Describe a time when you got lost.
This test has appeared in 8 seasons · 4 reported by test takers
- May–Aug/2026
- Jan–Apr/2026
- Sep–Dec/2025
- Sep–Dec/2024
- Jan–Apr/2024
- Sep–Dec/2023
- May–Aug/2023
- Jan–Apr/2022
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Work or study
- Do you work, or are you a student? (Why?)
- Why did you choose that job or that subject? (Tell me more about that.)
- What do you enjoy most about it? (Why?)
- Is there anything you would like to change about it? (Why?)
Chocolate
- Do you like chocolate? (Why is that?)
- What kind of chocolate do you prefer? (Tell me more about that.)
- Did you eat a lot of chocolate when you were a child? (Why is that?)
- Do you think chocolate makes a good gift? (Why is that?)
Childhood
- Where did you spend most of your childhood? (Tell me more about that.)
- What did you enjoy doing most as a child? (Tell me more about that.)
- Who was your best friend when you were a child? (Tell me more about that.)
- Do you think children today have a better childhood than you did? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a time when you got lost.
You should say:
- when and where it happened
- how you got lost
- what you did to find your way
and explain how you felt.
Follow-up question after your talk: Do you have a good sense of direction? / How long did it take you to find your way?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
how people find their way
- Can you explain why some people have a much better sense of direction than others?
- How would you contrast using a map app with asking somebody in the street?
- What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of depending on a phone for directions?
moving around unfamiliar places
- Can you explain why visitors get lost more easily in some cities than in others?
- What could be done about visitors who get lost in unfamiliar cities?
- Can you speculate on how people will find their way around in twenty years' time?
Test titles follow test-taker reports and each season's forecasts — IELTS does not publish its papers. "Reported" means someone reported meeting this topic in a dated test. The questions are written by us in the format of the real test.