IELTS Speaking · Part 2 · Cue card
Describe a time you were late for something
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
This Part 2 cue card asks you to describe describe a time you were late for something. Your long turn has to cover 4 prompts (what you were late for; why you were late; what happened; how you felt about it), and the last one carries the most marks.
The cue card
Describe a time you were late for something.
You should say:
- what you were late for
- why you were late
- what happened
- and explain how you felt about it
How to structure your long turn
- 1
what you were late for
- 2
why you were late
- 3
what happened
- 4
and explain how you felt about it
Rounding-off questions
Why is punctuality important?
Are people more or less punctual than in the past?
Where this leads: Part 3 on transport and traffic
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