Describe a time you were stuck in a traffic jam for a long time.
This test has appeared in 10 seasons · 2 reported by test takers
- Sep–Dec/2026
- May–Aug/2026
- Sep–Dec/2025
- May–Aug/2025
- Jan–Apr/2025
- Sep–Dec/2024
- Sep–Dec/2023
- Jan–Apr/2023
- Sep–Dec/2022
- May–Aug/2022
Reported by test takers Forecast only
Part 1
The examiner asks about you and two familiar topics. About 4–5 minutes.
Your home
- Do you live in a house or an apartment? (Why?)
- Which room do you spend the most time in? (Why?)
- What would you like to change about your home? (Why?)
- Do you think you will live there for a long time? (Why not?)
Shopping
- Do you enjoy shopping? (Why is that?)
- Do you prefer shopping online or in shops? (Why is that?)
- Who do you usually go shopping with? (Tell me more about that.)
- Is there anything you never enjoy buying? (Why is that?)
Science
- Did you like science at school? (Why is that?)
- Which science subject do you find most interesting? (Tell me more about that.)
- Do you watch science programmes on TV or online? (Why is that?)
- Do you think science is important in everyday life? (Why is that?)
Part 2
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a time you were stuck in a traffic jam for a long time.
You should say:
- when and where it happened
- why the traffic was so bad
- what you did while you waited
and explain how you felt.
Follow-up question after your talk: Is traffic a big problem where you live? / How did you feel while you were waiting?
Part 3
A broader, more abstract discussion of the Part 2 topic. About 4–5 minutes.
traffic in cities
- Can you explain why traffic jams have got worse in most large cities?
- What could be done about roads that are full of cars every morning and evening?
- In general, what makes people choose a car instead of a bus or a train?
the way cities are planned
- Can you explain why some cities have far fewer traffic problems than others of the same size?
- What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of charging drivers money to enter the city centre?
- Can you speculate on how working from home will change the traffic in big cities?
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.