The cue card prompt “Describe a time you were late” seems simple, right? Most students panic and think, “I need a fantastic excuse!” But here’s the secret IELTS examiners won’t tell you: They don’t care why you were late. They care how you describe it.
A Band 5 response gives a list of excuses. A Band 9 response tells a compelling story, rich with language that showcases fluency, vocabulary, and grammatical range.
At GoatGuru English, we’re going to break down a Band 9 model answer and, more importantly, analyze the why behind every choice. Let’s transform a simple story into a high-scoring performance.
First, Let’s Look at the Cue Card
You will be given a card that says:
Describe a time you were late for an important event.
You should say:
- what the event was
- why you were late
- what happened while you were waiting
- and explain how you felt about being late.
The Band 9 Model Answe
(Note: Read this first, then we’ll break down the magic.)
“I’d like to talk about the time I was nearly late for a crucial university entrance exam. It was a pivotal moment that could shape my future, so the stakes were incredibly high.
The reason for my tardiness was a perfect storm of misfortunes. The night before, I had been revising relentlessly and completely forgot to set my alarm. To make matters worse, my phone battery died overnight, so the backup alarm never sounded. I woke up to the sound of construction outside my window, a full hour after I was supposed to have left. My heart absolutely sank.
The journey there was a frantic rush. I remember hailing a taxi and spending the entire ride on tenterhooks, anxiously watching every traffic light and pleading with the driver to hurry. Every minor delay, like a pedestrian crossing the street, felt like a monumental setback. I was just willing the car to go faster.
While I wasn’t exactly waiting, that taxi felt like a waiting room of its own—a purgatory between my mistake and my potential fate. I was consumed with a whirlwind of emotions: sheer panic about missing the exam, intense frustration at my own forgetfulness, and a sliver of hope that we might just make it.
In the end, I arrived with merely minutes to spare, flustered and out of breath, but immensely relieved. Reflecting on it, the experience was a harsh but valuable lesson in preparation. It taught me the importance of double-checking essential details and the profound impact that even a small oversight can have. I’ve been notoriously early for everything ever since!”
Why This is a Band 9 Answer: The Strategic Breakdown
Let’s analyze the answer through the lens of the IELTS marking criteria.
1. Fluency and Coherence (FC):
- Narrative Arc: It’s not just a list of events; it’s a story with a clear beginning (setup), middle (the problem), and end (the lesson learned). This structure is inherently coherent.
- Linking Words: Notice the use of sophisticated connectors: “To make matters worse,” “While I wasn’t exactly waiting,” “In the end,” “Reflecting on it.” These go beyond basic “and” or “but.”
2. Lexical Resource (LR):
This is where the answer truly shines. It uses less common, idiomatic language precisely.
- Instead of very important:
crucial,pivotal,high stakes. - Instead of a lot of problems:
a perfect storm of misfortunes. - Instead of nervous:
on tenterhooks,a whirlwind of emotions. - Instead of big problem:
a monumental setback. - Strong Verbs:
revising relentlessly,hailing a taxi,consumed with. - Idioms:
my heart sank,a waiting room of its own.
3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA):
- Complex Sentences: The answer seamlessly blends clauses.
- “I woke up to the sound of construction…, a full hour after…” (Appositive phrase)
- “I remember hailing a taxi and spending the entire ride…” (Participle phrase)
- “Reflecting on it, the experience was…” (Introductory participle phrase)
- Varied Tenses: It uses past simple, past perfect (“I had been revising”), and present perfect (“I have been…”) accurately.
4. Pronunciation (P):
(While we can’t demonstrate this in text, the answer is designed to be spoken fluently. The vocabulary choices are not just fancy; they are words that can be pronounced with clear intonation to show emotion—e.g., the stress on “absolutely sank” or “immensely relieved.”)
Key Takeaways for Your Next Cue Card
- Tell a Story, Not a Report: Build tension and resolution. Make the examiner want to know what happens next.
- Focus on Feelings: The prompt asks “how you felt.” Don’t just say “I was nervous.” Describe the physical and emotional sensation with vivid vocabulary.
- Use Idioms Sparingly and Smartly: One or two well-placed idioms are more effective than five forced ones.
- Explain the Impact: Always end with what you learned or how it changed you. This shows depth and provides a natural conclusion.
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