Describe A Time When You Forgot Something Important: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • When did it happen?
  • What you forgot?
  • What was the result of your forgetting, and why was it important?

Band 7

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Well, as far as I remember, I forgot my gold chain. I actually didn't forget, but I lost it. I lost my gold chain in a wedding ceremony of my brother, which happened three years before. So I was so busy in making arrangements and dealing with all the guests and also looking after my children. So I was unaware that this is so delicate and it could be lost so I should not wear this. But as it was in our ritual, in our culture, it's mandatory to wear gold chains or gold bangles and earrings. Because ornaments represent the woman's personality. So that's why I wore this. But when the function came to an end, I came to know that I lost my gold chain. I was really sad because I had no idea where I lost it. But it was important to me because it was a gift from my mother. My mother used to wear this in her young age and she gave me this gift on the birth of my daughter. So it was very precious for me. But when I asked the guards and all the sweepers to find out where it is, then they did their best to find my chain. And almost after one hour, they found it and they gave it to me. I was so overwhelmed.

Follow up questions


How did you feel when you realized you lost your gold chain?
I felt really sad and anxious when I realized I lost my gold chain. It was not just a piece of jewelry; it held sentimental value as it was a gift from my mother. The thought of losing something so precious made me worried, especially since it was tied to my family's traditions.

What steps did you take to try to find your lost chain?
I immediately started asking the guards and sweepers at the venue if they had seen my chain. I retraced my steps, trying to remember where I last had it. I also asked family members if they had noticed it. Everyone was very helpful, and we all searched together.

What did you learn from this experience about keeping important items safe?
I learned the importance of being more mindful about my belongings, especially in busy situations. Now, I make sure to keep valuable items in a safe place and avoid wearing them during events where I might be distracted. It taught me to prioritize my possessions and their sentimental value.

Band 6-7

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He took me to the principal's cabin where we talked about this. The principal told me to show my other documents like my college ID card where I studied before and my Aadhaar card. When I showed it to him, he asked me to write a letter. With the letter, he told me to enter the examination hall. But when I entered the examination hall, they stopped me saying that without a hall ticket, it will not be allowed. So I showed them the letter which helped me to write the exam. From this moment, I became very responsible whenever I go to an important task. I keep all my belongings and essential things with me. This was a very good experience for me to understand. It taught me the responsibility and focus to the work which I am doing. Reporter- Sunita Prajapati Script- Lakshmi Sharma Editor- Guru Films Producer- Lakshmi Sharma

Follow up questions


How did forgetting the hall ticket affect your exam performance?
Forgetting the hall ticket initially caused me anxiety and stress, but once I showed the letter from the principal, I felt relieved. It made me focus more on the exam itself rather than the panic of not being allowed to enter.

What strategies do you use now to remember important documents?
Now, I create a checklist of all the essential items I need for any important task. I also set reminders on my phone a day before to ensure I have everything ready, which has significantly reduced the chances of forgetting anything important.

Can you share another experience where being responsible helped you?
Yes, there was another time when I had to prepare for a job interview. I made sure to organize all my documents, research the company, and practice my answers. This preparation helped me feel confident and ultimately led to me getting the job.

Band 6-7

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Precisely speaking, 20 days back, I had forgotten a task which was given by my parents. And collectively, I had to bear a very huge consequence after forgetting that important task given by my parents. Somewhere, I had to complete it in a stipulated time wherein I could not do it. And which resulted into a very massive fight in my house. A dispute in my house due to which my whole family did not talk to each other for almost 5-6 days. And then we had to come into a conclusion that we need to stop this fight and get together, talk it over a table, clear out the matter and resolve the whole issue that we had been addressing.

Follow up questions


How did you feel when you realized you forgot the task?
I felt really anxious and guilty when I realized I had forgotten the task. It was important to my parents, and I knew that my oversight would lead to disappointment and conflict within the family. The weight of that realization was quite heavy on me.

What steps did you take to resolve the conflict with your family?
To resolve the conflict, I initiated a family meeting where we could openly discuss our feelings. I apologized for my mistake and took responsibility for my actions. We all shared our perspectives, which helped us understand each other better and ultimately brought us closer together.

Have you taken any measures to prevent forgetting important tasks in the future?
Yes, I have started using a planner and setting reminders on my phone for important tasks. I also make it a point to review my responsibilities regularly. This has helped me stay organized and ensure that I don’t forget important commitments again.

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Band 6

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I have to mention about something very important which I have forgotten and that is that was my husband's birthday. It was his 29th birthday which I forgot completely every year I wish him at midnight but that particular year I forgot and this happened five years ago. And what happened after that I got earful from my husband because every time he remembers my birthday and he wishes me at midnight but that particular year I completely forgot about it. I was stressed and I was into a lot of things during that time. I didn't even realize it till he mentioned after two days. So that was a horrible part which made me feel sad and awkward because every year we used to celebrate his birthday. It is very important because he is someone very close to my heart. After my parents I can say he is the one who takes care of me and I forgot such a person's birthday. Not intentionally but sometimes it happens but to convince that to him took a lot of time and it was a big struggle and even today I get to hear that once I did not wish him. So I think this is the lifelong guilt I have to carry. Another thing, whoever is close to us they expect that on their special occasion, on their unique day.

Follow up questions


How did you feel after realizing you forgot your husband's birthday?
I felt terrible and guilty. It was a moment of realization that I had let someone I care about down. I was stressed with other things, but that didn't excuse forgetting such an important day. The guilt lingered for a long time, and I wished I could turn back time.

What steps did you take to make it up to your husband?
I apologized sincerely and planned a surprise celebration for him a few days later. I wanted to show him how much he means to me, so I organized a small gathering with his friends and family. I also made sure to give him a thoughtful gift to express my love and appreciation.

Do you think forgetting important dates is common in relationships?
Yes, I believe it can happen to anyone, especially when life gets busy. However, it's crucial to communicate and understand each other's feelings. While it's important to remember special occasions, it's also essential to forgive and move on from such mistakes in a relationship.

Band 5-6

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00:00

Well, thank you for giving me opportunity to share one of my experience with you. Actually, two years back when I was in my hometown, I was invited for a wedding party at my friend's house and that friend was living four hours drive from my city. So on that day, I remember I was ready, I got ready and my family, all of us, we got ready.

Follow up questions


What was the important thing you forgot for the wedding?
I forgot to bring a gift for my friend, which is a common tradition at weddings. I felt embarrassed when I realized it, especially since it was a significant occasion for them.

How did you feel when you realized you forgot something important?
I felt a mix of anxiety and regret. It was disappointing because I wanted to show my support and celebrate with my friend, and forgetting the gift made me feel like I let them down.

What did you do to make up for forgetting it?
After realizing I forgot the gift, I quickly called my friend to apologize and promised to send a thoughtful gift later. I also made sure to be extra present and engaged during the wedding to show my appreciation.
Show all 8 answers

Cue 1:When did it happen?

  • Begin by mentioning the specific time and place when the incident occurred.
  • Provide some context about what was happening in your life at that time.

Example

It happened last year during the busy exam season in college. I was preparing for my final exams and was quite stressed out with all the studying.


Cue 2:What you forgot?

  • Clearly state what important item you forgot and why it was significant.
  • Mention any preparations you had made that were affected by this forgetfulness.

Example

I forgot my admit card for the exam. It was crucial because without it, I wouldn’t be allowed to enter the examination hall and take my test.


Cue 3:What was the result of your forgetting, and why was it important?

  • Explain the immediate consequences of forgetting the item.
  • Reflect on how this incident impacted your overall performance or feelings about the situation.

Example

As a result of forgetting my admit card, I panicked and had to rush back home to get it. I ended up arriving late and missed the first half of the exam. This was important because it affected my confidence and my overall score in that subject.


Conclusion

    Example

    This experience taught me the importance of being organized and double-checking my essentials before any important event. Since then, I have developed a habit of preparing everything the night before to avoid such stressful situations.


    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: Vague Responses

    Being vague can lead to a lack of detail in your answer. This makes it hard for the examiner to understand your experience and its significance.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Provide specific details about the event, including the exact time and place, to create a clearer picture for the examiner.


    2: Neglecting the Importance

    Failing to explain why the forgotten item was important can weaken your response. It may seem like the event was not significant.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Clearly articulate the consequences of forgetting the item and why it mattered to you, emphasizing its impact on your life.


    Lack of Structure

    A disorganized answer can confuse the listener. Without a clear structure, your response may seem scattered and hard to follow.

    bulb icon

    Tip

    Follow a logical order: start with when it happened, then what you forgot, and finish with the results and importance of the event.


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    All Answers

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

    Band 7

    Well, as far as I remember, I forgot my gold chain. I actually didn't forget, but I lost it. I lost my gold chain in a wedding ceremony of my brother, which happened three years before. So I was so busy in making arrangements and dealing with all the guests and also looking after my children. So I was unaware that this is so delicate and it could be lost so I should not wear this. But as it was in our ritual, in our culture, it's mandatory to wear gold chains or gold bangles and earrings. Because ornaments represent the woman's personality. So that's why I wore this. But when the function came to an end, I came to know that I lost my gold chain. I was really sad because I had no idea where I lost it. But it was important to me because it was a gift from my mother. My mother used to wear this in her young age and she gave me this gift on the birth of my daughter. So it was very precious for me. But when I asked the guards and all the sweepers to find out where it is, then they did their best to find my chain. And almost after one hour, they found it and they gave it to me. I was so overwhelmed.

    Band 6-7

    Precisely speaking, 20 days back, I had forgotten a task which was given by my parents. And collectively, I had to bear a very huge consequence after forgetting that important task given by my parents. Somewhere, I had to complete it in a stipulated time wherein I could not do it. And which resulted into a very massive fight in my house. A dispute in my house due to which my whole family did not talk to each other for almost 5-6 days. And then we had to come into a conclusion that we need to stop this fight and get together, talk it over a table, clear out the matter and resolve the whole issue that we had been addressing.

    Band 6-7

    He took me to the principal's cabin where we talked about this. The principal told me to show my other documents like my college ID card where I studied before and my Aadhaar card. When I showed it to him, he asked me to write a letter. With the letter, he told me to enter the examination hall. But when I entered the examination hall, they stopped me saying that without a hall ticket, it will not be allowed. So I showed them the letter which helped me to write the exam. From this moment, I became very responsible whenever I go to an important task. I keep all my belongings and essential things with me. This was a very good experience for me to understand. It taught me the responsibility and focus to the work which I am doing. Reporter- Sunita Prajapati Script- Lakshmi Sharma Editor- Guru Films Producer- Lakshmi Sharma

    Band 6

    I'd remember when I was in my 9th standard, I was not very good in art and my teacher, my art teacher was very, very strict. So one day, it was our exam, the test day on which he will be grading us on our artwork. So that will be evaluated in our report cards. So I remember it that the night before that day, I was completing my art file and trying to make everything on whichever I was lacking. So in the morning, I was in so much hurry that I forgot to take my art file, my completed art file to school and at that time, there was not any convenience for me to get back home and get to take my file again with me to the school. So I had to face my strict art teacher at that time. He scolded me a lot and he also made me stand outside the class for a whole one hour. I was very ashamed and I was feeling very bad for myself because I had completed my file just because I was in such a hurry that morning, I forgot to take it with me. However, I, on the next day, I did take my art file with me and showed to him, though he did not tell me anything good about my art because of course, it was not good. But yes, he graded me a B on my art file, but I remember it very vividly of how ashamed

    Band 6

    I have to mention about something very important which I have forgotten and that is that was my husband's birthday. It was his 29th birthday which I forgot completely every year I wish him at midnight but that particular year I forgot and this happened five years ago. And what happened after that I got earful from my husband because every time he remembers my birthday and he wishes me at midnight but that particular year I completely forgot about it. I was stressed and I was into a lot of things during that time. I didn't even realize it till he mentioned after two days. So that was a horrible part which made me feel sad and awkward because every year we used to celebrate his birthday. It is very important because he is someone very close to my heart. After my parents I can say he is the one who takes care of me and I forgot such a person's birthday. Not intentionally but sometimes it happens but to convince that to him took a lot of time and it was a big struggle and even today I get to hear that once I did not wish him. So I think this is the lifelong guilt I have to carry. Another thing, whoever is close to us they expect that on their special occasion, on their unique day.

    Band 6

    okay so this was the story when I was in my college first year so at that time I usually go to regular college but this was the incident which happened with me once in my life it was the time of Baiba when all the students of my class were there but I didn't know how to and when to give the Baiba because that was my first incident and first Baiba which I was going to give to my professor and even I didn't prepare a file that was called practical file so when I reached there and I heard from my classmates and now we have to submit a practical file as well so when I listened that I was totally shocked and my one friend when I told my one friend I haven't complete my file right now so he suggested me you give my give your file to me and I will complete your file in in just an hour so I was shocked and I was in dilemma what should I do and what kind of things I can do how I can complete my file so the things are going very bad but my friend finally after when I came written I so he done my file he's done my file so this was very annoying moment

    Band 6

    Last month, I did a mistake. Actually, I was careless at that time. That was an unforgettable moment. I am working as a Customer Relationship Executive, so I had a lot of duties. The major one is, I had a lot of reports. Our company had a monthly review meeting every first week of the month. So, I am in charge of preparing the reports. But unfortunately, I forgot about the reports to prepare. My manager got scolded by the higher authorities. I had to submit my reports to my manager, but I couldn't at that time. Just because I forgot, she got a lot of scolding from our higher authorities. She didn't complain about anything or she didn't pinpoint on me. The result was really pathetic. I was the one who did the mistake, but she got scolded by them.

    Band 5-6

    Well, thank you for giving me opportunity to share one of my experience with you. Actually, two years back when I was in my hometown, I was invited for a wedding party at my friend's house and that friend was living four hours drive from my city. So on that day, I remember I was ready, I got ready and my family, all of us, we got ready.
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