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 recently joined a gym, but several of the machines have been out of order for weeks.
Write a letter to the manager of the gym. 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 joined your gym five weeks ago and I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the condition of the equipment. Since my first visit, two treadmills, the rowing machine and most of the leg-press machines have been out of order, and the notices stuck to them have not changed in weeks.
This has affected me considerably. I chose your gym because I am training for a half marathon, and I cannot follow my plan without working treadmills. I now have to wait up to thirty minutes for the one machine that works, or leave without finishing my session. For a membership that costs me a good deal each month, this is completely unacceptable.
I would be grateful if you could repair or replace the broken machines as soon as possible and tell me when this will be done. In the meantime, I would like a partial refund of my fees, or at least a free extension of my membership, to compensate for the weeks I have lost.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Yours faithfully,
Aziz Karimov
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with | say formally that you are unhappy about something |
| This is completely unacceptable. | state firmly that the situation is not good enough |
| 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.
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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.