When’s the last time you had a rough day?
Notice the use of the adjective “rough” instead of “bad” day.
Often the way to avoid saying a generic word like “bad” is to get more specific!
Today you’ll learn 7 more specific ways to describe something as bad on IELTS Speaking!
Why should you avoid the word “bad” on IELTS?
Words like bad, good, very, big, and small are especially low-scoring on IELTS.
This is because they are very common.
For each of these, there are many higher-scoring options.
Today you’ll learn several more unique ways to say something is “bad.”
In order to use these, you have to get more specific.
We describe something as “bad” in different ways depending on what we mean.
#1: A mess
This refers to something that is disorganized or going badly.
You could describe a messy place like a room or a street as “a mess” if there is clutter, trash, or things that need to be put away.
Someone’s life or job could also be described as “a mess” if things aren’t going well.
IELTS Question: Describe a time when you were very busy.
Band 9 Answer: This past week was a complete mess. I had multiple deadlines overlapping, and I hadn’t planned my time properly, so I was constantly rushing from one task to another without finishing anything efficiently.
#2: A pain
Something that is a pain is annoying or difficult.
A person can be described as “a pain” as well as a tough situation.
IELTS Question: Describe something that annoys you.
Band 9 Answer: Commuting during rush hour is such a pain. The traffic is unpredictable, and I often end up wasting a lot of time just sitting in my car, which can be super frustrating.
#3: A letdown
This means something that is disappointing.
IELTS Question: Describe something you were excited about but didn’t enjoy.
Band 9 Answer: The movie turned out to be a real letdown. I had high expectations because of the cast, but the storyline was weak and quite predictable, so it didn’t live up to the hype at all.
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#4: A flop
This describes something that fails completely.
It can be used as a noun or a verb.
IELTS Question: Describe a plan that failed.
Band 9 Answer: I helped organize a community gathering that ended up being a total flop. Hardly anyone showed up, probably because we didn’t promote it enough. It was a gigantic disappointment after all the effort we put in.
#5: Gone downhill
This means something has become worse over time.
It could describe a place or a person’s life or job.
IELTS Question: Describe a place that has changed.
Band 9 Answer: Unfortunately, my neighborhood has gone downhill in recent years. It used to be vibrant and well-maintained, but now there are fewer businesses and more empty buildings, which has changed the atmosphere a ton.
#6: Not up to scratch
This means something is not good enough or not as good as expected.
IELTS Question: Describe a time when something didn’t meet your expectations.
Band 9 Answer: I used to frequent an adorable restaurant near my home but the past few times I went, it was not up to scratch. The staff seemed disorganized, and we had to wait a long time for our food. To top it all off, when the food finally came it was significantly worse than in the past – bland, flavorless, cold – you name it!
#7: Rough
This describes something that is difficult or unpleasant.
IELTS Question: Describe a day when you felt stressed.
Band 9 Answer: Last week I had a really rough day. Several unexpected problems came up at work – they were just coming out of the woodwork faster than I could handle everything. I felt under a lot of pressure to resolve them quickly. By the end of the day, I was completely exhausted.
Don’t miss the rest of this series!
This is part 2 of a 2-part series.
In part 1, we shared band 9 idioms to use on IELTS Speaking instead of the word “good.”
You can listen to it here: IELTS Energy 1594: Avoid This 4-Letter-Word on IELTS.
Takeaway
You must avoid the words “good” and “bad” on IELTS Speaking.
Instead, use more specific adjectives that are less common.
This will help you boost your Lexical Resource score.
For all the strategies you need, sign up for 3 Keys IELTS!
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