GT Writing Task 1 (Letter Writing) Sample # 1
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
You are studying a short course in another country. Your accommodation was arranged by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation.
Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter,
– say what the problem is
– describe the accommodation you thought you were getting
– ask the provider to solve the problem
Write at least 150 words.
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Model Answer 1:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am Gill Hayward Smith, currently taking a twelve-week intensive Stress Management Course at your institution, Oxford Business School. I am writing this letter to inform you that the accommodation I am provided with is quite small and is not what I expected it would be.
For a start, the room is congested with two beds and it does not have adequate space for walking. Besides, a single cupboard in the room makes it tough for us to arrange our personal belongings. Apart from that, the ventilation system is poor and fresh air and sunlight can hardly get in. We have no way but to turn the lights on 24 hours a day. The suffocating condition of the room is a hindrance to my study. To cap it all, my roommate snores loudly and I find it difficult to sleep at night.
I would really appreciate it if you could allot me a spacious room with a proper ventilation system and open-air so that I can concentrate on my studies and live a healthy life. The room I need should be conducive to serious study and salubrious.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest. Thank you in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Gill Hayward Smith
Model Answer 2:
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am Julian Sams, writing to inform you that I am not happy with the accommodation I am provided with as it does not have natural lights and airflow. Sometimes I feel suffocated and would like you to arrange another room for me.
I am a foreign student originally from Italy. I am currently enrolled in a Business Management diploma course at your institution in Australia and my semester started on 7th January 2018. Before joining the course, I applied for a residency in the college hostel and I was given a single room on the 7th floor of the Mulberry Resident Hall. The room number is 724 and it is considerably small and does not permit daylights and natural air at all, contrary to my initial expectations. I have to light the room 24/7 and this is quite distressing. During the past weeks, I got flues twice and this is unusual for me.
When my accommodation was provided, I thought I was getting a big room with large windows. I never knew it would be that small and without any window!
I would request you to shift my room and allow me to stay in a single room that welcome natural lights and airs. I am ready to adjust the rent if required.
I would highly appreciate your help in this regard.
Sincerely Yours,
Julian Sams
Tips:
An IELTS Letter usually comes with instructions on how to start the letter as follows:
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ………,
If it is “Dear ………,” you should replace “………,“ with ‘a name’. But if it is “Dear Sir or Madam”, you should write exactly that (i.e. Dear Sir or Madam).
When you start the letter with a salutation like ‘Dear Mr Parrick”, it is assumed that the person you are writing to may or may not be personally known to you. In this case, end your letter as – “Yours sincerely + Your full name.”
However, if you are writing to a friend, you should replace “………..” with his first name. This type of letters are called informal letters and they are informal in tone and writing style. In such an informal letter, you should sign-off as – ‘Warm wishes + Your first name’.
But when you begin your letter with the salutation ‘Dear Sir or Madam,’ it is assumed that the person you are writing to is NOT personally known to you. In such a letter, you should write – ‘Faithfully yours + Your full name’ in the signature part.