The cue card
Describe a time when you got lost.
You should say:
- when and where it happened
- how you got lost
- what you did
and explain how you felt at the time.
You have one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes.
Band 8–9 sample answer
Written by Abroadway as a model of natural, high-band speaking (not an official IELTS sample).
I'd like to describe a time I got lost in Kolkata about three years ago, when I was seventeen. My mother had gone there for a medical check-up, and I went along to keep her company. We were staying in a small guesthouse in the Park Street area, and on our third day, while she was resting, I decided to go out on my own to buy some books. The trouble started because I was far too confident.
I'd walked the route once with my mother, so I didn't bother writing down the name of the guesthouse or the street. I found a bookshop easily enough, but afterwards I wandered into a maze of narrow lanes behind the main market, following the smell of street food, and when I finally turned round, nothing looked familiar. To make matters worse, my phone battery was almost dead, and I hadn't bought a local SIM card, so I had no mobile data anyway. At first I tried to retrace my steps, which only got me more confused.
Eventually I swallowed my pride and asked a man running a tea stall for directions. Language wasn't a barrier, since people there speak Bengali, but I couldn't tell him the name of the guesthouse. Luckily, I remembered that it was opposite a well-known bakery, and he not only recognised the description but walked me halfway there himself. As for how I felt, I went through a whole range of emotions.
For the first twenty minutes I was mildly annoyed with myself, but once it started getting dark, I felt a genuine knot of panic in my stomach, mostly because I knew my mother would be worried. When I finally spotted the guesthouse sign, the relief was enormous. Looking back, it taught me two useful lessons: always note down your address, and never underestimate the kindness of strangers.
Useful phrases from this answer
- to make matters worse
- making a bad situation even worse
- retrace my steps
- go back the same way that I came
- swallowed my pride
- did something I found embarrassing because it was necessary
- knot of panic
- a tight, uncomfortable feeling of sudden fear
- spatial awareness
- the ability to understand where things are and how to move between them
- do some homework
- find out useful information before doing something
- in real time
- at the same moment that something is actually happening
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
Why do some people have a better sense of direction than others?
I think it's partly natural ability and partly habit. Some people seem to have stronger spatial awareness from childhood; they can picture a map in their heads and instinctively know which way they're facing. But I'd argue that practice matters at least as much. Someone who grew up walking or cycling around their neighbourhood, or who has travelled a lot, has simply had more chances to develop the skill. By contrast, people who are always driven around, or who follow a phone screen step by step, never really build that mental map. So it's probably a combination of talent and experience, much like any other skill.
What advice would you give to someone visiting a busy city for the first time?
First of all, I'd tell them to do some homework before they arrive. It helps enormously to have a rough idea of the layout, the main landmarks and how the public transport works, and to download an offline map in case the internet connection fails. Secondly, I'd advise them to keep the address of their accommodation written down somewhere other than their phone. In a city like Dhaka, I'd also suggest avoiding rush hour wherever possible and agreeing the fare with a rickshaw puller before getting in. Finally, they shouldn't be too proud to ask for directions, ideally from shopkeepers rather than random passers-by, since shopkeepers usually know the area well.
How have map apps on smartphones changed the way people find their way?
They've transformed it almost completely. Not so long ago, finding an unfamiliar address meant asking several people, studying a paper map or relying on vague instructions like 'turn left after the mosque'. Now most people simply type in a destination and follow the blue dot. This has obvious advantages: it saves time, it shows traffic in real time and it gives people the confidence to explore places they'd never have visited otherwise. Delivery and ride-sharing services depend on these apps entirely. On the other hand, I think people pay much less attention to their surroundings now, so they often arrive somewhere without really knowing where they are.
Is it a problem that people rely so much on navigation apps?
To some extent, yes, although I wouldn't call it a serious problem for most people. The main risk is that if the battery dies or there's no signal, someone who has always relied on an app may be completely helpless. There's also a broader concern that we're losing a skill people have depended on for most of history, in the same way that fewer people do mental arithmetic now that calculators are everywhere. That said, technology has always replaced certain skills, and society has generally adapted. I'd argue the sensible approach is balance: use the app, but take a moment to notice landmarks and understand the general direction you're heading in.
What should cities do to help visitors find their way around?
I think clear, consistent signage is the most important thing. Street names, bus stops and directions to major landmarks should be easy to read, ideally in both the local language and English, since many visitors can't read the local script. Public transport maps should be displayed at stations and stops, not just online. Cities could also set up information points in busy areas, staffed by people who can give practical advice. In a city like Dhaka, where many streets aren't clearly labelled, even simple improvements such as visible house numbers and well-marked bus routes would make a huge difference, not only for tourists but for residents as well.
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