Talk About A Thing You Complained About Something: How to Answer?
When the cue card section starts, the examiner will hand you a card with a topic and give you one minute to prepare. You will then speak on the topic for up to two minutes.
Predict Your Band in Just 2 Minutes!
Excel in Your IELTS Speaking Test with Expert Guidance
Receive Personalised Insights for Actionable Improvement
To answer these cue cards effectively, break your response into small sections: introduction, describing your experience/opinion/interest, key highlights, and conclusion.
Introduction
- Briefly introduce the complaint you made.
- Mention the context or situation in which the complaint arose.
- Set the stage for your detailed explanation.
Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest
- Explain why you felt the need to complain.
- Describe your feelings and thoughts during the situation.
- Discuss any relevant background information that adds context to your complaint.
Key Highlights
- Outline the main points of your complaint.
- Describe the actions you took to address the issue.
- Explain the responses you received and any immediate outcomes.
Conclusion
- Summarise the overall impact of your complaint.
- Reflect on what you learned from the experience.
- Mention any long-term changes or improvements that resulted from your complaint.
By organising your response this way, you will provide a clear and structured answer within the two-minute time limit.
Also read: IELTS Speaking Questions with Answers 2024
Talk About A Thing You Complained About Something: Sample Answers
Now that you know how to answer the topic, we have provided sample answers for your reference. You should also curate answers wisely according to the questions given in the cue card under the categories Introduction, Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest, Key Highlights, and Conclusion.
Introduction (covers: What did you complain about?)
- Last month, I complained about a delayed flight at the airport. The situation was frustrating because I had an important meeting the next morning.
- The delay was poorly communicated, causing confusion and inconvenience for all passengers.
- I felt it was necessary to address the issue to improve the experience for future travellers.
Describing Your Experience/Opinion/Interest (covers: Who did you complain to?, When did it happen?)
- I felt very frustrated and anxious because I had planned my trip meticulously. The airline's lack of timely updates only added to my stress.
- I approached the airline's customer service desk to express my concerns.
- I believed that clear communication and timely updates could have alleviated much of the stress caused by the delay.
Key Highlights (covers: Who did you complain to?)
- At the customer service desk, I explained the inconvenience caused by the lack of information.
- I emphasised the need for better communication and regular updates for passengers. The staff listened patiently and assured me they would give my feedback to the relevant department.
- They also offered a meal voucher as compensation, which was a nice gesture.
Conclusion (covers: What was the result, and why were you satisfied?)
- My complaint made me realise the importance of effective communication in reducing passenger stress.
- The airline's response was encouraging, and I hope they implement better communication strategies in the future.
- This experience taught me that voicing concerns can lead to positive changes.
- Overall, I felt more satisfied knowing that my feedback might help improve services for other travellers.
Talk About A Thing You Complained About Something: Follow-Up Questions
In the IELTS Speaking test, after you finish speaking on your cue card topic, the examiner will ask you follow-up questions. These questions are meant to delve deeper into the topic and assess your ability to express ideas, opinions, and reasons clearly.
Expect to answer questions that require you to explain, describe, and justify your thoughts in more detail.
