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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

Describe an important journey that was delayed.

You should say:

• where you were going
• why the journey was important
• what caused the delay

and explain how you felt about the delay.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer 1:
We have to go to different places because we have many needs in our lives. Of course, not all those travels and journeys require planning in advance. Rather, it’s the only important journeys which require planning in advance, and today, I would like to talk about one such important journey which was delayed even after enough planning.

The journey, I wanted to take, was to attend the graduation ceremony of one of my nephews about a few years ago. By the way, my nephew and I have a very close bond. In fact, it was because of my advice that my nephew chose to study engineering, and he told me that his graduation ceremony would remain incomplete if I didn’t attend this ceremony. So, attending that graduation ceremony had great emotional value to me. Besides, I also didn’t want to miss that once-in-a-lifetime event of my nephew.

So, I made all the plans in advance as to what kind of transportation I would use, and when I would need to arrive at the destination. But, despite those plans in advance, I couldn’t exactly arrive at the destination on time because of events that were not within my control. In fact, the journey was delayed because I was not able to get a taxi on time. And, the reason why I couldn’t catch a taxi on time was that I needed to see one of my close friends at a hospital, who got injured in a terrible accident on the same day. Thankfully, my friend survived the crash, but my journey was delayed.

Needless to say, I felt a bit disappointed after my journey was delayed. But, even though, it was delayed, I felt a little relief at the same time, knowing that the delay happened because of a valid cause. I also felt that my nephew wouldn’t mind that little delay because of the same reason. Besides, I felt confident that I could still attend at least a part of the graduation ceremony if I had tried to arrive at my destination by using some different routes.

Model Answer 2:
Thank you so much for this interesting topic as well the the time to talk about it. Here, I'd like to talk about a significant journey to attend my best friend's wedding, a trip that was not only personally important but also a momentous event in my friend's life. Unfortunately, it was delayed which made me worry to a great extent.

I was heading to a picturesque town nestled in the mountains, where my friend had chosen to tie the knot. The location added a special charm to the occasion, making the journey even more anticipated.

The journey held immense importance as it was not just a wedding but a celebration of a lifelong bond. My friend and I had shared numerous memories, and being present at this milestone was a way of expressing my support and happiness for her.

Unfortunately, a sudden delay added an extra layer of tension while I took this journey. The delay was caused by unexpected weather conditions. There was an unanticipated snowfall in the mountainous region, disrupting the travel plans for many. The roads were temporarily closed for safety reasons, creating a delay that affected several travellers, including myself. I reached there a day later than the time I initially planned.

Initially, I felt a mix of frustration and disappointment. The delay meant missing some pre-wedding events, and I was concerned about not being able to make it in time for the actual ceremony the next day. However, as the journey resumed the next day - after the weather conditions improved, I tried to focus on the fact that I would still be able to attend the most crucial part—the wedding itself.

The delay, while inconvenient, allowed me to appreciate the unpredictability of life and the uncontrollable factors that can affect our plans. It became a reminder of the importance of flexibility and adaptability in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

In the end, despite the delay, being part of my friend's wedding and witnessing her happiness made the journey worth every moment. It added a unique story to the overall experience, making it a memorable adventure rather than just a trip to a wedding.

• IELTS Cue Card
• Candidate Task Card

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