Describe a time when you forgot or missed an appointment: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What the appointment was
  • When it happened
  • Why you forgot or missed it
  • And explain how you felt about it

Band 6-7

00:00

/

00:00

I miss one of my job interviews. I'm not a lazy person. I always remember all my appointments usually but it was a December 31st. I have an appointment for an interview on 1st January and the 31st evening we friends gather to celebrate New Year. We all usually eat food and have some drinks and going for parties outside and you know Cochin Carnival is happening out there and we all go there and chill with our friends. We enjoy most of the time outside at the night and then we came back too delayed and I reached my home early morning. I think on at 6 o'clock so I went to sleep. My job interview is happening at 9 p.m. at Ernakulam. My home is at Muvachapuram. I wake up after 10 then I realized that I missed that interview. That was a terrible feeling for me because I am definitely a best contender for that job. I am very much confident that I if I attend that interview I will definitely get a job and I feel very good.

Follow up questions


How did you feel after missing the job interview?
I felt terrible and disappointed because I was confident about my chances of getting the job. It was frustrating to realize that my fun night out with friends led to missing such an important opportunity.

What steps do you take to ensure you remember your appointments?
I usually set reminders on my phone and keep a calendar to track my appointments. I also try to plan my social activities around important commitments to avoid conflicts.

Have you missed any other important appointments in the past?
Yes, I have missed a few appointments in the past, but none as significant as the job interview. Each time, I learned to be more cautious and prioritize my commitments better.

Band 6-7

00:00

/

00:00

I would like to talk about an important appointment which I missed. During my college days, I used to have trouble with my teeth and I had to go to the dental monthly for the teeth check-up. So at that time, at that one time, I was so swamped with my college project and had to submit a lot of assignments. I completely forgot about the appointment of that month. When I checked my calendar, I got to know that my appointment date has already passed. And I also got a call from my personal dentist and he told me why I didn't attend that particular appointment date. So next day, I went to the dental hospital and he provided me the other date for appointment. I was very disappointed that I completely forgot such an important date and from that moment I got to learn.

Follow up questions


How do you usually keep track of your appointments?
I usually keep track of my appointments using a digital calendar on my phone. I set reminders a day before and an hour before the appointment to ensure I don't forget. Additionally, I write important dates in a planner as a backup.

What do you think are the consequences of missing appointments?
Missing appointments can lead to delays in important treatments or tasks. It can also cause inconvenience to others, especially if they are waiting for you. In my case, I felt disappointed and worried about my dental health, which could have worsened without timely check-ups.

Have you ever missed an appointment due to a personal emergency?
Yes, I once missed an important meeting because of a family emergency. It was unexpected, and I had to prioritize my family’s needs. I informed the concerned parties as soon as I could and rescheduled the meeting, but it taught me the importance of flexibility in planning.

Band 6

00:00

/

00:00

I would like to talk about a time when I missed a doctor appointment last year. I had scheduled a routine check-up and a nearby clinic in the morning. Unfortunately, I completely forgot about it because I was extremely busy with work and got caught up in some urgent tasks By the time I remembered, the clinic had already closed. For the day, I felt very impressed with myself because I had wasted the doctor's time and also delayed my own check-up. After the incident, I decided to be more organized and started using a calendar app to set reminders for all my appointments. This experience taught me the importance of planning ahead and managing my time more effectively.

Follow up questions


How do you usually keep track of your appointments?
I typically use a digital calendar app on my phone, which allows me to set reminders. I also write down important dates in a physical planner to ensure I don't miss anything. This combination helps me stay organized and manage my time effectively.

What strategies do you think can help people remember their appointments?
I believe setting multiple reminders, using calendar apps, and keeping a physical planner can be very effective. Additionally, having a routine for checking appointments regularly can help reinforce memory. Sharing appointments with friends or family can also provide accountability.

Have you ever missed an important appointment besides the doctor?
Yes, I once missed a job interview because I lost track of time while preparing for it. It was a valuable lesson for me, and since then, I've made it a point to double-check my schedule and set reminders well in advance to avoid such situations.

Practice other cue cards

Describe A Speech You Gave
View answers
Describe a place that you would like to learn the culture there (e.g. a library, museum, theatre)
View answers
Describe a letter you have received in your life.
View answers
Describe a time when you told your friend an important truth
View answers
Describe a gift you recently gave to someone.
View answers
Describe A Birthday Party
View answers
Describe An Exciting Activity That You Experienced With Someone Else
View answers
Describe an unforgettable experience that you had
View answers
Describe An Interesting Activity That You Remember Enjoying Most In Your Primary School
View answers
Describe A Time When You Helped A Child
View answers
Describe a time when you organized a happy event successfully
View answers
Describe An Occasion When Someone Or Something Made Noise
View answers
Describe your favourite place in your house where you can relax.
View answers
Describe a story someone told you.
View answers
Describe an instance when you received an apology.
View answers
Describe A Time When Your Entire Family Was Together
View answers
Describe a skill that you learned from older people
View answers
Describe a time when you were in line for a long time.
View answers
Describe An Activity That Made You Feel Tired
View answers
Describe Something That Saves Your Time
View answers
Talk about an interesting old person you met recently
View answers
Describe A Puzzle You Have Played
View answers
Describe An Interesting Tradition In Your Country
View answers
Describe your experience when you changed your school/college
View answers
Describe a party that you enjoyed
View answers
Describe A Time When You Missed An Appointment
View answers
Describe a time when you encouraged someone to do something that he/she didn’t want to do
View answers
Describe something that surprised you and made you happy
View answers
Describe an important event you celebrated
View answers
Describe A Time When You Forgot Something Important
View answers
Describe A Time When You Observed The Stars
View answers
Describe a time that something changed your life in good ways
View answers
Describe Your Hometown
View answers
Talk about a thing you complained about something (but finally got a good result)
View answers
Describe a time when you lost an important and valuable item
View answers
Describe An Interesting Person You Know
View answers
Describe An Intelligent Person You Know
View answers
Describe When Someone Gave You Something
View answers
Describe a person who always has interesting ideas or opinions
View answers
Describe a person who encouraged you to achieve your goal
View answers
Talk about a time when you helped a friend.
View answers
Describe A Positive Change That You Have Made Recently In Your Daily Routine
View answers
Describe a time when you lost your pet.
View answers
Describe A Memorable Event In Your Life
View answers
Describe A Situation When You Helped Someone
View answers
Describe a time when you were waiting for something special that would happen
View answers
Describe an experience when you got bored with others.
View answers
Describe a piece of good news you heard from others
View answers
Describe an important text message you received.
View answers
Describe The Game You Enjoyed Playing When You Were Younger
View answers
Describe A Good Decision You Made Recently
View answers
Describe A Period When You Were Busy
View answers
Describe An Occasion When You Lost Your Way
View answers
Describe a complaint that you made, and you were satisfied with the result.
View answers
Describe A Time You Had To Finish Something Quickly
View answers
Describe a time when you moved to a new home
View answers
Describe A Time You Made A Promise To Someone
View answers
Describe a challenge you faced that you thought was rather difficult
View answers
Describe An Exciting Experience In Your Life
View answers
Describe An Occasion When You Had To Do Something In A Hurry
View answers
Describe Something That Surprised You
View answers
Describe A Day When You Thought The Weather Was Perfect
View answers
Describe An Occasion When You Lost Something
View answers
Describe a time when you felt proud of a family member
View answers
Describe Something That Was Broken In Your Home And Then Repaired
View answers
Describe An Outdoor Activity You Did
View answers
Describe a prize you have received recently (e.g. money, something valuable, a medal)
View answers
Describe something you did in your study/work that has made you feel confident
View answers
Describe a website which helped you to do something / website you visit often/ use regularly
View answers
Describe a time when you were late
View answers
Describe A Time When You Shared Something With Others
View answers
Describe an interesting discussion you had with your friend
View answers
Describe someone else’s room you enjoy spending time in
View answers
Describe a special meal that someone made for you
View answers
Describe something you were disappointed about.
View answers
Describe a time you made a decision to wait for something
View answers
Describe a time when someone apologized to you
View answers
Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned.
View answers
Describe an unusual meal that you had
View answers
Describe a time when you made a plan to do an activity with a lot of people
View answers
Describe something that you did with someone/a group of people
View answers
Describe a crowded place you have visited
View answers
Describe A Happy Memory From Your Childhood
View answers
Describe A Difficult Decision That You Once Made
View answers
Describe an event you attended in which you didn’t like the music played
View answers
Describe a time when missed or were late for an important meeting/event
View answers
Describe A Mistake You Have Made
View answers
Describe a time when someone asked for your opinion
View answers
Describe a time when you answered a phone call from someone you didn’t know in a public place
View answers
Describe an activity that usually wastes your time.
View answers
Describe a situation when you were late.
View answers
Describe An Occasion When Many People Were Smiling
View answers
Describe a beautiful sky you enjoyed seeing
View answers
Describe A Time Of The Day You Like
View answers
Describe an occasion when you were not allowed to use your mobile phone
View answers
Describe an occasion when you helped a family member/relative with something
View answers
Describe A House Apartment That Someone You Know Lives In
View answers
Describe your first day at school.
View answers
Describe a person who thinks music is important and enjoys music
View answers
Describe The Best Gift You Have Received
View answers
Describe an argument two of your friends had
View answers
Describe a difficult thing you did and succeeded in
View answers
Describe A Time When You Were Stuck In A Traffic Jam
View answers
Describe a time you used your cellphone/smartphone to do something important
View answers
Describe an exciting activity you have tried for the first time
View answers
Describe a time when you used your imagination.
View answers
Describe a time you enjoyed a free day off work or school
View answers
Describe A Time You Successfully Did Something Difficult
View answers
Describe a time when you received money as a gift.
View answers
Describe a prize you have won.
View answers
Describe a job that one of your grandparents did
View answers
Describe something you had to share with others
View answers
Describe a time when you felt incredibly sad.
View answers
Describe a time when you broke something
View answers
Describe a place/country in which you would like to live/work for a short period of time
View answers
Describe An Interesting Conversation That You Had
View answers
Describe a time when you were waiting for something special
View answers
Describe A Time When Someone Who Did Quite Well In A Team
View answers
Talk About A Special Day Which Was Not That Expensive
View answers
Talk about a time when you gave advice to someone
View answers
Describe An Occasion When You Heard Someone Complaining About Something In A Restaurant
View answers
Describe a piece of good news that you heard about someone you know well.
View answers
Describe someone you know who made a good decision recently
View answers
Describe something you did that made you feel proud
View answers
Describe a time when you received good service in a shop/store
View answers
Describe a time that you showed something new to others
View answers
Describe An Occasion When You Got Incorrect Information
View answers
Describe an enjoyable journey by public transport?
View answers
Describe An Occasion When You Waited A Long Time For A Nice Thing
View answers

Band 6

00:00

/

00:00

So the time that I forgot my appointment was my dental appointment. I guess it was 2-3 years back while I was in my college and I had this exam coming up. My final exams and I was into it like I was so indulged in studying each and every chapter, revising each and every subject. And I had this appointment at around 7pm on a Tuesday and I totally forgot about it. It just went out of my mind and then I realized when my mom called me asking did you go to the dentist and come and I was like no I did not, I forgot, it just got out of my brain. That's when I was being scolded a bit, she was like you were not being responsible enough, you were supposed to manage your time and your appointments well and I ended up going around 9pm that day. And I was so much indulged in my studies that I totally forgot about it. I was into my revisions, my practice for my subjects. We have totally 9 subjects for our final exams and once we clear it, that's when I get my final results and I'll be a licensed dentist. So I was so much into it, I was studying so dedicationally and that's when I forgot about the appointment. And I felt really bad because the dentist who was supposed to do my treatment, he himself was my professor and I just explained to him why exactly it happened, why I forgot the appointment. And I apologized and I felt really bad and he was also like it's fine, I understand, these are exams and this is the time you get to study, it's fine, exams over everything. He was really supportive at that time and he also helped me with my exams and how I can answer questions, how to manage all the time and questions and all. So eventually it ended in a nice way.

Follow up questions


How do you usually manage your appointments?
I try to keep a planner where I write down all my appointments and deadlines. I also set reminders on my phone to alert me a day before and an hour before the appointment. This helps me stay organized and ensures I don’t forget important commitments.

What strategies do you use to balance studying and personal commitments?
I prioritize my tasks by creating a schedule that allocates specific times for studying and personal commitments. I also take short breaks to refresh my mind, which helps me stay focused. Additionally, I try to communicate with my family about my study schedule so they understand when I'm busy.

Have you ever missed an important appointment? How did you feel?
Yes, I once missed an important job interview due to a scheduling conflict. I felt terrible and embarrassed. It taught me the importance of double-checking my calendar and being more proactive in managing my time to avoid such situations in the future.

Band 5-6

00:00

/

00:00

When I was, after completion of my graduation, I applied for a job, so then I got an appointment from the record company, so after that I decided to go for that job appointment, but I unable to go because of, I forgot the thing to, at the time I go with my friends for a party, so after few hours I realized that I have an appointment, so then I contacted the appointment officer but he doesn't respond to my mail, so it is due to my friends because they convinced me and I forgot about that and there is one of my friend's birthday, so I completely forgot the appointment and go for a party, so this makes me feel very bad because of the opportunities does not come at a time, so we need to grab everything, so I feel myself shame and like, I bit be disappointed because of the temporary things can lost our entire future, so at that time I feel very disappointed and not that much good, so then I decided to get, like to go any appointment, if I applied then I go for the appointment definitely, so I feel that I need to attend, I applied every interview when they asked me to come, so without any forget or without any delay, so

Follow up questions


How do you usually prepare for important appointments?
I usually prepare for important appointments by setting reminders on my phone and writing them down in my planner. I also try to plan my day around the appointment to ensure I have enough time to get there. This helps me avoid any distractions that might make me forget.

What strategies do you think can help people remember their appointments?
I believe using digital calendars with alerts, setting multiple reminders, and keeping a consistent routine can help people remember their appointments. Additionally, discussing plans with friends or family can reinforce the importance of the appointment and help keep it top of mind.

Have you ever missed an appointment due to a similar reason?
Yes, I have missed appointments due to social events or distractions. It often happens when I get caught up in the moment and forget my responsibilities. I've learned from those experiences to prioritize my commitments and manage my time better to avoid such situations.
Show all 5 answers

Cue 1:What the appointment was

  • Clearly state the type of appointment you missed, such as a doctor's appointment, a meeting, or a social gathering.
  • Provide some context about why this appointment was important to you.

Example

The appointment I missed was a scheduled visit to my dentist for a routine check-up. I had been looking forward to it because I wanted to ensure my dental health was in good shape, especially after experiencing some sensitivity in my teeth.


Cue 2:When it happened

  • Mention the specific date and time of the appointment to give a clear timeline.
  • You can also include how long before the appointment you realized you had forgotten it.

Example

It happened last month, on the 15th, at 3 PM. I realized I had forgotten about it only an hour before the appointment, which made me feel quite anxious.


Cue 3:Why you forgot or missed it

  • Explain the reason for forgetting the appointment, such as being busy or having a lot on your mind.
  • You can also mention any distractions that contributed to missing the appointment.

Example

I forgot about the appointment because I had a particularly hectic day at work. I was juggling multiple deadlines and, in the chaos, I completely lost track of time and my schedule.


Cue 4:And explain how you felt about it

  • Share your emotions regarding missing the appointment, such as feeling guilty or disappointed.
  • You can also mention any actions you took afterward, like rescheduling the appointment.

Example

I felt really guilty and disappointed in myself for missing the appointment. I immediately called the dentist's office to apologize and reschedule, which made me feel a bit better, but I still wished I had been more organized.


Conclusion

    Example

    In conclusion, missing that appointment was a wake-up call for me to manage my time better and keep track of my commitments. It taught me the importance of setting reminders and prioritizing my health.


    Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.


    Tips to answer this Cue Card

    1: Lack of Detail in Description

    Providing vague answers can make your response less engaging. It's important to include specific details about the appointment to create a clearer picture for the examiner.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Use descriptive language to explain what the appointment was about, including relevant details like the location and purpose.


    2: Not Explaining the Reason

    Failing to explain why you forgot or missed the appointment can leave your answer incomplete. This is a key part of the cue card that helps convey your experience.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Clearly articulate the reasons for missing the appointment, whether it was due to forgetfulness, a scheduling conflict, or another reason.


    Ignoring Emotional Impact

    Neglecting to express how you felt about missing the appointment can make your response less personal. Emotions add depth to your story and engage the listener.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Share your feelings about the situation, such as disappointment or stress, to make your answer more relatable and impactful.


    calendar icon

    IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

    Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

    Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

    Answer

    I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

    Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 8

    location icon

    Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

    Answer

    The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

    Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 6.5

    location icon

    Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

    Answer

    As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

    Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7

    location icon

    Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

    Answer

    When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

    Describe a book you recently read
    anonymous person icon

    Reported by

    Anonymous student Band 7.5

    location icon

    CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

    Answer

    It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

    All Answers

    Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

    Band 6-7

    I would like to talk about an important appointment which I missed. During my college days, I used to have trouble with my teeth and I had to go to the dental monthly for the teeth check-up. So at that time, at that one time, I was so swamped with my college project and had to submit a lot of assignments. I completely forgot about the appointment of that month. When I checked my calendar, I got to know that my appointment date has already passed. And I also got a call from my personal dentist and he told me why I didn't attend that particular appointment date. So next day, I went to the dental hospital and he provided me the other date for appointment. I was very disappointed that I completely forgot such an important date and from that moment I got to learn.

    Band 6-7

    I miss one of my job interviews. I'm not a lazy person. I always remember all my appointments usually but it was a December 31st. I have an appointment for an interview on 1st January and the 31st evening we friends gather to celebrate New Year. We all usually eat food and have some drinks and going for parties outside and you know Cochin Carnival is happening out there and we all go there and chill with our friends. We enjoy most of the time outside at the night and then we came back too delayed and I reached my home early morning. I think on at 6 o'clock so I went to sleep. My job interview is happening at 9 p.m. at Ernakulam. My home is at Muvachapuram. I wake up after 10 then I realized that I missed that interview. That was a terrible feeling for me because I am definitely a best contender for that job. I am very much confident that I if I attend that interview I will definitely get a job and I feel very good.

    Band 6

    So the time that I forgot my appointment was my dental appointment. I guess it was 2-3 years back while I was in my college and I had this exam coming up. My final exams and I was into it like I was so indulged in studying each and every chapter, revising each and every subject. And I had this appointment at around 7pm on a Tuesday and I totally forgot about it. It just went out of my mind and then I realized when my mom called me asking did you go to the dentist and come and I was like no I did not, I forgot, it just got out of my brain. That's when I was being scolded a bit, she was like you were not being responsible enough, you were supposed to manage your time and your appointments well and I ended up going around 9pm that day. And I was so much indulged in my studies that I totally forgot about it. I was into my revisions, my practice for my subjects. We have totally 9 subjects for our final exams and once we clear it, that's when I get my final results and I'll be a licensed dentist. So I was so much into it, I was studying so dedicationally and that's when I forgot about the appointment. And I felt really bad because the dentist who was supposed to do my treatment, he himself was my professor and I just explained to him why exactly it happened, why I forgot the appointment. And I apologized and I felt really bad and he was also like it's fine, I understand, these are exams and this is the time you get to study, it's fine, exams over everything. He was really supportive at that time and he also helped me with my exams and how I can answer questions, how to manage all the time and questions and all. So eventually it ended in a nice way.

    Band 6

    I would like to talk about a time when I missed a doctor appointment last year. I had scheduled a routine check-up and a nearby clinic in the morning. Unfortunately, I completely forgot about it because I was extremely busy with work and got caught up in some urgent tasks By the time I remembered, the clinic had already closed. For the day, I felt very impressed with myself because I had wasted the doctor's time and also delayed my own check-up. After the incident, I decided to be more organized and started using a calendar app to set reminders for all my appointments. This experience taught me the importance of planning ahead and managing my time more effectively.

    Band 5-6

    When I was, after completion of my graduation, I applied for a job, so then I got an appointment from the record company, so after that I decided to go for that job appointment, but I unable to go because of, I forgot the thing to, at the time I go with my friends for a party, so after few hours I realized that I have an appointment, so then I contacted the appointment officer but he doesn't respond to my mail, so it is due to my friends because they convinced me and I forgot about that and there is one of my friend's birthday, so I completely forgot the appointment and go for a party, so this makes me feel very bad because of the opportunities does not come at a time, so we need to grab everything, so I feel myself shame and like, I bit be disappointed because of the temporary things can lost our entire future, so at that time I feel very disappointed and not that much good, so then I decided to get, like to go any appointment, if I applied then I go for the appointment definitely, so I feel that I need to attend, I applied every interview when they asked me to come, so without any forget or without any delay, so
    background image

    Explore

    500 Cue Cards

    Master IELTS Speaking with Leap's Self-Prep Course

    student enroll count

    Students Enrolled

    review count

    2,411 Reviews

    app download banner image
    See Course Details

    Master IELTS Speaking with Leap's Self-Prep Course

    student enroll count

    Students Enrolled

    review count

    2,411 Reviews

    app download banner image
    See Course Details