General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to store manager regarding unsatisfactory computer repairs

You recently had your computer fixed at a local computer store; however, you are not pleased with the service you received.

Write a letter to the store manager. In your letter:

describe the situation
explain why you are dissatisfied
say what you want the manager to do

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to express my profound disappointment regarding the repair service provided by your shop on 12 October. I brought my MacBook Pro in to have a faulty battery replaced, expecting the professional standard your company advertises.

Unfortunately, the service fell well short of expectations. Although I was charged a premium price for a genuine replacement, the laptop began overheating within hours of my collecting it. Furthermore, I discovered that the technician had failed to reattach the casing screws properly, leaving the base of the device loose and unstable. It is unacceptable that a machine returned from a professional service centre should be in a worse condition than when it was dropped off.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange for a senior technician to inspect the device immediately to rectify these issues at no additional cost. Additionally, I believe a partial refund is warranted given the inconvenience and the poor quality of the initial workmanship. I have attached my receipt for your reference.

I look forward to your prompt response regarding this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

This letter achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with professional, precise language and maintaining a consistent formal register throughout. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide specific details about the faulty repair, instead using vague complaints that do not clearly explain the nature of the dissatisfaction.

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.

Useful phrases from the letter

profound disappointment: a very strong feeling of being let down
premium price: a high cost for a high-quality service
fell well short: failed to meet the expected standards
rectify: to put something right or correct a mistake
warranted: justified or necessary in a particular situation
workmanship: the degree of skill used in a job

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

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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.