Band 7 Example

Question: Why do some people choose to remain silent when they receive bad services?

Idea 1

Avoidance of Confrontation
Model Answer
I think it's because most people prefer not to make a scene. They would rather avoid confrontation than confront someone directly. So, when someone goes to a restaurant and encounters a rude waiter, they can either leave quietly or endure the situation. It might depend on how hungry they are! However, those who don't complain at the moment tend to go online later and write a harsh review, which can be more damaging than addressing the issue in person.
I reckon that this is because most people don’t like to cause a scene. They prefer to turn the other cheek rather than have it out with whoever it is. So, if someone goes to a restaurant and the waiter is rude to them, they can either just leave or stick it out. Maybe it depends on how hungry they are! However, the people that don’t complain tend to be the ones that then go online and write a scathing review about it and this is far more damaging than just complaining at that moment.
Grammar Analysis
Comparative and verb infinitive: The use of the comparative "prefer" and the verb infinitive "have it out" in "prefer to turn the other cheek rather than have it out" increases the complexity of the sentence and demonstrates the test-taker's grasp of grammar structures. Conditional sentence: The conditional sentence in "Maybe it depends on how hungry they are!" increases the complexity of the sentence, expressing a hypothesis and possibility, and is a more advanced grammar structure in IELTS speaking. Parallel structure: The use of parallel structure in "those who don't complain often end up posting harsh online reviews later" enhances the expressiveness of the sentence, showing the test-taker's ability to use a variety of sentence structures to convey information. Comparative: The comparative "more damaging" in "more damaging than just complaining at that moment" shows the test-taker's ability to express opinions in comparison, increasing the depth and complexity of the sentence.
Vocabulary
  • reckon
  • cause a scene
  • turn the other cheek
  • have it out
  • stick it out
  • hungry
  • scathing review
  • damaging

Idea 2

Perceived Powerlessness
Model Answer
Some people stay quiet about bad service because they think the company won’t bother to change. They feel like their complaint won’t make a difference. Also, they might doubt whether giving feedback actually does anything, so they decide it's not worth speaking up.
Many individuals opt to remain silent in the face of poor service, often driven by the belief that the company will not value their input or initiate change. This sense of powerlessness is compounded by a skepticism regarding the impact of their feedback. They question the utility of voicing their concerns, leading them to suppress their dissatisfaction.
Grammar Analysis
Compound sentence: Many individuals choose to remain silent in the face of poor service, often driven by the belief that the company will not value their input or initiate change. This sentence contains two clauses, connected by the linking word "often driven by," increasing the complexity of the sentence. Parallel structure: They question the utility of voicing their concerns, leading them to suppress their dissatisfaction. This sentence uses parallel structure, connecting two actions, "question the utility of" and "leading them to suppress," enhancing its expressive ability. Noun phrase: in the face of poor service This is a noun phrase used to modify the preceding action "remain silent," adding to the information and complexity of the sentence. Infinitive verb: to suppress their dissatisfaction Here, the infinitive phrase "to suppress" is used to indicate purpose, showing that their purpose in remaining silent is to suppress their feelings of dissatisfaction, adding complexity to the sentence.
Vocabulary
  • opt
  • remain silent
  • poor service
  • input
  • initiate change
  • powerlessness
  • skepticism
  • feedback
  • utility
  • voice
  • concern
  • suppress
  • dissatisfaction

Idea 3

Time and Effort
Model Answer
Some people don't speak up about bad service because they think it's just a waste of time. They believe that complaining won't change anything, so they don't bother. Also, they might not want to go through the effort of making a formal complaint, finding it easier to just let it go.
There are individuals who choose silence over voicing dissatisfaction with bad service, largely because they perceive the act of complaining as futile and time-consuming. The effort involved in lodging a formal complaint seems disproportionate to the potential outcome, leading them to conclude that it's more efficient to simply move on.
Grammar Analysis
Compound sentence: There are individuals who choose silence over voicing dissatisfaction with bad service, largely because they perceive the act of complaining as futile and time-consuming. This sentence contains two clauses, connected by the conjunction "largely because," increasing the complexity of the sentence. Parallel structure: The effort involved in lodging a formal complaint seems disproportionate to the potential outcome, leading them to conclude that it's more efficient to simply move on. This sentence uses parallel structure, connecting two actions, "seems disproportionate to" and "leading them to conclude," enhancing expressiveness. Noun phrase: with bad service This is a noun phrase used to modify the preceding action "voicing dissatisfaction," increasing the amount of information and complexity in the sentence. Infinitive phrase: to simply move on Here an infinitive phrase "to simply move on" is used to indicate purpose, showing that their choice to remain silent is in order to continue moving forward more efficiently, increasing the complexity of the sentence.
Vocabulary
  • dissatisfaction
  • perceive
  • complain
  • futile
  • time-consuming
  • lodge a formal complaint
  • disproportionate
  • potential outcome
  • conclude
  • efficient