Describe an occasion when you received incorrect information
You should say:
• When you got it
• How you got it
• How you found it was incorrect
And explain how you felt about it?
Ideas for the IELTS Speaking Question:
- Work Scenario: Receiving incorrect information at the workplace.
- Miscommunication in Personal Life: Getting misinformation from a friend or family member.
- Online Source: Misinterpreting information found on the internet.
- Academic Setting: Being given incorrect information in a classroom or educational setting.
- News or Media: Being misled by inaccurate news or media coverage.
- Misguided Recommendation: Receiving incorrect advice or guidance from someone.
Useful Expressions:
- Introducing the Occasion:
- “I’d like to talk about a time when I received incorrect information.”
- “The occasion I have in mind happened…”
- “It was a situation where I thought I had reliable information, but…”
- When You Got It:
- “This happened a few months ago…”
- “It was during [a specific event or time]…”
- “I encountered this situation when…”
- How You Got It:
- “I received the information through…”
- “It was conveyed to me by…”
- “I stumbled upon this information while…”
- How You Found It Was Incorrect:
- “I realized the information was incorrect when…”
- “Upon further investigation, I discovered that…”
- “I cross-referenced the details and found out that…”
- How You Felt About It:
- “At first, I felt…”
- “Discovering the misinformation left me…”
- “It was a bit disheartening to learn that…”
Sample Answer:
“I’d like to share an occasion when I received incorrect information, and it happened a few months ago at work. I was working on a project where accurate data was crucial, and I received some figures from a colleague that I thought were reliable.
The information was conveyed to me during a team meeting, and I trusted the source as my colleague had been involved in similar projects before. I incorporated those figures into my presentation without cross-referencing them, thinking they were accurate.
It wasn’t until later, during a client meeting, that I realized the information was incorrect. The client questioned some of the data points, and upon revisiting the numbers, I discovered discrepancies. I immediately felt a sense of frustration and disappointment in myself for not double-checking the information before presenting it.
Realizing the misinformation had an impact on the project’s credibility, and it was a learning experience for me about the importance of verifying information, especially in a professional setting. I took immediate steps to rectify the situation, and fortunately, the client was understanding. However, the incident highlighted the need for thorough fact-checking in my work, and it taught me to be more cautious about trusting information without verification.”