The cue card
Describe a time when you had to wait for a long time. You should say:
- when it was
- where you were waiting
- why you had to wait
- and explain how you felt
You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1 to 2 minutes.
🎙 Practise this card with the examiner
Notes you could make in 1 minute
Write key words only, one line per bullet point:
- airport, Singapore
- flight delayed 9 hours
- technical problem
- frustrated, then made friends
Band 7+ sample answer
The longest I've ever had to wait for something was at Singapore Airport a couple of years ago, when I was flying back to Australia after visiting my family.
I had a connecting flight to Sydney, and just before we were due to board, there was an announcement that the flight was delayed because of a technical problem with the plane. At first they said two hours, then four, and in the end we waited nearly nine hours before we finally took off.
I was really frustrated at the beginning, because I had to start work the next morning, and I was already exhausted after the first flight. I had to call my manager to explain, and there was a lot of uncertainty, which is the worst part of any delay. Nobody knew exactly when we'd leave.
To kill time, I did all the obvious things: I wandered around the shops, ate far too much, and tried to sleep on a bench, which didn't really work. But actually the best part was that I got talking to a few other passengers who were in the same situation, including an older couple from Brisbane. We ended up having dinner together and sharing stories, and the time passed much faster.
So although I felt annoyed and tired at the time, there was a silver lining. I learned that staying calm and making the best of a situation makes a big difference, and I'm still in touch with that couple, who sent me a Christmas card last year.
About 255 words, or roughly 2 minutes at a natural speaking pace.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
- to be stranded
- an endless wait
- to kill time
- to make the best of it
- to lose patience
- a silver lining
Why this answer works: it covers every bullet point, tells a short story with specific details (names, places, numbers), uses a range of tenses, and finishes with the "explain" point, which is where you show your best vocabulary.
Follow-up and Part 3 questions
Examiner's follow-up (Part 2): What did you do while you were waiting?
Part 3 discussion questions:
- Are people less patient than they used to be?
- How can businesses reduce waiting times for customers?
- Is it acceptable to jump a queue in an emergency?
- Has technology made people more impatient?
Answer Part 3 questions in 3–4 sentences: your view, a reason, an example, and the other side.
More cue cards
Frequently asked questions
How long should my answer to 'Describe a time when you had to wait for a long time' be?
Speak for up to 2 minutes; the examiner will stop you. That's roughly 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The sample answer on this page is about 255 words.
Can I memorise this sample answer?
No. Examiners are trained to recognise memorised answers, and it can lower your score. Use the sample to see the structure and borrow a few phrases, then talk about your own experience.