Describe an instance when you received an apology.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who apologized?
When & why did they do it?
How did you feel about it?

32 unique answers with expert feedback

How do you feel when someone apologizes to you?

When someone apologizes to me, I feel a mix of emotions. If the apology is sincere, I feel relieved and appreciated, as it shows that the person values our relationship. However, if I sense insincerity, it can lead to disappointment and make me question the person's intentions.

Can you share a specific example of a meaningful apology you received?

One meaningful apology I received was from a close friend who had unintentionally hurt my feelings. They took the time to explain their actions and expressed genuine remorse. This made me feel valued and strengthened our friendship, as it showed they cared about my feelings.

What do you think is the importance of apologizing in relationships?

Apologizing is crucial in relationships as it helps to mend misunderstandings and rebuild trust. It shows accountability and respect for the other person's feelings. A sincere apology can lead to healing and a deeper connection, fostering a more positive and supportive relationship.

Band 6-7

00:00

In my life I have received too many apologies, but every apologies have such a wonderful experience for me. I do not forget every apologies in my life. One thing I would like to share is the best apologies I have received from some of my friends. A few days ago one of my friends told me about his apologies because he lent me money and he told me that he would give return back after a few days, but then I gave the money to him, but after a few days I didn't receive any messages or any amount from him. That's why I was felt annoying about his activities. Then I have tried to call him to speak about the matter, but he didn't pick my call. It was such a bad instance in my life. So after a few days I received a message from him about his apology. He told me that he had an unexpected accident on the way to his home, that's why he didn't pick my call. So the reason was quite acceptable, that's why I accepted his reason. But I do not allow anyone to cross my limits and if someone says to send money or any others within time, I expect it within time.

Follow up questions

How do you feel when someone apologizes to you?

I feel relieved and appreciated when someone apologizes to me. It shows that they recognize their mistake and value our relationship. An apology can mend misunderstandings and help restore trust, making me more willing to forgive and move forward.

Do you think apologies are important in friendships?

Yes, I believe apologies are crucial in friendships. They help to clear misunderstandings and show that friends care about each other's feelings. A sincere apology can strengthen the bond between friends and prevent resentment from building up.

Have you ever had to apologize to someone? What happened?

Yes, I once had to apologize to a friend for missing their birthday party. I had a family emergency and couldn't attend. I felt terrible for not being there, so I reached out to explain and apologize. My friend was understanding, and we were able to celebrate together later.

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

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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

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Anonymous student Band 8

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

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Anonymous student Band 6.5

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

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

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

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

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.

Yes, I once had to apologize to a friend after I accidentally broke their favorite item. I felt terrible and immediately owned up to my mistake. I apologized sincerely, and we talked it out. It helped to strengthen our friendship, as honesty is key in any relationship.

Show all 32 answers

Cue 1:Who apologized?

Begin by identifying the person who apologized and your relationship with them.
Mention any relevant context that makes their apology significant.

Example

The person who apologized was my close friend, Ravi. We had been friends since childhood, and we often shared our thoughts and feelings openly.

Cue 2:When & why did they do it?

Describe the situation leading up to the apology, including the time and place.
Explain the reason behind the apology, focusing on the specific incident that caused it.

Example

It was during a weekend get-together at my house last month. Ravi accidentally spilled a drink on my laptop, which was a huge concern for me as I had important files saved on it. He felt terrible about the incident and wanted to make things right.

Cue 3:How did you feel about it?

Share your initial reaction to the apology and how it affected your feelings towards the person.
Discuss any resolution or outcome that followed the apology.

Example

When Ravi apologized, I felt relieved and appreciated his honesty. It showed me that he valued our friendship and was genuinely remorseful. I reassured him that it was just an accident, and we ended up laughing about it later, which strengthened our bond.

Conclusion

Summarize the importance of the apology in your relationship.
Reflect on what you learned from this experience.

Example

Overall, Ravi's apology was significant as it reinforced our friendship. It taught me that mistakes happen, but sincere apologies can mend relationships and bring people closer together.

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

Providing vague or unclear answers can make your response less engaging and informative. It may leave the examiner confused about the details of your experience.

Tip

Be specific about who apologized and the context. Use clear examples to illustrate your feelings and the situation.

2: Ignoring Emotional Impact

Failing to express how the apology affected you emotionally can weaken your response. It’s important to convey your feelings to create a connection with the listener.

Tip

Describe your feelings in detail. Explain how the apology made you feel at that moment and how it affected your relationship with the person.