General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to course provider regarding substandard accommodation issues: IELTS formal letter sample

An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 formal letter with a Band 8 sample answer, why it scores well and the phrases worth borrowing for your own letter writing.
  • 182 words
  • Formal letters
  • Complaint
  • 20 minutes

The task

You are studying a short course in another country. Your accommodation was arranged by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation.

Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter:

  • →say what the problem is
  • →describe the accommodation you thought you were getting
  • →ask the provider to solve the problem

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8182 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to express my severe dissatisfaction regarding the living arrangements provided for my Intensive Marketing course in London.

Upon arrival, I discovered that the room is in a state of disrepair. The central heating is completely non-functional, leaving the room freezing at night, and there is a persistent leak in the ceiling directly above the desk. Furthermore, the shared bathroom facilities are unhygienic, with visible mould in the shower area, which is entirely unacceptable.

According to the course brochure, I was promised a modern, self-contained studio apartment with private en-suite facilities and reliable Wi-Fi. The reality is a cramped, shared room in a dilapidated building that lacks basic maintenance. This environment makes it impossible for me to study or rest effectively.

I request that you either arrange an immediate transfer to a property that meets the standards advertised or provide a significant partial refund so I may secure alternative housing myself. Please address this matter urgently, as my studies are being negatively impacted.

I look forward to your prompt response regarding this situation.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently professional tone. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to contrast the reality with the initial expectation, or becoming overly emotional rather than firm and professional.

  • →Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
  • →If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
  • →No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

  • severe dissatisfaction

    a very strong feeling of being unhappy

  • state of disrepair

    in a condition needing significant structural repairs

  • persistent

    continuing to happen in an annoying way

  • unhygienic

    dirty and likely to cause a disease

  • dilapidated

    a building in a state of terrible decay

  • secure

    to successfully obtain or get hold of something

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?+

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

What does the examiner look for?+

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with specific, relevant details while maintaining a consistently professional tone. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to contrast the reality with the initial expectation, or becoming overly emotional rather than firm and professional.

Keep practising

More complaint letters

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