Describe a time when you received excellent service
Try the card on the exam timer first, then read the band-8 sample answer and the Part 3 questions that follow it.
Practice it like the exam
Describe a time when you received excellent service.
You should say:
- where you were
- what service you received
- what made it so good
and explain how you felt about it.
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1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes to speak. It switches on its own.
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Band 8 sample answer
262 words · about 2 minutes at a natural pace · Phrases from the vocabulary list are highlighted.
I'd like to talk about an experience I had at a small family-run hotel in Khiva last spring. I had booked a room for two nights, and I expected something fairly basic, as the price was low. However, the service I received was some of the best I've ever had.
The moment I arrived, the owner, a lady in her fifties, greeted me at the door with a warm smile, offered me a cup of tea and carried my suitcase up the stairs herself. She asked what I was interested in seeing and then drew a map of the old town, marking the best places to eat and the quietest times to visit the main monuments. When she heard that I was travelling alone, she even introduced me to another guest, a young woman from Germany, and we ended up sightseeing together.
The next day, I discovered that I had left my phone charger at the restaurant where I had dinner. When I mentioned it at breakfast, the owner's son immediately ran to the restaurant on his scooter and brought it back within fifteen minutes. On my last morning, they prepared a packed breakfast because my bus left very early, and they refused to accept money for it.
What made the service so special was that it felt sincere. They weren't following a script; they genuinely wanted me to enjoy my stay. I felt welcomed and valued. I left a very positive review online, and I've recommended the hotel to several friends. It proved that kindness costs nothing but means a lot.
What to notice
- It takes the points on the card in order, so the examiner can follow it.
- Each point gets a specific detail or a short story, which is what keeps a talk going for two minutes.
- The "explain" line at the end gets the most time, because that is where you give an opinion and show your range of language.
We wrote this answer for practice; it does not come from IELTS. Take its structure and phrases and tell your own story, because examiners notice memorised answers.
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Useful vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go above and beyond | to do more than expected |
| attentive staff | staff who notice and respond to needs |
| a warm welcome | a friendly greeting |
| prompt service | service that is quick |
| leave a positive review | to write good feedback online |
| loyal customer | someone who keeps returning |
Plan it in one minute
Choose what to talk about in the first ten seconds, then write two or three key words for each point. Full sentences take too long to write and to read back.
Who or what you could talk about
- A hotel or restaurant where staff were extremely helpful
- An online shop that solved a problem quickly
- A doctor, bank or airline that handled a difficult situation well
How to spend the two minutes
- 25 swhere you were
- 25 swhat service you received
- 25 swhat made it so good
- 45 sand explain how you felt about it.
Part 3 questions
In the exam these come straight after your talk, on the wider subject: Service and customer satisfaction. Answer each in 3–4 sentences, with your view, a reason and an example.
- What qualities make a good customer service worker?
- Is service better in small businesses than in large companies?
- Should customers tip staff for good service?
- How has online shopping changed customer expectations?
- Do you think robots will replace human service staff?
- Why do companies train their staff to be polite?
Keep practicing
More cue cards: Experiences
Part 1 topics on the same subject
Frequently asked questions
How should I describe an experience in an IELTS cue card?
Tell it as a story in the past: set the scene (when, where, who), what happened, how it ended. Then explain what you felt or learned. Past tenses used accurately are part of what the examiner is listening for.
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