Describe a car journey you made that took longer than expected.
You should say:
I'd like to talk about a car journey I made with a couple of friends to a music festival, which
ended up taking far longer than we'd planned.
We were heading to the festival, which was a few hours' drive away, and there were three of us in the
car. We'd set off early in the morning, but almost as soon as we got onto the motorway we ran into
heavy traffic because of an accident further ahead. We sat in a long queue for what felt like ages,
moving just a few metres at a time. Then, as if that wasn't enough, the sat-nav took us off the main
road onto a narrow country lane that was badly signposted, and we ended up getting a bit lost.
Honestly, my feelings changed a lot during the journey. At first I was just a bit frustrated and
restless, because we were running behind and I was worried we'd miss the opening acts. But then we
sort of gave up on being stressed and just started making the most of it — we put on some music,
talked and had snacks, and in a strange way it became part of the fun. By the time we arrived, several
hours late, we were laughing about it rather than annoyed.
It took longer mainly because of the delayed traffic, but I'd say the wrong turn was what really set us
back. That said, although it was stressful at the time, I actually remember it fondly now. The journey
ended up being as memorable as the festival itself, because the long ride gave us a chance to talk and
bond in a way we wouldn't have done otherwise.
The story is told in a clear sequence: the destination, the journey, the problems, my changing
feelings, and the explanation. It flows naturally as a narrative rather than a list.
Takeaway: For Part 2, structure a story with a setup, a problem, and a resolution — it keeps the
examiner engaged and covers the cue card naturally.
Good descriptive range: "ran into heavy traffic", "a long queue", "badly signposted", "restless",
"made the most of it", "bond". Idioms and phrasal verbs are used naturally.
Takeaway: Use a few phrasal verbs (run into, set off, make the most of, end up) to sound natural
and fluent.
Strong past-tense control with past perfect for background ("we'd planned", "we'd set off"). Complex
structures ("as if that wasn't enough", "in a way we wouldn't have done otherwise") are accurate.
Takeaway: Blend past simple (events) with past perfect (background) and use "by the time..." to
show good control.
Natural storytelling with pauses at the key turns. The emotional shift ("at first frustrated... then
we gave up") is emphasised through pace and intonation.
Takeaway: Vary your pace to mirror the story — a little faster during the tense part, slower and
warmer at the reflective end.