Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan - IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample Answers

Life is often unpredictable and no matter what we plan, unexpected situations force us to change our plan. While answering the IELTS cue card, Describe a time that you had to change your plan, you have to describe a time when you had to communicate a change in plans or direction to your peers/friends. 

In this blog, we will provide 3 well-structured sample answers for Part 2, useful vocabulary, and tips to frame your speaking answer and perform well in the IELTS Speaking test.

Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan IELTS Speaking Part 2 Question & Sample Answers

The Describe a time that you had to change your plan cue card in IELTS Speaking Part 2 allows you to showcase your ability to narrate an event with clarity, express emotions effectively, and use appropriate vocabulary. The key to answering this well is to choose an experience where a significant change occurred, explain the reasons behind it, and describe your reaction to the situation.

Before you start, learn how to avoid grammar errors in IELTS Speaking with the guide below!

Now, have a look at the IELTS cue card samples below for the cue card and create your own ‘describe a time when you had to communicate a change in plans or direction to your peers/friends’ answer.

Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 1

• What the plan was?

Usually, I plan my activities very meticulously. Yet, sometimes, things don’t go as intended, and one has to change one’s schedule. Here I will talk about a time when the weather forced my friends and me to modify our programs.

• Why you changed it?

I vividly remember when my friends and I planned to go to a science museum near my hometown, but we could not go because of heavy rainfall. Last year, we planned to visit this museum during our summer vacation, which is at a distance one hour away from my hometown. Because I live near the bus stand, my friends had to gather at my house, and then we had to head towards the bus stand and catch a bus for the destination. Unfortunately, it became cloudy, and we could anticipate it would rain. But we never thought it could be that bad and just as we were about to depart, it started raining heavily.

• What you did instead?

We decided we would wait some time for the rain to stop, and then we would continue. However, to our astonishment, it started raining cats and dogs, and then it went on for about four hours at a stretch. We couldn’t go anywhere else. My friends were stuck at my house, but they made sure to call their home to convey that they would be late. After that, we prepared some fried food and watched some movies together. 

• And explain how you felt about changing the plan.

To be honest, initially, I was very disappointed with the change in plan. However, with passing time, I realised that this gave us an opportunity to create some wonderful memories that we will cherish forever.

Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 2

• What the plan was?

• Why you changed it?

Last year, I was working in an international company and doing quite well, so I was offered a big promotion to become a manager. Needless to say, I was very happy with this good news. 

However, I’d been preparing myself for the new position when I received another piece of good news: a scholarship from a prestigious university in America covering all expenses, including tuition and accommodation, an enviable package. I was in a dilemma, not knowing whether to stay and further my career or to go and further my education.

• What you did instead?

So I decided to ask my friend, Hugo, for his advice, because he once faced a very similar choice. He was like, If you want to go far in this field, you have to possess excellent qualifications, because if you don’t, there’s a limit to how far up you can reach. This promotion may look good now, but as far as I can see, there’s little room left for development. So, I took his advice and am now studying in America.

• And explain how you felt about changing the plan.

Before I talked my heart out to Hugo, I was out of my wits about this whole situation. However, he made me look at the pros and cons of both the opportunities and guided me to understand which opportunity was more beneficial for me. So, in the end, I got to fulfil my dreams and make my parents proud.

Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan – IELTS Cue Card Sample Answer 3

• What the plan was?

A few months ago, I had planned to attend a live music concert featuring one of my favorite bands. I had bought the tickets months in advance, and I was eagerly looking forward to the experience. My friends and I had even planned to meet early, have dinner, and then enjoy the concert together.

• Why you changed it?

However, on the day of the event, I suddenly fell ill with a severe headache and fever. At first, I thought I could push through, but as the day progressed, my condition worsened. I realized that attending the concert in that state would be unwise and uncomfortable, so I had no choice but to cancel my plans.

• What you did instead?

Since I couldn’t go out, I decided to make the most of my evening at home. I put on my coziest blanket, ordered some comfort food, and streamed a recorded version of a previous concert by the same band. While it wasn’t the same as experiencing a live show, I still got to enjoy the music in a relaxed and comfortable setting. I even video-called my friends to hear about their experience at the concert, so I didn’t feel completely left out.

• And explain how you felt about changing the plan.

At first, I was deeply disappointed because I had been looking forward to this event for so long. However, I later realized that health should always come first, and forcing myself to attend the concert would have made the experience unenjoyable. In the end, I learned an important lesson: sometimes, things don’t go as planned, but making the best of a situation can still lead to a satisfying outcome.

Vocabulary for Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan IELTS Cue Card

A rich vocabulary allows you to communicate more effectively and demonstrate a higher level of language proficiency. Here are some IELTS Speaking vocabulary words used in the sample answers for the topic:

Tips to Answers Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan IELTS Cue Card

Below are detailed, topic-specific IELTS Speaking tips to help you structure your answer for cue card ‘Describe a Time You Had to Change Your Plan’, use appropriate vocabulary, and score well in IELTS Speaking.

• Choose a Personal and Relatable Situation: Selecting the right situation is crucial. Your story should be easy to explain, have a clear reason for change, and allow you to express emotions naturally. Some ideal scenarios include cancelled travel plans, missing an important event, work or study commitments, transportation issues, family or friend emergencies. 

• Explain the Reason for the Change Clearly: Once you introduce your plan, make sure to clearly explain why you had to change it. This should be more than just a one-sentence explanation.

• Describe the Alternative Plan in Detail: To make your response more compelling, don’t just say you canceled your plan—explain what you did instead. This keeps your answer interesting and shows your ability to adapt to changes.

• Express Your Emotions Clearly: Using a mix of negative and positive emotions makes your answer more realistic and engaging. Instead of just saying "I felt bad" or "It was fine," be more expressive by saying ‘I was really looking forward to it, so it was a huge letdown.’, or ‘Surprisingly, the alternative plan turned out to be just as fun!’

• Use a Variety of Vocabulary and Expressions: A strong IELTS answer should not sound repetitive. Try using varied vocabulary related to plans, changes, emotions, and solutions. 

• Structure Your Answer for Clarity: A well-organized response helps showcase your fluency and make it easier for the examiner to follow. Stick to a logical structure of introduction, reason for change, alternative plan and reaction & feelings.

To sum up, in the IELTS Speaking test, answering the cue card, ‘Describe a time when you had to communicate a change in plans or direction to your peers/friends’ effectively requires you to use relevant vocabulary and share personal reflection. Ultimately, being able to adapt to changes with a positive attitude is a valuable life skill—both in reality and in your IELTS exam!