July 24, 2024 - IELTS BAND7

IELTS Cue Card 2024: TALK ABOUT A TIME YOU WERE TRAVELLING BUT WERE DELAYED

July 24, 2024 IELTS Research

IELTS Cue Card

Talk about a time you were travelling but were delayed.

You should say:

Where were you travelling to?

Why were you delayed?

How did you overcome the delay?

And describe the entire episode in detail.

Sample Answer

My story happened quite a while ago; I believe it was in December 2017. I was going to Sri Lanka for a vacation with my family. We were set to arrive at the airport at 4 pm so we could board our 7 pm international flight on time. A tip for travel I always keep in mind is to be as unhurried as possible, be it driving or train travel. Having extra time is always better as it takes away the unnecessary stress.

We reached the airport on time. As we entered the terminal gates, we were greeted by the classic coffee scent that permeates most airports. So far, the situation was looking good. We managed to get past check-in, baggage, security and customs with no hiccups at all with an hour to spare. Boarding, too, went on smoothly.

Everyone was waiting for the flight to take off. All of a sudden, there was an announcement. That’s when the trouble started. We were asked to deboard as the flight was facing technical issues. So, we boarded the airport bus and were all relocated to a new flight. Our baggage relocation took us another hour. At this point many people were getting very antsy, and for good reason too. This was supposed to be a short 3-hour flight and we already had to endure more than 2 hours of waiting time. It was annoying.

My family and I dealt with it by simply getting out our travel pack Uno game. That’s another great tip for anyone who’s travelling with kids; always bring travel-friendly games along because the kids will get bored. We played the original Uno and a couple of other games my kids came up with. Finally, the announcement of the flight being ready for takeoff came.

We arrived very late in Sri Lanka. It took us some more time to find our waiting cab and reach the hotel. The journey ended up pretty smoothly despite the technical delay we faced. As the saying goes, “all is well that ends well”.

Speaking part 3 follow up questions:

Q.1 What are the most common reasons that cause travel delays?

I think severe weather conditions and technical defect are the two biggest causes of travel delays. Traffic congestion, diversion of routes due to accidents or repair work also lead to travel disruptions.

Q.2 Do you think too many people are dependent on cars as a means of transport?

Definitely, yes. The number of people who depend on cars for commuting and travelling has gone up considerably in the past few decades.

Q.3 Why do people prefer to travel by car?

I think there are two main reasons why people prefer to travel by car. Firstly, public transport systems like buses and trains are poorly maintained in many parts of the world. Secondly, cars have become a status symbol. Nobody wants to wait for hours and board an overcrowded bus or train. Those who can afford tend to avoid using public transport facilities and prefer their own mode of transport. It not only saves their time but also gives them comfort and privacy.