Describe a Time when you Lost your Way Cue Card

Jan 13, 2026

Describe a Time when you Lost your Way IELTS Speaking Cue Card model answers have been provided below. The answers are centred upon questions -Where you were, What happened, How you felt, And explain how you found your way

What is a Cue Card: IELTS Speaking Part 2 includes cue cards containing topics on which candidates are to speak. Candidates get 2-3 minutes time to speak and 1 minute for note-taking. In IELTS Speaking part 2, candidates' proficiency in grammar and vocabulary is assessed along with their confidence to speak in English.

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Topic: Describe a Time when you Lost your Way Cue Card

You should say:

Where you were
What happened
How you felt
And explain how you found your way

Answer 1:

Where you were?

Okay, so one time I properly got lost was during a trip to Kolkata a few years back. I’d gone for this small family thing, and one evening I thought, “Let me just wander around the city on my own, see the real Kolkata vibe.” I love walking through streets, watching people, street food, all that. So I didn’t bother with Google Maps or anything – figured I’d just ask if I needed directions. Big mistake.

What happened?

Everything was fine at first. I went to this cute little market nearby, bought some random stuff, ate phuchka, clicked a few pics. Then on the way back to the hotel, I took one wrong turn. And bro, the lanes in Kolkata look exactly the same sometimes – narrow, crowded, same old yellow buildings, same chaos. Before I knew it, it was getting dark, streets were filling up even more, and I had zero clue where I was. My phone was on like 8% battery, and I was like “shit, this is bad.” I started walking faster, thinking maybe the next turn will look familiar… but nope. Every street felt new and scarier. I got that proper anxious feeling in my stomach – alone, no idea where I am, it’s night, what if I don’t reach the hotel soon, family will start calling, what if phone dies… ugh. My heart was racing a bit.

How you felt?

I tried not to full-on panic though. Took a deep breath, stopped, looked around. Then I saw this small kirana shop guy closing up. I just went up to him and was like, “Uncle, I’m totally lost, my hotel is near [hotel name/area], but I have no idea where I am right now.” He was so chill about it. Didn’t make me feel stupid or anything. He asked a couple questions, thought for a second, then said, “Arre beta, metro station is just two minutes from here, go there and take the train to [station near hotel].” He even pointed in the exact direction.

And explain how you found your way?

I followed that, found the metro, recognized the station name once I saw it, and boom – from there it was smooth. I reached the hotel safe and sound, plugged in my dying phone, and just sat there feeling relieved. That day taught me two things properly: 1) Always have a backup plan/map/some battery in a new city, no matter how much you love “exploring freely.” And 2) Most people are actually really kind when you just ask for help. Kolkata folks especially – strangers can become your saviour in two minutes flat.

Answer 2:

Where you were?

Okay, here’s my real, messy memory of the one time I actually got lost on a school trip – and yeah, it was embarrassing as hell.

What happened?

We’d gone on this class excursion to some old historical fort or ruins (I think it was Gaur or something in Bengal, but memory’s fuzzy). Full day thing – bus ride, packed lunches, teachers yelling “stay together!” After lunch, they gave us like 40 minutes of free time to roam in small groups. I was obsessed with my cheap point-and-shoot camera back then, so I kept wandering off a few steps to get “better angles” of the ancient walls, carvings, monkeys stealing chips – the usual

How you felt?.

Next thing I know, I turn around and… my friends? Gone. Like they evaporated. The place was packed with tourists, same-looking stone paths everywhere, dust, noise. I tried retracing my steps, but every corner looked identical. No phone (this was way before everyone had mobiles), no way to call anyone. Just me, a camera, and rising panic.

And explain how you found your way?

My heart was hammering. Thoughts racing: Teachers will kill me. What if they leave without me? How do I tell Mum “sorry I got lost chasing photos”? I stood frozen for a bit, scanning for anything familiar – that big pillar? That weird tree? Nothing. I was this close to tears.

Then I spotted a teacher from another school group. She looked kind, so I swallowed my pride, went up and stammered, “Ma’am, I lost my class… I don’t know where they are.” She didn’t judge, just asked my school name, took my hand, and marched me straight to the main gate where our bus was. My teachers were there, half worried, half annoyed. Relief hit me like a wave, but I got the classic “don’t wander off” lecture all the way home.

That day burned one lesson into me: never stray too far in a new place, and always stick with the group. It still makes me nervous when someone says “let’s split up” on a trip. Nope, I’m glued forever now.

Answer 3:

Where you were?

Another time I royally messed up and got lost was during my internship days. I had this important meeting at an office in one of those super busy commercial areas of the city – you know, the kind with flyovers everywhere, honking autos, and offices crammed into every lane.

What happened?

My colleague had given me directions over the phone the day before: “Take the 12C bus, get down at the third stop after the big mall, walk straight, take a left at the SBI branch.” Sounded simple enough. I didn’t bother checking on Google Maps because, well, I thought I had it all figured out. Classic overconfidence.

How you felt?

Bus comes, I hop on, but I miscounted the stops (or maybe the traffic made them feel longer?). I got down at what I thought was the right one… and immediately nothing looked familiar. Huge roads splitting into five directions, flyovers looming overhead, people rushing everywhere. I started walking “straight” like he said, but after 15 minutes of zigzagging, sweating in the heat, I was still clueless. Phone GPS? Yeah, I hadn’t charged it properly, and it was dying anyway.

And explain how you found your way?

I was already 20 minutes late, heart racing, feeling like the biggest idiot. Thoughts: “Seniors are gonna think I’m unreliable. First impression ruined.” I was frustrated and low-key embarrassed, but I forced myself to chill – panicking wouldn’t help.

Finally spotted a traffic cop at a signal. Went up, explained my sob story, and he was actually super helpful. “Arre madam, aap galat side utri ho. Shortcut hai yahaan se – left, then right at the tea stall, office 5 minutes.” He even pointed exactly.

I followed it, reached the building panting but alive. Walked 30 minutes late, apologized a ton, but they were cool about it. That day drilled two things into me: always double-check directions yourself (Google Maps is free, Piyali!), and stay calm when things go south – stressing just makes you more lost. I still laugh about it now, but yeah never trusting verbal directions blindly again.

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