Cue Card Sample

Time when you complained about something - Cue Card # 639

IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

Describe a time when you complained about something.

You should say:

  • what the issue was
  • whom you complained about it
  • what the result was

and explain how you felt about it.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]


 

Model Answer:

I am not really much into complaining unless I really, really have to. But, then, there come some situations when you have to complain because if you don’t, nobody will. It is like complaining in the public interest, I suppose. Anyway, the last time, I complained, it was about 3 years ago when I stayed at a hotel, and I wasn’t really happy with some of the services it provided. In particular, the issues were about “unwashed” bedsheets and “irregular” house-keeping. 

However, I formally complained about the issues to the General Manager of the hotel as the issues were bad enough for me, but they were even worse for a couple of sick and elderly people. In fact, they were having breathing problem due to some “damp” smell and dust mites which must have been caused by not cleaning the rooms on a regular basis. On top of that, if you have to sleep on some “unwashed” bedsheets and blankets, becoming even sicker is the only logical conclusion.  

Anyway, after the complaint was made, the manager seemed to get really busy with his hotel crews and staffs. The manager even apologized to me, saying that he had been just too busy with some other “priorities” lately, and as a result, things had become a bit “rusty” at the hotel, much to the discomfort of its guests. However, in the end, the “hygiene” issue of the hotel was solved after my complaint, which, of course, was a good thing in the end.

But, what I just couldn’t get out of my mind was that how possibly a hotel manager could have some other “priorities” except ensuring the best services for his guests! In fact, I felt like the well-being of his hotel guests was the last thing on his mind. Besides, I also felt like I was simply being “ripped off” for the services, I was provided by the hotel, which was way, way below the standards. However, the only good feeling I had, in the end, was that a problem was actually solved because of my initiative.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 3.95 (11 Votes)

Barkha
I would like to correct a mistake done in the sample answer. It should not be "reaped off", it should be "ripped off" which means to cheat someone, especially by charging them too much money for something.