Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop
Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop.
You should say:
- When and where it happened?
- What happened?
- How you reacted?
- And explain how you felt about the experience.
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
How to plan it in one minute
- Jot down the name of the place and the specific nature of the problem.
- Draft a quick timeline to ensure you cover all four bullet points sequentially.
- Focus on one strong emotional reaction to make your narrative feel more authentic.
Band 8 model answer
A few months ago, I visited a trendy bistro called The Copper Kettle in the city centre for a friend’s birthday. We had high expectations given its reputation, but the evening turned into a catalogue of errors. We arrived for our eight o’clock reservation, yet we were left standing in the cramped foyer for nearly forty minutes without a single apology or explanation from the staff. When we were finally seated, the server seemed completely disinterested, almost as if our presence was an inconvenience. When the mains arrived, my steak was stone cold in the centre, and my friend’s vegetarian pasta was swimming in an excessive amount of oil. When I politely pointed this out to the waiter, he just shrugged, muttered something about the kitchen being understaffed, and walked away without offering to replace the dishes. My reaction was quite measured at first, but after being ignored for another twenty minutes, I eventually had to seek out the manager to request a bill adjustment. I felt incredibly frustrated and undervalued. It was meant to be a celebratory evening, but the lack of basic professional courtesy and the blatant indifference of the staff really soured the entire atmosphere. I felt that the establishment prioritised style over substance, and it was disappointing to see how little they cared about the customer experience. Ultimately, it left me feeling like I had wasted both my time and my hard-earned money on a meal that was entirely forgettable.
244 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.
Vocabulary from the answer
- catalogue of errors
- a long series of mistakes or unfortunate events
- cramped
- uncomfortably small or lacking enough space for people
- disinterested
- not having any interest or showing no care
- measured
- careful, restrained, and not showing extreme emotional reactions
- undervalued
- feeling that your importance is not being recognised
- professional courtesy
- polite behaviour expected from people in their workplace
- blatant indifference
- a very obvious lack of interest or concern
- soured
- made an experience less enjoyable or pleasant overall
Part 3 questions that follow this card
- What kind of services are bad services?
- Do you think services are better now than in the past?
- How do most people respond to bad services?
- Why do some people choose to remain silent when they receive bad services?
- Who should be responsible for bad services?
- What can employers do to improve the service that their employees provide?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See the Part 3 guide.
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Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a bad service you received in a restaurant/shop."?
Jot down the name of the place and the specific nature of the problem.
How long should my answer be?
Speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
Can I use this model answer in the exam?
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
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