April 27, 2026 - IELTS BAND7

CUE CARD – Describe a problem you had while shopping online

April 27, 2026 IELTS Research

Speaking – Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a problem you had while shopping online.

You should say:

When did it happen?

What did you buy?

What problem did you have?

And explain how you felt about the experience.

Sample Answer

Once, while shopping online for a new laptop, I encountered an unexpected problem. I had carefully researched and selected a model that met my requirements and budget. Excitedly, I added it to my cart, proceeded to checkout, and completed the payment process.

However, the problem arose when I received the confirmation email. To my surprise, the email listed a different laptop model from the one I had chosen. Concerned, I immediately contacted customer support. The response was delayed, and when it finally came, it lacked a proper solution. This began a frustrating cycle of back-and-forth emails, each response taking longer than the last.

Eventually, after several days of trying to resolve the issue, I decided to call customer support. This turned out to be a tedious process, as I had to navigate through various automated options before finally reaching a human representative. They acknowledged the mistake and assured me that the correct laptop would be shipped.

Despite the inconvenience, the situation highlighted the importance of thorough checking and timely customer support. It also underscored the challenges of online shopping, where mistakes can happen due to technical glitches or miscommunication. The experience taught me to keep a record of all interactions and to be persistent when resolving such issues.

In the end, the correct laptop did arrive, and I appreciated the device, but the ordeal left me more cautious when making online purchases and wary of potential mishaps.

Speaking – Part 3 (Follow-up questions)
Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner may ask during your speaking (part 3) related to the cue card ‘Describe a problem you had while shopping online.’

Q1. What’s the difference between shopping online and in-store?

Online shopping is when you buy things on the computer, and they’re sent to your home. In-store shopping is when you go to a real store to buy things you can touch and take home right away. Online is easy and delivered, while in-store is hands-on and fast.

Q2. What problems do customers go through when shopping?

People can have problems like not finding what they want, waiting in lines, or things not looking like they thought. Sometimes, stuff doesn’t work or costs more than expected. Getting help might be hard too. It can be confusing or take a long time to fix these issues.

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.