IELTS Speaking Part 2: A Time You Complained — Band 6/7/8/9 Answers (2026)

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The Prompt (IELTS Speaking Part 2)

Describe a time when you complained about something. You should say:

• What you complained about
• Who you complained to
• What happened as a result

And explain how you felt about the outcome.

Band 6.0 Answer

Vocabulary Highlights:

• Dissatisfied (adj.) – unhappy because something is not good enough
• Manager (n.) – a person in charge of a store or department
• Refund (n.) – money that is given back to a customer
• Apologized (v.) – said sorry for a mistake
• Compensation (n.) – something given to make up for a problem

Response: I remember one time I was very dissatisfied with a product I bought. It was a pair of shoes from a big store in the city. When I got home, I noticed that one of the shoes had a big hole in it. I was really upset because I had paid a lot of money for them. The next day, I went back to the store and complained to the manager. I showed her the shoe and told her that I wanted a refund or a new pair. She looked at the shoe and said she was sorry. She gave me a refund, and I also got a small discount on another pair of shoes as compensation. I felt happy with the outcome because I got my money back, and the manager was very nice to me.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Fluency and Coherence (6.0): The response is generally understandable but has noticeable hesitations and repetitions. The structure is simple and straightforward.
• Lexical Resource (6.0): Uses some appropriate vocabulary but lacks variety and sometimes uses less precise words.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (6.0): Makes frequent grammatical mistakes but the meaning is generally clear.
• Pronunciation (6.0): Pronunciation is mostly clear but sometimes affects understanding.

Band 7.0 Answer

Vocabulary Highlights:

• Defective (adj.) – not working properly
• Redress (n.) – action taken to correct a wrong
• Consumer rights (n.) – legal rights of people who buy goods
• Resolve (v.) – to find a solution to a problem
• Satisfaction (n.) – a feeling of happiness

Response: Last year, I had a bad experience with a defective phone I bought online. The phone started malfunctioning just a week after I received it. I contacted the seller and explained the problem. They were not very helpful at first, so I had to escalate my complaint to their customer service department. I told them about my consumer rights and asked for redress. They finally agreed to replace the phone. It took a little longer than I expected, but they resolved the issue. I felt satisfied with the outcome because I got a working phone, and the company took responsibility for their mistake.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Fluency and Coherence (7.0): The response is generally fluent with only occasional hesitations. The structure is clear and easy to follow.
• Lexical Resource (7.0): Uses a variety of appropriate vocabulary but sometimes makes errors in word choice.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (7.0): Makes some grammatical mistakes but they do not significantly affect understanding.
• Pronunciation (7.0): Pronunciation is clear and generally easy to understand.

Band 8.0 Answer

Vocabulary Highlights:

• Substandard (adj.) – below the usual or required level
• Vindicated (v.) – proved to be right
• Compensation (n.) – money or something given to make up for a problem
• Redress (n.) – action taken to correct a wrong
• Exasperation (n.) – a feeling of extreme frustration

Response: I vividly recall an instance when I had to complain about substandard service at a restaurant. I had booked a table for a special occasion, but when I arrived, the table was not ready, and the service was extremely slow. I approached the manager and calmly explained the situation. I felt exasperation but tried to remain polite. The manager apologized and offered me a complimentary dessert and a discount on my next visit. I felt vindicated because the restaurant acknowledged their mistake and provided compensation. The outcome was positive, and I appreciated their effort to make things right.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Fluency and Coherence (8.0): The response is fluent and coherent with a good range of vocabulary and grammatical structures. The flow is natural and easy to follow.
• Lexical Resource (8.0): Uses a wide range of vocabulary appropriately and precisely. The response is rich in detail and expression.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (8.0): Uses a variety of complex sentence structures with minimal errors.
• Pronunciation (8.0): Pronunciation is clear and natural, with only occasional minor errors.

Band 9.0 Answer

Vocabulary Highlights:

• Grievance (n.) – a complaint about something unfair
• Upset the applecart (idiom) – to disrupt a situation
• Amends (n.) – actions taken to correct a wrong
• Rectify (v.) – to fix a problem
• Sense of justice (n.) – a feeling that things should be fair

Response: One time, I had to voice a grievance about a faulty product I purchased from an electronics store. The item, a high-end blender, stopped working within days of purchase. Initially, the store was unresponsive, but I persistently pursued the matter, even upsetting the applecart by involving their corporate office. Eventually, they agreed to replace the blender and offered a 20% discount on my next purchase. I felt a strong sense of justice because they rectified the issue and made amends. The outcome was more than satisfactory, and I appreciated their eventual willingness to make things right.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Fluency and Coherence (9.0): The response is fluid and cohesive, with a natural flow and a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures. The narrative is engaging and well-paced.
• Lexical Resource (9.0): Uses a wide range of vocabulary precisely and naturally, including idiomatic expressions and sophisticated word choices.
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (9.0): Uses complex sentence structures with exceptional accuracy and variety.
• Pronunciation (9.0): Pronunciation is flawless and natural, with a wide range of intonation and stress patterns.

15+ Vocabulary Highlights with Definitions and Example Collocations

1. Dissatisfied (adj.) – unhappy because something is not good enough

• Example: She was dissatisfied with the quality of the product.

1. Manager (n.) – a person in charge of a store or department

• Example: I spoke to the manager about the issue.

1. Refund (n.) – money that is given back to a customer

• Example: They issued a full refund for the defective item.

1. Apologized (v.) – said sorry for a mistake

• Example: The company apologized for the inconvenience.

1. Compensation (n.) – something given to make up for a problem

• Example: We received compensation for the delayed flight.

1. Defective (adj.) – not working properly

• Example: The phone was defective and needed replacement.

1. Redress (n.) – action taken to correct a wrong

• Example: The company offered redress for the faulty product.

1. Consumer rights (n.) – legal rights of people who buy goods

• Example: I invoked my consumer rights to get a refund.

1. Resolve (v.) – to find a solution to a problem

• Example: They resolved the issue quickly and efficiently.

1. Satisfaction (n.) – a feeling of happiness

• Example: I felt satisfaction with the outcome.

1. Substandard (adj.) – below the usual or required level

• Example: The service was substandard and unacceptable.

1. Vindicated (v.) – proved to be right

• Example: I felt vindicated when they admitted their mistake.

1. Exasperation (n.) – a feeling of extreme frustration

• Example: I felt exasperation at the slow service.

1. Grievance (n.) – a complaint about something unfair

• Example: I had a grievance about the faulty product.

1. Upset the applecart (idiom) – to disrupt a situation

• Example: I had to upset the applecart to get their attention.

1. Amends (n.) – actions taken to correct a wrong

• Example: They made amends by offering a discount.

1. Rectify (v.) – to fix a problem

• Example: They rectified the issue promptly.

1. Sense of justice (n.) – a feeling that things should be fair

• Example: I had a strong sense of justice about the situation.

5 Common Mistakes Students Make on This Prompt

1. Lack of Specific Details: Students often provide vague descriptions without specific examples. Include details about the product, the person you complained to, and the outcome.
2. Poor Vocabulary Choice: Using basic vocabulary instead of more advanced and precise words. Practice using a variety of words related to complaints and customer service.
3. Grammatical Errors: Making frequent grammatical mistakes that affect understanding. Focus on using a range of sentence structures and minimizing errors.
4. Inadequate Structure: Failing to organize the response clearly. Use a clear introduction, body, and conclusion to structure your response effectively.
5. Unnatural Pronunciation: Pronouncing words incorrectly or using unnatural intonation. Practice speaking clearly and naturally to improve pronunciation.

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