Describe a time when you were late for an important event.

You should say:

• When it happened
• Where it happened
• What made you be late for that event
• And explain how you felt about this experience 

A few years ago, I was late for my best friend’s wedding. It happened in the summer of 2019, and the wedding was held in a beautiful church in the city center. I was supposed to arrive an hour early to help with the preparations, but I ended up being 30 minutes late. The reason I was late was because of a terrible traffic jam. I left my house on time, but there was an accident on the main road, and all the cars were stuck. I tried to take a different route, but it was too late. I felt so stressed and guilty because I knew how important this day was for my friend. When I finally arrived, the ceremony had already started. I quietly slipped into the back of the church, but I could see my friend looking around for me. After the wedding, I apologized, and luckily, she understood. Still, I felt awful for missing part of her special day. This experience taught me to always plan for unexpected delays, especially for important events. Now, I leave much earlier than I think I need to, just in case.

When answering the IELTS Speaking Part 2 question about being late for an important event, here's a simple way to structure your response. First, briefly mention when and where it happened—keep it short, like 'Last year at my friend's wedding.' Then, explain why you were late, such as traffic or oversleeping, and add a little detail to make it interesting. Finally, describe how you felt—maybe embarrassed or stressed—and what you learned from it. Remember to use natural language, like you're telling a story to a friend. Focus on fluency and connecting your ideas smoothly. Don't worry about perfect grammar; just keep talking and cover all the points. Practice by timing yourself to ensure you speak for about 1-2 minutes.