A couple of years ago, I found myself waiting for something truly transformative: the delivery of my first professional camera, a vintage Leica I had spent months saving up for. I had scoured various online marketplaces until I finally found a pristine model from a seller in Berlin. The wait lasted exactly three weeks, which felt like an eternity given my mounting anticipation. During those twenty-one days, I was practically glued to the tracking portal, refreshing the page every few hours, even though I knew perfectly well the courier wasn't moving any faster. To distract myself, I delved into technical manuals and watched hours of tutorials on street photography, trying to familiarise myself with the manual focus and the specific exposure settings of that particular model. I even visited local parks, visualising the shots I would take once the camera arrived, almost as if I were practising without the instrument itself. Honestly, the feeling was a strange cocktail of anxiety and exhilaration. There was this constant, low-level hum of nerves that it might get lost in transit or arrive damaged, yet that was overshadowed by a bubbling excitement. Every time I heard a delivery van pull up outside my flat, my heart would skip a beat. When it finally arrived, the relief was palpable. That period of waiting, although frustrating, actually heightened my appreciation for the object. It wasn't just a piece of kit anymore; it was a reward for my patience and discipline, making the first time I pressed the shutter feel significantly more meaningful.
The cue card
Describe a time when you were waiting for something special
You should say:
- →What you were waiting for
- →How long you had to wait
- →What you did while waiting
- →And explain how you felt while waiting
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
An experience
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Jot down the item and the duration immediately to fix your core narrative.
- 2
Use the middle minute to bullet point two sensory details or activities used for distraction.
- 3
Draft a final sentence explaining how the wait changed your perception of the item.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.
Say it and get a band free →8 words
Useful vocabulary for this cue card
pristine
In its original condition and perfectly clean
eternity
A period of time that seems very long
delved into
Examined or researched something in great detail
cocktail
A mixture of several different things together
exhilaration
A feeling of being extremely happy and excited
palpable
A feeling so intense it seems almost physical
piece of kit
A set of equipment used for a purpose
shutter
The part of a camera that opens automatically
5 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1What role does society play in shaping our attitudes towards this?
- 2Has the way people view this changed over the years?
- 3How do you think it will develop in the future?
- 4What are the benefits and drawbacks?
- 5Do you think the government should be involved in regulating this area?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a time when you were waiting for something special"?+
Jot down the item and the duration immediately to fix your core narrative.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
Keep practising
More cue cards: an experience
- Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop
- Describe a colourful cultural parade you saw
- Describe a community sports event you joined
- Describe a course or training you completed that helped you
- Describe a creative workshop you attended
- Describe a day trip to an historic monument
- All 705 IELTS cue cards 2026
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- IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and answers
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- IELTS speaking predictions
- IELTS pronunciation practice
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