CUE CARD – Describe a time when you missed an appointment

December 10, 2022 Ayushi Rawat

Speaking -Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe something you received for free
You should say:

When and where did it happen ?

What was the appointment for ?

What happened when you missed it ?

And, explain how you felt about the appointment.

Sample Answer

Skilled people work with appointments. If you approach anyone without a prior appointment you may be disappointed. But sometimes, there are circumstances that cause you to miss a scheduled appointment. Today, I would be mentioning a time when I missed a very important appointment. After completing my graduation, I was looking for a relevant job to bear my expenses. I searched for various jobs on online portals. I luckily found one and immediately applied for the same. The next day, I received a call from HR. She explained the selection process to get hired. I will have to clear two hiring rounds, a telephonic round and Face to Face interview. I passed the telephonic round and was qualified to appear for the final round. The HR sent me the details about the timings and the venue. I was excited and confident about the interview. To avoid inconvenience, I left the house on time and was constantly on pins and needles. While commuting to the office, I got stuck in the tiring traffic congestion. I was getting this feeling that I would not be late and would reach the place on time. I tried contacting the manager to inform her about the situation, but I dropped the plan assuming it would not leave a good impression on her. After a while, traffic got cleared, and I took a sigh of relief. The moment I reached the address I quickly rushed into the office but was half an hour late on top of it I had left my credentials at home. I felt horrible and somehow managed to control my tears. I was scared but kept my finger crossed. The HR was not in a good mood and did not agree to proceed further with my interview. I tried to explain my situation but could not convince HR. That day, I learned an important lesson, if you want your time to be considered, you must respect others’ time. Being aware of the traffic problem in my city, I could have left my home early to prevent being late. Another lapse I committed was being reckless by getting over-excited. That resulted in leaving my credentials at home. That was one of the worst incidents I have encountered because of my negligence.

Speaking -Part 3 (Follow up questions)
Here are some examples of follow up questions that examiner may ask during your speaking (part 3) related to cue card ‘Describe a time when you missed an appointment’.

Q1. Which events in your country do most people forget ?

In India, people have many events to celebrate. For instance, birthdays, anniversaries, and marriages. There are some instances when they forget some events like meetings, appointments, and even birthdays.

Q2. Do you think it is a good idea to use electronic devices for putting reminders ?

I reckon it is good to use electronic devices for setting reminders. In this modern era, where people are busy with their hectic schedules, they often forget things, and taking help from technology can be helpful. However, depending upon it will not be prudent.

Q3. How can modern technology help you keep good memories ?

Modern technology has proven to help keep our memories safe. Now, we have access to various storage options like google drive, iCloud, Pendrive, and many more. By taking help from these technologies, one can keep intact their special memories and can set a reminder for special events.

Q4. Can electronic devices such as smartphones replace human memory?

Indeed, Electronic devices have a better memory than humans but are not advanced enough to replace our memory system. They lack in storing human emotions and feelings.