major highway to get there.
How long you had to wait:
I was about halfway there when I encountered a massive traffic jam. Cars were bumper-to-bumper, and there seemed to be no end in sight. I checked the map on my phone, and it showed that there was an accident up ahead, which was causing the delay. I was stuck in the bad traffic for almost an hour, which was frustrating because I knew that I was going to be late for the interview.
And explain how you felt about this:
I remember feeling anxious and helpless during the traffic jam. I had done everything right to prepare for the interview, and it seemed that the universe was conspiring against me! I was worried that I would arrive late and that it would reflect poorly on me as a candidate. I tried to remain calm and focused, but it was challenging given the circumstances. The worst part was not knowing how long the traffic jam would last and if I would be able to make it to the interview on time. Eventually, the traffic cleared up, and I made it to the interview with a few minutes to spare. The experience taught me to be prepared for unexpected events, such as traffic congestion, and to always leave a buffer for potential delays.
Sample Answer 3:
Thank you for the time you have given me to share an experience when I was stuck in bad traffic. Well, perhaps the most frustrating traffic congestion I can vividly recall happened a couple of years ago, during the monsoon season. Here I will tell you how the whole event unfolded and how frustrated I felt.
It was two years ago in mid-July, and I was on my way to attend a rather important family wedding in a neighbouring town. We had set off with what we thought was ample time, but as it turned out, Mother Nature had other plans.
We were travelling on one of the main highways connecting the two towns, about an hour into our journey, when the heavens really opened up. The rain came down in sheets, reducing visibility drastically. Initially, traffic slowed down, which is quite common during heavy rains. However, it soon degenerated into a complete standstill. It turned out that the downpour had caused some localized flooding on a lower section of the highway ahead, making it virtually impassable for smaller vehicles.
We were stuck there for what felt like an eternity and I think it was over three hours! Cars, buses, and even the ubiquitous auto-rickshaws were all crammed together, bumper to bumper, with no room to manoeuvre. People started getting out of their vehicles, some trying to see what the hold-up was, others just stretching their legs in the pouring rain.
My feelings during that traffic jam ranged from initial annoyance to growing anxiety and finally, a sense of utter helplessness. I was constantly checking my watch, worried that we would completely miss the important wedding rituals. The fact that there was absolutely nothing we could do but sit and wait was particularly irritating. The air inside the car became stuffy, and the constant sound of the rain drumming on the roof and the low murmur of frustrated conversations added to the discomfort. Thankfully, the water eventually receded enough for traffic to start moving again, albeit at a snail's pace. We did end up reaching the wedding, albeit significantly late.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
Getting stuck in a traffic jam is a common experience, especially in large cities or during holidays. Below are some detailed ideas that describe such experiences, covering when it happened, where you were going, how long the wait was, and how you felt about the situation.
1. Traffic jam on the way to a university exam:
This happened last year during my final semester. I was heading to my university in Dhaka for an important exam when I got stuck in heavy traffic due to road construction. I waited for more than an hour. I was anxious and frustrated because I thought I would miss the exam. Luckily, I arrived just in time.
2. Stuck in traffic after a concert in Toronto:
I went to a music concert with friends at a large stadium. When the concert ended, thousands of people tried to leave at the same time. We were stuck in traffic for almost two hours in the parking lot. It was exhausting, but we passed the time by chatting and listening to music in the car.
3. Unexpected traffic jam during Eid holidays:
While returning to my hometown in Pakistan for Eid, I encountered a massive traffic jam on the highway. The journey took three extra hours because of the heavy rush. I felt irritated and helpless, but I also realized how much people value returning home for special occasions.
4. Heavy rain caused traffic to stop in Ho Chi Minh City:
I was on my way to a job interview when it started pouring. Streets were flooded, and vehicles were hardly moving. I had to wait for over 90 minutes. I felt nervous and disappointed because I missed the interview. It taught me to always check the weather forecast beforehand.
5. Traffic jam during school pick-up time in Colombo:
It happened last month when I went to pick up my younger sister from school. A nearby road was blocked due to a protest, causing long delays. I waited in the car for over an hour. I was bored and annoyed but eventually managed to reach her safely.
6. Traffic congestion before a cricket match in Lahore:
My friends and I were on our way to watch a one-day international between Pakistan and New Zealand. The roads leading to the stadium were jam-packed. We spent more than an hour stuck in traffic and missed the beginning of the game. I felt disappointed but still enjoyed the rest of the match.
7. Delayed by a traffic jam caused by a minor accident:
This happened during my morning commute in Kuala Lumpur. Two cars had collided on a busy intersection, and though the accident was minor, it caused a massive jam. I had to wait for nearly an hour. I felt frustrated but also realized how quickly traffic can spiral out of control from small incidents.
8. Stuck in a traffic jam during a festival in Istanbul:
I was travelling with my family during a local festival when we got caught in festival traffic. The streets were crowded with people and vehicles. We waited for nearly two hours to reach our destination. Though the delay was irritating, the festive vibe around us made it a bit more bearable.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a time you were stuck in a traffic jam, using vocabulary that conveys the situation, the duration, and your emotional response can make your answer more engaging. Here are some useful words and phrases with example sentences:
Gridlock: A situation where traffic is so heavy that it comes to a complete standstill.
Example: The entire highway was in complete gridlock.
Rush hour: The time of day when traffic is heaviest, usually when people are travelling to and from work.
Example: It was during the peak of the morning rush hour.
Unexpected bottleneck: A sudden point of congestion that causes traffic to slow down or stop.
Example: We encountered an unexpected bottleneck due to roadwork.
Crawling pace: Moving very slowly.
Example: The traffic was moving at a snail's pace, barely crawling.
Stationary traffic: Vehicles that are not moving at all.
Example: For a long stretch, we were just in stationary traffic.
Prolonged delay: A delay that lasts for a significant amount of time.
Example: The accident caused a prolonged delay of over an hour.
Stuck for ages: Trapped in traffic for a very long time.
Example: We were stuck for ages without any sign of movement.
Mounting frustration: A growing feeling of annoyance and impatience.
Example: My frustration started to mount as time ticked by.
Sense of helplessness: A feeling of being unable to do anything about the situation.
Example: There was a real sense of helplessness sitting there in the car.
Missed my appointment: Arrived late and consequently missed the scheduled time.
Example: I was worried I would miss my important appointment.
Wasted time: Time that was spent unproductively due to the traffic jam.
Example: It felt like such a waste of valuable time.
Growing anxiety: An increasing feeling of worry and unease.
Example: My anxiety was growing as I realised how late I was getting.
Impatience started to set in: Began to feel annoyed and unable to wait calmly.
Example: After about thirty minutes, impatience started to set in.
A complete standstill: A situation where nothing is moving.
Example: The traffic came to a complete standstill.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe a time when you got stuck in a traffic jam", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a frustrating experience you have had.
2) Describe an event when you were late for an important appointment.
3) Describe a situation when you were late.
4) Describe a time when you had to wait for someone or something to arrive.
5) Describe a journey that took longer than you expected.
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