Describe an Occasion When You Had to Wait a Long Time for Someone - IELTS Speaking Cue Card

This article contains sample answers for the cue card topic - Describe an Occasion When You Had to Wait a Long Time for Someone as well as IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions related to the topic – waiting for someone.

In the IELTS Speaking Part 2 of the IELTS IELTS Speaking, you will be given a cue card that provides prompts to help you formulate a response and speak on the given topic. You will have exactly one minute to prepare and speak on a specific topic.

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Describe an Occasion When You Had to Wait a Long Time for Someone - IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 1

Here is the sample for the “Describe an occasion when you had to wait a long time for someone” topic

• Who or what you waited for?

I would like to confess that waiting for somebody for a long time is something I am not fond of, especially if the person has not arrived at the agreed time. Talking about this, I am reminded of a time when I had to wait for a friend of mine, Vaishali.

• Where did you wait?

I was waiting for her at a nearby park. She showed up at least an hour later than she was supposed to.

• Why did you wait? (or, had to wait)

This incident took place almost a year back when Vaishali invited me to visit her hometown during the vacation. I had convinced my parents of this trip. Moreover, I needed a getaway to rejuvenate myself and experience the enchantments of a suburban area. Also, Vaishali had promised that she would pick me up from the park. I left and reached there within 20 minutes, and I thought she would be there any minute. That was the time when the horrible waiting period commenced, and I had to wait for an entire hour till she finally appeared.

• Explain how you felt while you were waiting

If I had any idea that Vaishali was to arrive this late, I would have not reached early either. Moreover, when I tried calling her several times, she kept telling me that she was reaching in 2 minutes. At that time, I was quite worried and thought of returning plenty of times. However, I still kept my patience intact. The waiting time somehow seemed longer. I was a bag of mixed emotions. I was anxious, angry and worried – all at the same time. So, I would say my experience was not great.

At last, when Vaishali arrived and apologized profusely, I felt calm and tried cheering up. And then, we spent some quality time together.

Describe an Occasion When You Had to Wait a Long Time for Someone - IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 2

• Who or what you waited for?

Having to wait for somebody is a common situation in our daily lives. There was this one time I had to wait for my friends, which was so special. It was my birthday and I had invited a group of friends to a coffee house to celebrate it.

• Where did you wait?

We were scheduled to meet there at 8 that evening that coffee house. I was so eager that I came early. Certainly, none of them were there, but it was easy to understand because I was early.

• Why did you wait? (or, had to wait)

However, I waited for half an hour, but nobody showed up, and then I started to feel uncomfortable and worried. As I was losing my patience, I began to call each of them to ask why they had not come yet. To my surprise, none of them picked up the phone. I was really fed up, as you can imagine, because it was my birthday and my friends had treated me like that.

• Explain how you felt while you were waiting.

I waited for a couple more minutes until I couldn’t stand it anymore, and decided to leave. As soon as I called the waiter for the bill, I heard the “Happy birthday” song start up in the coffee house. Out of nowhere, all of my friends suddenly appeared with a birthday cake. They hugged me and wished me happy birthday. It was such a surprise. My anger quickly gave way to laughter and we had an unforgettable night chatting until the early hours, drinking coffee, and, of course, eating cake.

Describe an Occasion When You Had to Wait a Long Time for Someone - IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 3

I'd like to share an experience when I had to wait a considerable amount of time for my sister at an airport. This incident occurred about two years ago when I went to pick her up from her international flight.

My sister was returning from her study abroad program, and I was extremely excited to see her after six months. Her flight was scheduled to arrive at 2 PM, so I reached the airport an hour early, anticipating potential traffic delays. However, soon after I arrived, I received a message that her flight had been delayed due to bad weather conditions at the departing airport.

Initially, I thought it might be a short delay, but as time passed, it became clear that I was in for a long wait. The airport staff kept updating the arrival time, pushing it further and further back. I ended up waiting at the airport for over five hours.

During this long wait, I experienced a mix of emotions. At first, I was frustrated and a bit anxious, wondering about my sister's well-being and hoping the delay wouldn't extend into the night. As time went on, I tried to make the best of the situation. I found a comfortable spot in the waiting area, read a book I had fortunately brought with me, and even struck up conversations with other waiting families.

The experience taught me the importance of patience and adaptability. It also made me appreciate the joy of reunion even more when my sister finally arrived, tired but safe, at around 7:30 PM. The long wait made our meeting all the more special, and we shared a big, emotional hug right there in the arrival hall.

Describe an Occasion When You Had to Wait a Long Time for Someone - Vocabulary

Here are the vocabularies for “Describe an occasion when you had to wait a long time for someone” with examples:

• Show up

Meaning: To arrive where you had arranged to meet somebody
Eg: It was getting late when she finally showed up.

• Lose my patience

Meaning: To become annoyed or angry as a result of a delay.
Eg: The train is now 1 hour late, and I am losing my patience.

• Fed up

Meaning: Bored and unhappy, especially with a situation that has continued for a long time.
Eg: The traffic congestion in our city never seems to get better, so people are really fed up with the time it takes to get to work.

• Stand [something]

Meaning: To dislike – used especially in negative sentences.
Eg: I like John, but I can't stand his sister, she is very rude.

• Out of nowhere

Meaning: Appearing or happening suddenly and unexpectedly
Eg: The woman cried for help and, out of nowhere, a policeman arrived.

• Hug

Meaning: To put your arms around someone and hold them tightly, to show that you like or love them.
Eg: The child ran out of the school and he hugged his mother, who was waiting at the school gate.

• The early hours

Meaning: Early in the morning, for example about 2, 3, or 4 am.
Eg: We started in the early hours to avoid traffic.

• Anticipate

Meaning: To expect or predict something will happen

Eg: We anticipated heavy traffic, so we left early for the airport.

• Frustration

Meaning: The feeling of being annoyed or upset as a result of being unable to change or achieve something

Eg: His frustration grew as the waiting time increased with no end in sight.

• Adaptability

Meaning: The quality of being able to adjust to new conditions

Eg: Her adaptability helped her cope with unexpected changes in plans.

1. Do you think people are becoming less patient in modern society?

Yes, I believe so. With the advent of instant messaging, fast food, and on-demand services, people have grown accustomed to immediate gratification. This culture of immediacy has led to a general decrease in patience, especially when faced with delays or waiting times.

2. How can waiting be a positive experience?

Waiting can be positive if we use the time productively. It can be an opportunity for self-reflection, reading, or even catching up on small tasks. Moreover, waiting can teach us patience and help us appreciate things more when we finally get them.

3. In what situations do people usually have to wait for a long time?

People often face long waits in various scenarios such as at hospitals, government offices, and airports during delays, in traffic jams, or when queuing for popular events or restaurant tables. These situations are usually characterized by high demand and limited resources or capacity.

4. How has technology changed the way we wait?

Technology has significantly altered our waiting experiences. With smartphones, we can now entertain ourselves or work while waiting. Many services now offer real-time updates or virtual queuing systems, allowing people to manage their time better. However, this constant connectivity has also made some people more impatient.

5. Do you think the ability to wait patiently is an important life skill?

Absolutely. Patience is a crucial life skill that helps in managing stress, making better decisions, and maintaining healthy relationships. In a world of instant gratification, those who can wait patiently often have an advantage in achieving long-term goals and handling life's inevitable delays and setbacks.

Vocabulary You Can Use to Answer IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions on ‘Describe an Occasion When You Had to Wait a Long Time for Someone’

• Instant gratification

Meaning: The desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay or deferment

Example: Social media platforms often cater to our need for instant gratification.

• Productivity

Meaning: The state or quality of being productive

Example: Some people view waiting time as an opportunity to increase their productivity.

• Self-reflection

Meaning: Serious thought about one's character, actions, and motives

Example: Waiting can provide valuable moments for self-reflection and personal growth.

• Queue

Meaning: A line of people waiting for something; to form a line

Example: Customers patiently queued for hours to buy tickets for the popular concert.

• Real-time

Meaning: Relating to a system in which input data is processed within milliseconds so that it is available virtually immediately

Example: Many services now offer real-time updates on waiting times.

• Virtual queuing

Meaning: A system where people wait for services in a virtual line rather than a physical one

Example: The amusement park introduced virtual queuing to reduce crowding and improve visitor experience.

• Connectivity

Meaning: The state of being connected or interconnected

Example: Constant connectivity has changed how we perceive and experience waiting times.

• Long-term

Meaning: Occurring over or involving a relatively long period of time

Example: The ability to wait patiently often contributes to achieving long-term goals.

• Setback

Meaning: A reversal or check in progress

Example: Delays and setbacks are inevitable in life, but patience helps us navigate them.

• Manage stress

Meaning: To deal with or control anxiety or difficulties

Example: Learning to wait patiently can help people better manage stress in various life situations.

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