Describe an Occasion When You Got Lost IELTS Cue Card

This article contains sample answers for the cue card topic – Describe an occasion when you got lost. 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. The sample answers below will help you learn how to communicate clearly and effectively for the IELTS Speaking Exam.

If you want to learn how to avoid grammatical mistakes for IELTS Speaking, check this video given below!

Describe an Occasion When You Got Lost

Describe an Occasion When You Got Lost - Sample Answer 1

There is nothing worse than getting lost in the middle of the road when traveling with friends. Here, I will tell you about a time when I got lost. 

A couple of years ago, my friends and I planned a weekend getaway to Mumbai’s Imagica, a one-stop entertainment destination for adventure lovers, including a theme park, water park and snow park. It was a Saturday morning; we reached the theme park and were amazed to see the number of people gathered near the ticket counter. However, we had already booked our tickets in advance, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Once we entered, my friends and I were amused with the larger-than-life attractions and thrilling rides in Imagica. We were a group of four people, so we split into two pairs. We were also given a map to get an insight into the directions. After enjoying it for three hours, we were all tired and hungry. So, my friend Rachel and I hunted for a restaurant but couldn’t find any. Rachel suggested that I look at the map, but unfortunately, I had lost the map too.

We continued our hunt for the restaurant, but all we found were rides, souvenir shops, and clothing stores. Since Imagica spanned a whopping 138 acres, it was extremely difficult to find a food stall or a restaurant. To our misfortune, the GPS ditched us. So, we asked for directions from other visitors, who guided us to walk ahead. We went so far off the track that we were quite puzzled, and our other two friends had no clue where we were. 

We were lost among the giant rides and meandering paths of Imagica. Although I was afraid, I didn’t want to scare Rachel, who was already a coward. I could spot the exit gate, where one of the attendants handed out the direction map, so Rachel and I immediately ran to him, grabbed it, and located a food stall. To be sure, I also enquired about the exact location of the food stall with the attendant and made our way back to our friends, who were equally stressed out. Thus, this was an unforgettable experience where I got lost with my friend.

Describe an Occasion When You Got Lost - Sample Answer 2

Admittedly, I am not good at finding directions, so I often get lost easily. Recently, I got lost when I was visiting Cuc Phuong National Park last February. This park is located in 3 provinces near Hanoi, including: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. It is very large park with a variety of animals and plants.

We arrive very early and stayed until sunset in the park. I was up at the furthest point as the sun was starting to set. The natural scenery was so stunning that we couldn’t move. We remained at that place, taking a lot of extremely impressive pictures and almost forgot the time until it got dark. As there were a lot of trees, the space inside the park seemed a lot darker than outside, thus, it was hard for us to find our way out. As a consequence, we got lost a few times and all we could see around us were steep cliff faces and deep gorges. I even felt hopeless and nearly bursted into tears because of fear.

Luckily, before we completely lost our patience, the park’s guards found us and led us to the entrance very quickly. By the time we managed to get out of the park, all of us were totally exhausted, hungry and thirsty. Soon after that we headed for a good local restaurant, ordering a big meal to mark the day we managed to overcome such a dangerous situation.

Describe an Occasion When You Got Lost - Sample Answer 3

One of the most memorable times I got lost was during a solo trip to Kyoto, Japan, about a year ago. I had been exploring the beautiful temples and gardens in the city when I decided to take a detour and venture down a small, picturesque alleyway.

At the time, I was alone, and I hadn’t realized that I had wandered quite far from the main attractions. The alley was so serene and quiet that it didn’t occur to me how easy it was to lose my bearings. Soon, I found myself in an unfamiliar residential area, with no signs or landmarks to guide me.

I was initially taken aback and felt a wave of panic, especially since my phone had run out of battery. But then, I took a few deep breaths and tried to stay calm. I approached a local elderly woman who was gardening in her front yard. She didn’t speak much English, but with some gestures, I managed to communicate that I was lost. She kindly pointed me in the right direction, and after a 20-minute walk, I eventually found my way back to the city center.

This experience was both frightening and exhilarating at the same time. It taught me the importance of staying calm under pressure and trusting others for help.

Describe an Occasion When You Got Lost - Vocabulary

Here are the IELTS Vocabulary for “Describe a time when you got lost” with examples:

1. Wander

Meaning: To walk aimlessly or without a clear direction.
Example: I wandered through the park, enjoying the scenery, but eventually realized I was lost.

2. Puzzled

Meaning: Feeling confused or unsure about something.
Example: We were puzzled when we couldn’t find the restaurant despite looking at the map several times.

3. Detour

Meaning: A route taken to avoid something or a longer path than usual.
Example: During my trip to Kyoto, I decided to take a detour and explore a small alleyway.

4. Exhausted

Meaning: Extremely tired or worn out.
Example: By the time we managed to find our way out of the park, we were all completely exhausted.

5. Misfortune

Meaning: Bad luck or an unfortunate event.
Example: It was our misfortune that the GPS stopped working when we were lost in Imagica.

6. Panic

Meaning: A sudden feeling of fear or anxiety that causes a person to act without thinking.
Example: I felt a wave of panic when I realized my phone had run out of battery and I was lost in an unfamiliar place.

7. Serene

Meaning: Calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
Example: The alley I wandered into was so serene and quiet that I didn’t notice how far I had strayed from the main attractions.

Important Links: 

Check out the following improtant links while preparing for the IELTS Speaking test:

• IELTS Speaking Criteria: What IELTS Examiners Look for in the Speaking Test?
• Recent IELTS Topics in IELTS Speaking Tests 2025
• How to Use Idioms in IELTS Speaking for a Higher Score?
• Linking words for IELTS Speaking Section
• The Best Phrases to Use in IELTS Speaking
• Recent IELTS Speaking Topics Part 2 & 3 with Model Answers