IELTS Speaking Part 2: A Time You Lost Something – Band 6-9 Answers (2026)

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Full Prompt

Describe a time when you lost something. You should say:

• What you lost
• When and where it happened
• How you felt at that time

And explain how you reacted to this situation.

Band 6 Sample Answer

Sample Answer:

"I once lost my university ID card. This happened last semester when I was going to the library. I usually keep my ID in my bag, but that day I put it in my jacket pocket. When I arrived at the library, I couldn't find it anywhere. I checked all my pockets and my bag, but it was gone. I felt really worried because I needed it to borrow books and enter some buildings."

I looked everywhere - in my bag, on the floor, even asked my friends if they had seen it. After about 30 minutes, I remembered I might have left it in the cafeteria. I ran there, and luckily, it was still at the table where I had lunch. I felt so relieved to find it."

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR 5-6): Addresses all parts but with some irrelevant details. Lack of depth in described feelings.
• Coherence and Cohesion (CC 5-6): Adequate organization but basic linking devices. Some abrupt transitions.
• Lexical Resource (LR 5-6): Limited range of vocabulary. Some basic collocations ("find it", "lost something").
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA 5-6): Mostly simple sentence forms. Few errors but limited complex structures.

Band 7 Sample Answer

Sample Answer:

"Last summer, I lost my phone while hiking in the mountains. It was a sunny Saturday, and I had gone trekking with some friends. I usually keep my phone in my backpack, but I took it out to take a photo. After that, I couldn't remember where I put it. I felt really anxious because I didn't want to lose all my pictures and contacts."

I searched my backpack thoroughly and asked my friends if they had seen it. We even retraced our steps for about an hour, but we couldn't find it. I was starting to give up hope when one of my friends suggested checking the picnic spot where we had lunch. Sure enough, it was there under the bench! I felt incredibly happy to get it back."

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR 6-7): Clearly addresses all parts with relevant details. Some exploration of feelings.
• Coherence and Cohesion (CC 6-7): Logical sequence with clear progress. Some effective linking devices used.
• Lexical Resource (LR 6-7): Sufficient range with some less common vocabulary ("trekking", "retraced our steps").
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA 6-7): Mix of simple and complex sentence forms. Some errors but generally effective communication.

Band 8 Sample Answer

Sample Answer:

"About two years ago, I lost my passport during an international conference. This occurred in Tokyo during peak travel season. I had been carrying it in my shoulder bag along with my conference materials, and during a particularly crowded subway ride, it momentarily vanished. I was preparing to present at the conference the next day, so the timing couldn't have been worse."

I frantically retraced my steps, checking with station staff and even posting about it in our conference group chat. After several tense hours, a kind station attendant contacted me—someone had found it near the turnstiles and turned it in. I was immensely grateful and learned to keep important documents in my inner pocket from then on."

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR 7-8): Fully addresses all parts with detailed personal experience. Clear feelings and reactions.
• Coherence and Cohesion (CC 7-8): Clear progression with effective use of linking devices. Logical sequence.
• Lexical Resource (LR 7-8): Wide range of vocabulary with natural collocations ("momentarily vanished", "frantically retraced").
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA 7-8): Flexible and accurate use of complex structures. Few errors, mostly sophisticated language.

Band 9 Sample Answer

Sample Answer:

"One particularly stressful incident occurred when I misplaced my laptop during a critical project deadline. This happened last winter when I was working from multiple locations. I had been juggling between my home office and a coworking space, and in the flurry of activity, my laptop somehow disappeared from my backpack. As a tech support specialist, this was not just an inconvenience but a professional crisis."

I immediately contacted the coworking space, checked security footage, and even offered a reward. It turned out I had left it at a café where I'd stopped for coffee earlier that day. The barista had noticed it and kept it safe. While relieved, this experience taught me the importance of having a backup system and being more mindful of my belongings, especially during high-pressure periods."

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR 8-9): Fully addresses all parts with detailed, relevant personal experience. Clear feelings and reactions.
• Coherence and Cohesion (CC 8-9): Clear progression with effective use of linking devices. Logical sequence with natural hesitation.
• Lexical Resource (LR 8-9): Wide range of vocabulary with sophisticated collocations ("juggling between", "professional crisis", "high-pressure periods").
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA 8-9): Flexible and accurate use of complex structures. Minimal errors, highly sophisticated language.

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Misplace (verb) - to put something in the wrong place and not remember where you put it

• *Example: "I often misplace my keys when I'm in a hurry."

1. Frantic (adjective) - very worried or excited and unable to think clearly or calmly

• *Example: "I made a frantic search for my lost wallet."

1. Retrace (verb) - to go back over the same way that you have just come

• *Example: "We had to retrace our footsteps to find the lost item."

1. Momentarily (adverb) - for a very short time

• *Example: "The power went out momentarily during the storm."

1. Inconvenience (noun) - something that causes trouble or difficulty

• *Example: "Losing my phone was a major inconvenience."

1. Crisis (noun) - a time of great trouble or danger

• *Example: "The loss of important documents created a crisis."

1. Juggled (verb) - to try to deal with too many things at the same time

• *Example: "I was juggling between work and family responsibilities."

1. Flurry (noun) - a sudden set of activity

• *Example: "In the flurry of packing, I lost my passport."

1. Turnstiles (noun) - a device with revolving horizontal bars that controls access to a place

• *Example: "I found my wallet near the turnstiles."

1. Backup (noun) - a copy of data or files that can be used if the original is lost or damaged

• *Example: "Always keep a backup of your important files."

1. Barista (noun) - a person who serves coffee in a coffee shop

• *Example: "The barista was very helpful in finding my laptop."

1. High-pressure (adjective) - involving a lot of stress or demands

• *Example: "I made a mistake during the high-pressure meeting."

1. Crowded (adjective) - full of people

• *Example: "The subway was extremely crowded during rush hour."

1. Shoulder bag (noun) - a bag that is carried over the shoulder with a strap

• *Example: "I keep my essentials in my shoulder bag."

1. Conference materials (noun phrase) - documents, books, or other items provided at a conference

• *Example: "I organized the conference materials carefully."

1. Pivotal (adjective) - extremely important and affecting what happens in the future

• *Example: "This project is pivotal for my career."

1. Frantic search (noun phrase) - a desperate and hurried attempt to find something

• *Example: "We conducted a frantic search for the missing child."

1. Rewards (noun) - something given in return for service, merit, or achievement

• *Example: "I offered a reward for the return of my lost item."

1. Café (noun) - a small restaurant selling light meals, drinks, and snacks

• *Example: "We met at the café for coffee."

1. Barista (noun) - a person who serves coffee in a coffee shop

• *Example: "The barista was very helpful in finding my laptop."

Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Lack of Specific Details: Many students describe the lost item but fail to provide specific details about when, where, and how it happened. Aim to include at least one specific example.

1. Overuse of Simple Sentences: Students often rely on simple sentence structures, which limits their grammatical range. Practice using complex sentences to improve your score.

1. Inadequate Vocabulary: Using basic vocabulary like "lost", "find", and "happy" can make your answer sound repetitive. Expand your vocabulary with more sophisticated words and phrases.

1. Poor Time Management: Some students rush through their answer, leading to incomplete responses. Practice timing yourself to ensure you cover all parts of the prompt within 1.5-2 minutes.

1. Ignoring Feelings and Reactions: Many students focus on describing the lost item and the situation but forget to explain how they felt and reacted. This is a crucial part of the prompt.

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