Describe An Occasion When You Had To Do Something In A Hurry: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • What did you have to do?
  • Why did you have to do this in a hurry?
  • How well did you do this?
  • Explain how you felt about having to do this in a hurry.

Band 6-7

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Today I'm going to speak about one of the funniest things that I had ever experienced in my life. Actually this happened two months ago when my mother-in-law got sick and admitted to the hospital. Then after negotiation with my wife we planned to travel next day immediately to go to our country Sudan to visit her. Actually I took my phone and I immediately called one of my friends who is working in a travel agency and I informed him to book for us three tickets for me, my wife and our son Mohammed. Actually we prepared ourselves in few hours then next day morning we immediately headed to the airport. We travelled by airport and we reached next day our destination. The problem is that we didn't prepare ourselves well so we forgot many important things and we were not able to take sufficient items like clothes and gifts to the relatives. Anyhow the condition went very bad and it was a bad experience for us.

Follow up questions


How did you feel during the rush to prepare for the trip?
I felt a mix of anxiety and urgency. It was stressful knowing my mother-in-law was unwell, and we had to act quickly. I was worried about forgetting things, but I also felt a sense of determination to be there for my family.

What items did you forget that you wished you had taken?
We forgot essential items like extra clothes, toiletries, and some gifts for our relatives. It was frustrating because we had planned to bring some special items to show our love and appreciation, but in the rush, we overlooked them.

What did you learn from this experience about planning trips?
I learned that it's crucial to have a checklist and to prepare in advance, even in emergencies. Rushing can lead to forgetting important things, so it's better to stay calm and organized, even when time is short.

Band 6-7

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The occasion I have to do something in a hurry was during my final year examination. I have to cover all the topics for my physics subject. There are many principles in this subject that I have to cover lot of principles in this particular subject. Therefore, I did not complete all the portions. However, I asked a help from my friend to complete this topic and it is the most hectic day during my college life. After completing this topic, I feel happy and I did very well. It is the most memorable moment during my college life.

Follow up questions


How did you manage your time during your final year examination preparation?
I created a study schedule that prioritized the most important topics. I allocated specific time slots for each subject and made sure to stick to it. This helped me stay focused and cover the necessary material efficiently.

What strategies did you use to learn the physics principles quickly?
I used various strategies like summarizing key concepts, creating flashcards, and practicing past exam papers. I also discussed difficult topics with my friend, which helped reinforce my understanding and retention of the material.

How did your friend help you during this hectic time?
My friend helped me by explaining complex principles and sharing notes. We also quizzed each other, which made the learning process more interactive and effective. Their support was crucial in helping me grasp the topics quickly.

Band 6-7

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00:00

I just have an occasion. There are many occasions I have to do work, especially kitchen work in a very hurry. Because it is a busy time, I have to do morning kitchen preparations. After preparing the food and serving the meals to the house members, I need to go to work. Every day I face this hurry or busy in my life. One of the incidents I would like to share with you is that one day I was preparing the meals for my family members and I needed to go to work. When I heard that a guest was coming, I became very nervous. It was very difficult for me to manage the food for them and receive them.

Follow up questions


How do you usually manage your time when you have a lot to do?
I try to prioritize my tasks by making a list of what needs to be done first. I also set specific time limits for each task to stay focused. This helps me manage my time better, especially during busy mornings.

What strategies do you use to handle stress in such situations?
When I feel stressed, I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down. I also remind myself that it's okay if everything isn't perfect. Sometimes, I ask for help from family members to share the workload, which reduces my stress.

Have you ever had a situation where you couldn't meet your deadlines?
Yes, there have been times when I couldn't finish everything on time, especially when unexpected guests arrive. In those cases, I try to communicate with my family about what can be skipped or simplified to manage the situation better.

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Band 5-6

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Recently there was a wedding ceremony of my maternal aunt. And in that ceremony, I have to book the horse immediately. Because the horse has a significant importance in the wedding ceremony according to the Hinduism. And due to a lot of works related to the ceremony, we forget to book the horse. And at the time of the occasion, I remember about that. And we all were very panicked. And my uncle handed over this. And there was a very waste time towards me. Thank you for watching it.

Follow up questions


How did you feel when you realized the horse wasn't booked?
I felt a rush of panic and anxiety. It was a crucial part of the ceremony, and I worried about disappointing my family. The pressure was on, and I knew I had to act quickly to resolve the situation.

What steps did you take to book the horse in a hurry?
I immediately contacted a local horse rental service. I explained the urgency of the situation and asked if they could deliver a horse on short notice. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate my request, which relieved a lot of stress.

What did you learn from this experience?
I learned the importance of planning ahead, especially for significant events. It taught me to create a checklist for future occasions to ensure that nothing is overlooked, and to communicate effectively with family members to avoid last-minute rushes.

Band 5-6

00:00

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00:00

Actually the last week I was working from home, I am a software developer and I was doing overwork on Saturday, so there was a flight next week of my friend to New Zealand, so he requested all of our friends to the party, so I was working from home, I can't deny to my friend also can't deny to the boss that I can't work because I was compensating the day I had a leave, so there was a lunch break of one hour, so we went to the restaurant with my friends and told them I am working, I am working, I have to do it in a hurry, so we were four friends and I was carrying my Macbook at the mac tea, so I really ate all the food in a hurry and like I can't wait of my friend to the New Zealand, so he requested all of our friends to the party, so I was working from home, I can't deny to my friend also can't deny to the boss that I can't work because I was compensating the day I had a leave, so there was a lunch break of one hour, so we went to the restaurant with my friends and told them I am working, I am working, I have to do it in a hurry, so we were four friends and I was carrying my Macbook at the mac tea, so I really ate all the food in a hurry and like I can't

Follow up questions


How did you manage your work and social commitments?
I had to prioritize my work while also making time for my friends. I communicated with them about my situation and made sure to complete my tasks during the lunch break. It was a bit stressful, but I managed to balance both by staying focused and efficient.

What challenges did you face while working in a hurry?
The main challenge was the pressure of completing my work while trying to enjoy the time with my friends. I felt rushed, which made it difficult to concentrate fully on either task. Additionally, I had to ensure that my work quality didn't suffer due to the time constraints.

Would you handle a similar situation differently in the future?
In the future, I might try to plan better by informing my friends earlier or scheduling my work more effectively. I could also consider taking a proper break to enjoy social gatherings without the stress of rushing through my work.
Show all 13 answers

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 just have an occasion. There are many occasions I have to do work, especially kitchen work in a very hurry. Because it is a busy time, I have to do morning kitchen preparations. After preparing the food and serving the meals to the house members, I need to go to work. Every day I face this hurry or busy in my life. One of the incidents I would like to share with you is that one day I was preparing the meals for my family members and I needed to go to work. When I heard that a guest was coming, I became very nervous. It was very difficult for me to manage the food for them and receive them.

Band 6-7

Today I'm going to speak about one of the funniest things that I had ever experienced in my life. Actually this happened two months ago when my mother-in-law got sick and admitted to the hospital. Then after negotiation with my wife we planned to travel next day immediately to go to our country Sudan to visit her. Actually I took my phone and I immediately called one of my friends who is working in a travel agency and I informed him to book for us three tickets for me, my wife and our son Mohammed. Actually we prepared ourselves in few hours then next day morning we immediately headed to the airport. We travelled by airport and we reached next day our destination. The problem is that we didn't prepare ourselves well so we forgot many important things and we were not able to take sufficient items like clothes and gifts to the relatives. Anyhow the condition went very bad and it was a bad experience for us.

Band 6-7

The occasion I have to do something in a hurry was during my final year examination. I have to cover all the topics for my physics subject. There are many principles in this subject that I have to cover lot of principles in this particular subject. Therefore, I did not complete all the portions. However, I asked a help from my friend to complete this topic and it is the most hectic day during my college life. After completing this topic, I feel happy and I did very well. It is the most memorable moment during my college life.

Band 6

Well, this reminds me of my last birthday which was my 22nd birthday. It was my last time celebrating my special day with all of my dear and nearest college friends and it was a surprise birthday party so I didn't have any prior knowledge that they were celebrating my day and it was a Sunday so in our hostel we have outings on Sundays from 8 to 2 in the afternoon so for me it was just a casual day and the next day that is on the 22nd if I am being specific the winter vacations were starting so we just were planning on having fun going out doing some fun stuff together going to a cafe or having lunch outside like the basic plans and then all of a sudden these girls they pulled me into a restaurant and then there is a cake beautifully decorated with all the balloons and stuff and I was very excited I just felt so grateful for them that they remembered my special day and made me feel so good I would never forget this grand gesture of theirs and not only the cake they had prepared me small cute gifts which were also very heart warming and it was overall an overwhelming experience because it was the last time I was celebrating it would be the last time I'd be celebrating my birthday with these girls and they hold a very special place in my heart.

Band 6

in a hurry. Babu, what was that? Why did you get this here? Babu, this is a place we sleep na re buta? Huh? You get all the kacharas here? Take it out. Take it out. It was? It was one evening. My principal called me. It was one evening. My principal called me to his cabin and informed me that I have to take up a major event which was scheduled on next day. And I was just panicked to hear this all of sudden from my authority. But I had no time to think. I immediately rushed to my cabin. I called my few colleagues and we discussed how to go about this. And we jotted down few competitions and few things to do on that particular day. And quickly we ran to the different venues to finalize and make sure that all the arrangements were done. And the event was scheduled immediately the next day. It starts at 9 am. It happened that the in-charge of this event refused to take a charge due to certain personal reason. That's how I got this task. Luckily I had a good friends who were my colleagues who helped me to organize this mega competition. And after conducting the event, it was a grand success. However, the people could not believe that it could possible in such a short notice. Instead of giving up on this, I took it as a challenge and we organized an event which was smoothly done without much difficulties. And we got appreciation from everyone presented over there and even from the authority. So furthermore, we expect such events in the future. And also we showed the crowd and the authorities that nothing is impossible. If you have a dedication, if you are a good person, you will be able to do it.

Band 6

Hi. It was an occasion where I have to prepare my mom's 60th birthday. It was a really hectic time where I have to look out my guest as well as the decoration, as well as my food to serve for the people who attend the party. So, it was total hectic where I really got caught up in the decoration activity. I had my friend who helped me throughout the process. So, I was able to complete the process without any disturbance. In between my decoration, I had to respond to my guest calls to help them find the address of my house where the party was organized. Also, we had to respond to the guest who was already reached to the house. We also had the time to make ready the star of the party, my mom, to wear the saree and do her makeup and hairdressing. It was a very good organized yet it was hectic while the process. Yet, we completed it very good and had a lot of fun and the party went on.

Band 6

So it was all about Diwali preparation, when I was in the office and I had to come back from my office and it was too late because I have to get ready for Diwali and also I have to prepare for Diwali I was in a situation where we had to do puja and other things that are required and essential during the pujas and my mama was not well so I was the only one who was responsible to handle all those things and that was the something that made me hurry to do But it was hurry but moreover I found it like how to manage things when you are in hurry and how to do things when you are in hurry. It was quite good experience where I have learnt how to manage my time, how to manage things when you are all alone to do all the things Therefore I would say that doing things in hurry is not bad but you need to know how to do things. If you do not have any idea that how to do those things so it can be quite difficult for you to manage those things when you are in hurry or when things are not in proper place So it was the time

Band 6

Many of the incidents happening in my life, when I was found myself very busy, like birthday parties, weddings and other festivals and occasions, but here I would like to talk about the occasion, when I do many work very fastly, it was a time when my sister marriage was organized in last years, it is a very special occasion for me, because my sister will be get married and I feel very happy about it, all the responsibility on my hands and I was proved myself better, because like all the function, arrangement, lighting, decorating, dancing, music group are organized by me, I do very fastly everything, because I had no time for all the things, all the things happening in a very hurry and I found myself busy, but after wedding, I found that I had completed my all the responsibility in this wedding and also organized the thing in a well manner way and after completed the marriage function, I found like it is a piece of a cake for me, because I had completed my all responsibility very good and my family also give me compliment for this, because after this I never organized a party, even a birthday party and small occasions.

Band 5-6

Actually the last week I was working from home, I am a software developer and I was doing overwork on Saturday, so there was a flight next week of my friend to New Zealand, so he requested all of our friends to the party, so I was working from home, I can't deny to my friend also can't deny to the boss that I can't work because I was compensating the day I had a leave, so there was a lunch break of one hour, so we went to the restaurant with my friends and told them I am working, I am working, I have to do it in a hurry, so we were four friends and I was carrying my Macbook at the mac tea, so I really ate all the food in a hurry and like I can't wait of my friend to the New Zealand, so he requested all of our friends to the party, so I was working from home, I can't deny to my friend also can't deny to the boss that I can't work because I was compensating the day I had a leave, so there was a lunch break of one hour, so we went to the restaurant with my friends and told them I am working, I am working, I have to do it in a hurry, so we were four friends and I was carrying my Macbook at the mac tea, so I really ate all the food in a hurry and like I can't

Band 5-6

Recently there was a wedding ceremony of my maternal aunt. And in that ceremony, I have to book the horse immediately. Because the horse has a significant importance in the wedding ceremony according to the Hinduism. And due to a lot of works related to the ceremony, we forget to book the horse. And at the time of the occasion, I remember about that. And we all were very panicked. And my uncle handed over this. And there was a very waste time towards me. Thank you for watching it.
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