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 flew with an airline last week and your suitcase did not arrive at your destination.
Write a letter to the customer service department of the airline. 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 am writing to complain about the loss of my suitcase on flight BA214 from London to Almaty last Tuesday. When I arrived, I waited at the carousel for an hour, but my bag never appeared. I reported it to a member of ground staff, who gave me a form and told me someone would contact me within a day. Nobody has done so.
The loss has caused me serious problems. I was travelling to attend a business conference, and my suit, laptop charger and presentation notes were all in the suitcase. I had to buy new clothes at short notice and borrow a charger from a colleague, and I felt unprepared throughout the event.
I would therefore like you to trace my luggage immediately and deliver it to my home address. In addition, I expect full compensation for the clothes and other items I bought, which come to about 300 pounds. I can send you the receipts if necessary.
I would be grateful for a reply within the next seven days.
Yours faithfully,
Daniyar Sadykov
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with | say formally that you are unhappy about something |
| I would like to draw your attention to | make someone notice a problem |
| I would be grateful if you could look into the matter. | politely ask someone to investigate |
| I expect a full refund / prompt resolution. | say clearly what you want to happen |
| I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. | polite formal ending asking for a quick reply |
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.