Describe A Time When You Were Stuck In A Traffic Jam: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When and where it happened?
How long you were in the traffic jam?
What you did while waiting?
Explain how you felt when you were in that traffic jam.

7 unique answers with expert feedback

How do you usually feel when you are stuck in traffic?

I often feel anxious and frustrated when stuck in traffic, especially if I'm on a tight schedule. It can be really stressful knowing that I might be late for an important event or appointment.

What do you think can be done to reduce traffic jams?

I believe improving public transportation, creating more bike lanes, and encouraging carpooling can help reduce traffic jams. Additionally, better traffic management and real-time updates on road conditions could also make a difference.

Have you ever missed an important event due to traffic?

Yes, I once missed an important meeting because I was stuck in traffic for over an hour. It was really disappointing, and I learned to leave earlier for future appointments to avoid such situations.

Band 5-6

00:00

I would like to explain a horrible situation when I faced in my life that is I felt I was in a traffic jam when I was in an early morning I have a morning shift so I go fastly to my hospital so that the time I got a traffic jam I am very depressed because I am so I am already late and also the traffic jam was lengthy and it's very horrible I am not good in drive so I have so I have worries on that words also when I was trouble situation it's make very very difficult it's happened around 3 to 8 months ago but the situation is smooth and I handle that but however if I feel if I saw any traffic or any block situation I feel oh my god why it is I always have a worries in between that sometimes I feel a rocket signs and other time I feel it's not my cup of tea and all the time I feel very bad because I don't like traffic if I think in a future it's will be a change in the future I definitely there is a change in the future so I thoroughly believe on that and also I would like to explain a traffic jam when I did that is in a kadavandras junction I make a traffic jam because when I just stuck in the middle of the road

Follow up questions

How do you usually feel when you are stuck in traffic?

I usually feel very anxious and stressed when I am stuck in traffic. It makes me worry about being late and affects my mood for the day. I often find myself checking the time and feeling frustrated, especially if I have important commitments.

What do you think causes traffic jams in your city?

I believe traffic jams in my city are caused by a combination of factors, such as road construction, accidents, and the increasing number of vehicles on the road. Poor traffic management and lack of public transport options also contribute to the congestion.

Have you ever found a way to cope with being stuck in traffic?

Yes, I try to cope by listening to music or podcasts to distract myself. Sometimes I practice deep breathing to calm my nerves. I also plan my routes in advance and leave earlier to avoid peak traffic times whenever possible.

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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.

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Anonymous student Band 7

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Answer

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Describe a book you recently read

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

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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.

Yes, I missed an important exam once because of traffic. I felt really anxious and upset, especially since I had prepared a lot for it. It was a stressful experience, and I learned the importance of planning ahead and considering traffic conditions in my travel time.

Show all 7 answers

Cue 1:When and where it happened?

Begin by specifying the exact location and time of the traffic jam, such as a busy road or a specific city.
Mention any relevant details about the day, like weather conditions or events happening nearby.

Example

It was a Tuesday evening around 6 PM, and I was driving home from work in Bangalore. The roads were particularly congested due to a local festival, which always attracts a lot of traffic.

Cue 2:How long you were in the traffic jam?

Clearly state the duration of the traffic jam, using specific time frames like minutes or hours.
You can also mention if it felt longer or shorter than expected.

Example

I ended up stuck in that traffic jam for nearly an hour. At first, it felt like it would be a quick delay, but as the minutes passed, it seemed to drag on forever.

Cue 3:What you did while waiting?

Describe the activities you engaged in while waiting, such as listening to music or making phone calls.
Mention any thoughts or reflections you had during this time.

Example

While I was waiting, I decided to listen to some music to pass the time. I also called a friend to chat, which helped distract me from the frustration of being stuck.

Cue 4:Explain how you felt when you were in that traffic jam.

Share your emotions during the traffic jam, whether it was frustration, boredom, or something else.
You can also reflect on how you coped with those feelings.

Example

I felt quite frustrated at first, especially knowing I was missing dinner plans. However, as time went on, I tried to stay calm and reminded myself that getting upset wouldn’t change the situation.

Conclusion

Example

Overall, being stuck in that traffic jam was a test of patience. It taught me to be more mindful of my travel times and to always have a backup plan for busy days. Despite the inconvenience, I managed to turn it into a moment of relaxation by listening to music and connecting with a friend.

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 Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer less engaging and informative. Specific details help the examiner understand your experience better.

Tip

Include specific details about the location, time, and circumstances of the traffic jam to make your answer more vivid.

2: Neglecting Emotions

Failing to express your feelings during the traffic jam can make your response less relatable. Emotions add depth to your story.

Tip

Share how you felt during the traffic jam, whether it was frustration, boredom, or something else, to connect with the examiner.

Lack of Structure

A disorganized response can confuse the listener. A clear structure helps convey your message effectively.

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

Band 6-7

Band 6

Well, in my life I stuck in a traffic jam once. I still remember the time that last month I had an appointment with my doctor in Patiala city. So I wanted to go there with my father and I had to reach there at about 9. But unfortunately when I was on the road, my father and I stuck in a traffic jam and we stuck in there for about an hour. And while stuck in the traffic jam, I was feeling really bored. So at last I had a great conversation with my father. We talked on various topics. We were having conversation about childhood and our hobbies and even we also talked about the life about future, like what I want to do in my future and where will I be in 2030. So it was an interesting topic. But I was feeling really bored at first. However, after having conversation with my father, I felt happy and light. So indeed, that was the time when I was stuck in traffic jam with my father.

Band 6

So the time I was stuck in traffic, I have a very memorable experience. It was a terrible experience. It was my first or second day to work actually and I had taken a bus. So I was sitting in this city public bus and I was on my way to home from work and I was stuck in an extremely heavy traffic. It took me almost an hour or more, one and a half hour to reach home and all I could do was just sit there in the bus. I was already worried about the commute and I was afraid because my work was quite far from my home so I was worried about the time and since this was my second day, I was even more horrified thinking that this is how my routine is going to be and this is how much time I am going to have to spend in the future. Later fortunately, I realized that that particular day was especially heavy and that is not how usually it is. So to my relief, I don't have to be stuck in traffic one and a half hour every day. But that day, it was terrible. My phone's battery ran down so I had nothing to do except just sit there and wait and I felt extremely agitated, irritated and frustrated and I was doing nothing but just waiting for the traffic to get over and for myself to reach home in time. I remember when I reached back home, I felt relieved. I was really rethinking traveling by bus and going to work every day. I was really wishing to or hoping to get remote work option if possible because I was really scared of this traffic and having to spend this much time of my day every day in traffic.

Band 5-6