IELTS Speaking

6. Describe a time when you were late. 

You should say:

When it was?

Why you were late?

How you felt about being late?

Sample Answer

One time I was late was for a job interview that I had scheduled in the morning. I woke up early and left my house with plenty of time to spare, but unfortunately, I encountered a lot of traffic on the way there.

As I was driving, I checked the GPS on my phone and saw that I was running behind schedule. I started to feel nervous and anxious, knowing that being late for a job interview was not a good impression to make on my potential employer.

I tried my best to take alternate routes and drive faster, but unfortunately, it was not enough to make up for the lost time. When I finally arrived, I was almost 20 minutes late.

I felt embarrassed and disappointed in myself for being late. I apologized to the interviewer and tried to explain the situation, but I could tell that the damage had already been done. I felt like I had ruined my chances of getting the job, which made me feel even worse.

In the end, I learned that it's always better to leave even earlier than I think I need to when going to important events or appointments. Being late can cause unnecessary stress and make a bad impression on others, so it's important to do everything in my power to arrive on time.