Use the greeting, sign-off and paragraph plan below for this formal letter, write it on a 20-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model letter.
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You were a guest at a hotel and accidentally damaged a piece of furniture in your room.
Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
A letter that begins Dear Sir or Madam ends Yours faithfully, followed by your full name.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 150 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I stayed in room 305 of your hotel from 12 to 15 June, and I am writing to tell you about an accident that occurred during my stay.
On the second evening, I was moving a suitcase across the room when I accidentally knocked over the wooden coffee table beside the sofa. One of its legs cracked, and the glass top has a small chip in one corner. I should have reported this at reception immediately, but I was in a hurry to catch a taxi to the airport and I did not have time. I am very sorry for this.
I sincerely apologise for the damage and for any inconvenience it has caused to you and to the guests who use the room after me.
I would like to take full responsibility for the cost. Please let me know whether you prefer to repair the table or replace it, and send me the invoice. I will gladly pay for it by bank transfer as soon as I receive it.
Thank you for your understanding.
Yours faithfully,
Hiroshi Tanaka
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I am writing to apologise for | formally say sorry for something |
| Please accept my sincere apologies. | a strong, polite apology |
| Unfortunately, circumstances beyond my control | explain that the cause was not your fault |
| To make up for this, I would like to offer | suggest compensation |
| I assure you that this will not happen again. | promise to prevent a repeat |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.