IELTS Speaking

45. Describe a mistake you have made.

You should say:

What is it?

When you made it?

How did you feel about it?

Sample Answer 1

One mistake that comes to mind is a time when I accidentally sent an email to the wrong person. It was a work email, and I had intended to send it to a colleague who I was collaborating with on a project. However, I accidentally clicked on the wrong name in my address book and sent the email to someone else who had a similar name.

I realised my mistake almost immediately after hitting the send button, but it was too late. The email contained sensitive information about our project that was not intended for the recipient, and I felt embarrassed and ashamed of my mistake.

I quickly sent a follow-up email to the intended recipient, explaining what had happened and apologizing for any confusion or inconvenience that may have been caused. I also sent an email to the unintended recipient, explaining the mistake and asking them to please delete the email without reading it.

Despite my efforts to fix the mistake, I still felt bad about it for a while. I worried that the unintended recipient might have read the email and shared the information with others, which could have had negative consequences for our project. I also felt like I had let my colleague down by not being more careful when sending the email.

In the end, I learned the importance of double-checking before sending important emails, and taking steps to fix mistakes as soon as they happen. Mistakes happen to everyone, but it's how we handle them that matters most.

45. Describe a mistake you have made.

You should say:

What is it?

When you made it?

How did you feel about it?

Sample Answer 2

One mistake I made was forgetting to set my alarm clock for an early morning meeting. It was an important meeting with some clients, and I had been looking forward to it for weeks. I went to bed feeling confident that I would wake up on time, but I must have turned off my alarm clock in my sleep without realizing it.

When I woke up, it was already an hour after the meeting had started. I felt panicked and embarrassed. I immediately called my clients to apologize and explain the situation. They were understanding, but I could tell that my mistake had caused some frustration and inconvenience.

I felt terrible about missing the meeting and letting my clients down. I knew that I had lost their trust and respect, and I felt like I had sabotaged my chances of getting any future business from them. I also felt frustrated with myself for being so careless and not taking more precautions to ensure that I woke up on time.

In the end, I learned the importance of taking responsibility for my mistakes and doing everything I can to make amends. I also learned the value of being more diligent about setting multiple alarms and having backup plans in case something goes wrong. While it was a difficult and embarrassing experience, I was able to use it as a learning opportunity and grow from my mistake.