General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · giving information

Feedback regarding furniture removal services to your company

You recently used a company to help you move your furniture and possessions to your new apartment. The removal company has now asked for your feedback about the service they provided.

Write a letter to the removal company. In your letter:

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to provide feedback regarding the relocation services your team carried out for my move to my new apartment last Tuesday.

Overall, the efficiency of the moving process was commendable. Your team arrived promptly at eight in the morning and managed to load all my belongings with impressive speed. The systematic approach taken to wrap fragile items ensured that everything arrived at my new residence in perfect condition, which I greatly appreciated during such a stressful day.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Marcus, the lead mover. He went above and beyond by dismantling and reassembling my complex modular shelving unit, a task that was not strictly part of the contract. His professional attitude and attention to detail were exemplary.

However, I was disappointed that the team failed to remove the protective cardboard packaging from the hallway as promised. This left me with a significant amount of waste to dispose of personally, which was inconvenient. I hope you can address this with your staff to improve future service.

Yours faithfully,

Eleanor Rigby

181 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with specific, natural details and maintaining a consistent, professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to fully develop the negative aspect of the service, often resulting in a letter that lacks balance or includes irrelevant information.

Useful phrases from the letter

commendable
deserving of praise or highly satisfactory
systematic
done according to a fixed plan or method
residence
a person's home or place of living
exemplary
serving as a desirable model of excellence
inconvenient
causing trouble, difficulty, or personal discomfort
dispose of
to get rid of something unwanted

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.

Practise IELTS General writing

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

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 long 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?

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all three bullet points with specific, natural details and maintaining a consistent, professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to fully develop the negative aspect of the service, often resulting in a letter that lacks balance or includes irrelevant information.

More giving information letters