Describe a time when you were late: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Okay, when I was studying 10th, it was time for the board exams. So, unfortunately I had chickenpox during 10th board exams. So, it was the social science exam and both my parents were out to work and I was alone at home. So, my grandfather had to pick me up and drop me at the exam venue. So, before going to the exam, we went to a temple to pray so that I do or perform well in the exam. When we came back, we realized that I didn't have my... I was the one who locked the door before we left, I mean locked the gate before we left. When we came back, we realized that the key was already inside the home and I just locked the door without any key. So, during the situation, it was very panicky. Our neighbor unfortunately had a very long stick and pieces of other sticks. So, they used a tape and taped it all together to make it into a very long stick and they just... From the gate, we just used the stick to get the key from inside the house. And unfortunately, I was able to get in and get my stuff and go to the exam center. I didn't feel... I didn't feel very panicked or, you know, hesitated with the situation. Surprisingly, I was just very calm and collected and not really... Didn't worry about anything because I thought for some reason, we'll just get it through and unlock the door and I'll be able to write the exam. My aunt, Paddington, she heard the news and she rushed from her office to know what the situation is and know how I was doing. It was a very tough time to be late to an exam, especially with chickenpox. I was still late but, you know, not that late.

The last time I was late, I remember that during convocation, our convocation was going to start at 3 afternoon, but as my documents process wasn't finished, I was in student office working with other management for completing my documents process.

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Certainly, if we are not prepared, we will become late on a particular occasion. Like the way I also do late in my friend's engagement. Actually, I was prepared and started my journey at the right time, but due to traffic jams and the work over the road, I become too late on that occasion. So at that time, I become very anxious and feel very guilty because I can't reach the occasion at the right time. So it will be a very hesitate moment for me because I promised my friend that I will be there at the right time, but I can't reach the occasion at that right time. So I become more hesitant and feel very sad for that.

I remembered it was during my camp days in 2023. I was selected for the NSS National Republic Day Parade Camp 2023, which was to be held at New Delhi, in which I had to wake up early at around 5.20 in the morning to get ready for the parade practice sessions along with my teammates and it was one day I don't able to get wake up early in the morning so because of which my bus got late and there was a strict instruction to everyone that even if you are late by a 2 second margin then the bus will not wait for you and will move further with the students or you can say my teammates for the practice and that day the same thing occurred with me also.

I had my high school at M.A.S. International School in Patambi which was one of the reputed schools in my hometown. During my 10th grade academic inting time, we were asked to collect our corrected notebooks from the staff room. That day, due to some traffic problems, I came late to school. When I reached there, most of the students from the class collected their notes and went home. When I reached there and when I went to staff room, I couldn't see my notebook over there. There were no one to check whether students are taking their notes itself or not. Since I was a student, I always faced unhealthy competition in my class which always led to some problems like missing notes or misusing my study materials. That day was just a week before our final exam. I was in a heavy heart and I left school.

So, I think last week I got late for my office going, I was late because we were having a family ritual in the morning that starts from 6pm and it's about, it's our very auspicious festival of our Indian culture. So, due to which, due to puja rituals and the ceremonies, I got late for at least an hour and I feel very bad because when I reached to my hospital, my senior told me why you were late and I have no answers for that because it feels very bad and I have to do an overtime as well to pay back my extra time and that's it. Bye.

Yeah, there was a time that I was late to my college. It was in the year 2022, there was a big rally conducted. Specifically, a leader came to that area and there was a big blockage on the roads and so much rally has been going on and the transportation to my college halted in the middle of the rally.

There were quite few times I was late for the events. My friends are really frustrated because I'll be late every time, quite sometimes, at least by 5 minutes. If I have to mention one of the situations, I was late for my straight exams. The reason was that I was studying late night and I slept. When I got up in the morning, it was already 8. The exam was at 8.15. So I had to rush without having my breakfast. I rushed to the exam hall. I was already late by 10-15 minutes and I had to request the examiner and seek permission from the head office. Finally, I had to start my exam after 30 minutes. It had already started. And throughout the exam, I felt very uncomfortable because I had less time left compared to all of them in the hall. I started it late and I had less time to finish the exam and I was a bit uncomfortable and very frustrated about myself.

Usually I can follow the timetable. I can plan my schedule before when I am going to do a work or any other things. Usually I have been late to school when I was in 6th standard because I had missed my bus. Due to some other transportation I went to school through by vehicles. It was late for me and I got punishment from my teachers. They have scolded me because I went to the late and I didn't follow the rules. Because we should need to follow the rules before and we need to go to the correct timing. The time for the school is 9 am but I went at 10 o'clock. It was late and I got punished. I had knelt down and I did some work for their punishment task. I was knelt down out of the class through a whole day. It was a great moment in my life which I had never forgotten. I had realized that time is very precious and it will never come back. I need to say thanks to my teachers because they had scolded me and given punishment. Without them I don't know the value and importance of time. It was a great moment in my life. These are some of the moments when I had remembered to delay the timing. It was good to me.