IELTS Complaint Letter: Model

April 6, 2018 by 38 Comments

Below is a model IELTS complaint letter which is estimated at band score 9. People taking the GT writing paper will be expected to write a letter for their writing task 1. That letter should be over 150 words. Complaint letters are one of the most common types of letters that you can be expected to write.

You bought a TV a week ago but when you got home you discovered it did not work properly. You called customer service to report the problem but you have not yet received any help.

Write a letter to the company and in your letter:

  • introduce yourself
  • explain the problem
  • and state what action you would like from the company

Model IELTS Complaint Letter

The letter below will show you how to organise information into paragraphs and extent information to create a high band score IELTS complaint letter.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to report the faulty TV that I purchased from your company on Tuesday last week.

My name is John Davidson and I am one of your frequent customers. I live in Woodstock and have been using your services and buying your products for the last 11 years.

On Tuesday, 12th June, I visited your store to purchase a TV. I bought a Toshiba LED TV which has the code 40L675B40. On purchasing this TV, I was assured that this was the latest model and the best there was to buy. However, when I got home I discovered that not only did the remote controls not work but also the quality of the picture was not as good as promised, in fact it was quite blurry. I called your customer service department immediately on Tuesday and they assured me that my TV would be replaced or fixed within two days. I am disappointed to say that this has not happened and I have received no communication since then.

I am exceedingly displeased with both the quality of the product I purchased from your company as well as the poor  service I have received since. I hope this problem will be resolved promptly. I expect to receive a replacement TV or have my current TV repaired but only if it could be fixed within a day.

I look forward to hearing back from you immediately.

Yours faithfully,

Mr J H Davidson

Recommended for GT IELTS Writing Task 1

Click below:

Essential Tips for IELTS GT Letters: Writing Task 2

Practice IELTS Letters to practice at home

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IELTS Diagram: Model Answer Band Score 9

March 3, 2018 by 39 Comments

This IELTS diagram model answer is estimated at band score 9. It is possible to have a diagram in your IELTS writing task 1 academic paper. A diagram is also known as a process. The diagram shown below is from IELTS Cambridge Book 8, Test 3.

The diagram below shows the stages and equipment used in the cement-making process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes.

cement and concrete

  • Source: IELTS Cambridge English Test Book 8

Diagram Model Answer

The diagrams illustrate the way in which cement is made and how it is then used in the process of making concrete. Overall, limestone and clay pass through four stages before being bagged ready for use as cement which then accounts for 15% of the four materials used to produce concrete. While the process of making cement uses a number of tools, the production of concrete requires only a concrete mixer.

In the first stage of making cement, limestone and clay are crushed together to form a powder. This powder is then combined in a mixer before passing into a rotating heater which has constant heat applied at one end of the tube. The resulting mixture is ground in order to produce cement. The final product is afterwards put into bags ready to be used.

Regarding the second diagram, concrete consists of mainly gravel, which is small stones, and this makes up 50% of the ingredients. The other materials used are sand (25%), cement (15%) and water (10%). These are all poured into a concrete mixer which continually rotates to combine the materials and ultimately produces concrete.

Comments: This diagram gives a concise introduction. The overview contains key features of both diagrams and also highlights the connection between them. The body paragraphs are organised well and linking devices are used flexibly and accurately. Each body paragraphs explained the steps of each process in a logical order. Complex sentences are accurate and there is also passive voice used. Collocations are well used.

Recommended

Filed Under: IELTS Writing Task 1 Tagged With: ,

Improving IELTS Writing Task 1 Introduction

January 23, 2018 by 10 Comments

This lesson focuses on improving your IELTS writing task 1 introduction for the academic paper. To write an introduction you must paraphrase and re-write the information given by IELTS about the chart of graph.

Below is a sample line graph sent to me by an IELTS Candidate.

The line graph below shows the number of overseas students who came from six Asian countries to study in Australia from 1994 to 1997.

overseas students line graph ielts

Source: Graph above was not created by IELTS Liz.

Introduction Paragraphs for Writing Task 1

Below are two introductions written by the IELTS candidate. Would you use one of these introductions or would you write a different introduction?

Introduction 1: The diagram shows the amount of students from six different countries in Asia, who came to study in Australia between 1994 and 1997.

Introduction 2: Between 1994 and 1997 the number of Asian students from six different countries, who came to study in Australia.

Questions:

  1. Do they cover all the necessary information?
  2. Are there any errors in them?
  3. How you would write your introduction to the line graph above?
  4. How many paragraphs would you have for your complete report for the above line graph?

Feel free to post your answers. However, please note I do not common on writing.

Answers and Model Introduction  

Complete the questions above. Then click below to reveal the answers and model introduction paragraph. 

Answers & Model Introduction
  1. They both cover most of the important information. However, they are lacking the list of countries. Where possible include the list, unless it is too long. 
  2. Errors:
    1. A line graph is a line graph. Those words should not be paraphrased.
    2. Always try to paraphrase the verb “shows”.
    3. The word “amount” is for uncountable nouns, not for countable nouns. We can use this word with “people” or “students”. See this page: Uncountable Nouns
  3. See the model answer below:
    1. The line graph illustrates how many students from six different countries in Asia (Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Korea) went to Australia to study over a period of four years between 1994 and 1997.
  4. How would you organise your task 1 writing for the above line graph? How many paragraphs would you have? What information would you put in the body paragraphs?

    1. You should have 4 paragraphs: introduction, overview, body paragraph A and body paragraph B.

      In body paragraph A, you can put information about Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Korea. In body paragraph B, you can put information about Japan and Hong Kong because they showed different trends from the others.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Free Lessons & Tips

Click below to open all my free lessons and tips for task 1:

IELTS Writing Task 1 Free Lessons

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Which preposition?

December 19, 2017 by 156 Comments

Using Prepositions in Writing Task 1

Choose the right preposition to complete the sentences below:

  • for
  • of
  • to
  • as
  • by
  • down
  • in
  • over
  • no word

Sentence Completion

  1. The number of sales rose …….. 5,000 from 20,000 to 25,000.
  2. The percentage of boys playing sport was 45% as opposed ……… girls at 30%.
  3. While, the sales fell ……… to 150 in 1990, they rose again to 300 by 2010.
  4. The sales in December accounted …… about 50% of the total annual sales.
  5. There was a downward trend in the number of people visiting online stores ….. a period of three months.

Answers

The answers are now available for this lesson.

For answers, click here: Answers to this lesson

All the best

Liz

Filed Under: IELTS Writing Task 1

IELTS Complex Table 2017

November 5, 2017 by 40 Comments

Below is a model answer for an IELTS complex table for writing task 1. It is not common to be given a table with so many categories and numbers. But this model answer will help you understand how to organise the information. Last updated 2020.

IELTS Complex Table

Download a word doc of this table by clicking: IELTS Complex Table

Source: IELTS Liz

Band 9 Model Answer

This model answer was provided by Tony Grace, experienced IELTS tutor. 

The tables illustrate the proportion of people assessing six aspects of one city’s life as good, average, or bad, in 1980 and 2010.

Overall, healthcare, education, and the environment were given the highest scores in both years, and transport facilities received the lowest.  Meanwhile, education’s rating rose over the period, while that of transportation fell.

In 1980, people rated healthcare, education, and the environment the highest, with over 80% approving of healthcare, while the other two had figures of 72%.  Under 10% of respondents thought these three services were bad.  As for shopping and unemployment, both had similar figures, as 62-64% expressed approval, and 22-24% said they were average.   Only a half of those surveyed gave a high score to transportation, with roughly a third stating it was bad.

Turning to 2010, the most significant changes were seen in education, as over 80% were happy with it, and in healthcare whose good rating fell to 74%.  The employment situation improved, as in 2010, almost three-quarters of those asked expressed satisfaction.  In contrast, approval of the transport facilities fell to 39%, and a similar proportion stated it was bad.  Finally, with regard to the environment and shopping, their approval levels both remained relatively unchanged.

IELTS Writing Task 1 Links

You can find more FREE model answers, tips and videos for writing task 1 by clicking here: IELTS Writing Task 1 

See writing task 1 band score tips: Band Scores 5 to 8 Tips

You can visit Tony’s website for more tips: succeedinielts.com

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Useful Links for IELTS Line Graphs in WT1

October 3, 2017 by 24 Comments

Useful tips and link for vocabulary, content & paragraphs for IELTS writing task 1 line graphs.

Below I have listed some useful links to learn about IELTS line graphs. Line graphs are quite common in IELTS writing task 1.

There are six types of IELTS writing task 1 for the academic paper:

  1. line graph
  2. bar chart
  3. table
  4. map
  5. diagram
  6. pie charts

Sample IELTS Line Graph

Source: IELTS Cambridge English Test Books

You must prepare for all types of charts in academic writing task 1. You might also be given a combination of a line graph with a table for example. Writing task 1 is worth about 33% of your total writing marks so it’s worth learning well.

Tips for IELTS Line Graphs

Here are some useful tips for Line Graphs:

  1. Introduce the time frame and individual categories
  2. the overview will contain the main trends over the whole period  – a bird’s eye view
  3. use language of change for line graphs: increase, drop, fluctuate etc (see below)
  4. vary your sentence structures: “the number of sales decreased over the period / there was a decrease in the number of sales …”
  5. support sentences in the body paragraphs with data – time frame and numbers
  6. don’t spend more than 20 mins on task 1
  7. make sure you have four paragraphs (occasionally five are possible)
  8. don’t overload your writing with small details – be selective
  9. aim for between 160 and 180 words
  10. task 1 is a report, not an essay

IELTS Line Graph Lessons

Click on the links below to access the pages to learn about line graphs:

Filed Under: IELTS Writing Task 1

WT1 Table 30th Sept: To be completed

October 2, 2017 by 27 Comments

You can find a student’s copy of the writing task 1 table from 30th September (2 days ago)  in the link below:

However, the table is not accurate and it has not been completed.

If you took the test on Sept 30th, please can you complete the table and email it to me? ieltsliz789@gmail.com. That way, I will be able to write a model answer for it.

Word Doc: WT1 Table 30 Sept Incomplete

Thanks

Liz

Filed Under: IELTS Writing Task 1

Where can you plan your essay for IELTS writing?

August 29, 2017 by 31 Comments

Hi guys,

A lot of students have asked me if they can get extra paper to write a plan for their IELTS writing task 1 and writing task 2. They want to know what paper they can use for planning.

Planning is an essential part of your writing. 50% of your marks is based on choosing information, deciding how to present it and planning organisation. This means all ideas need to be planned in full before you start writing. See this page about Tips for IELTS Essay Planning.  You can find the marking criteria for writing task 2 on this page: IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Score

Where can you plan your essay?

The answer is that you use your question paper to write your plan.

At the end of your test, you will hand in your question paper. BUT the examiner will not see it and it will not be marked. So, you need to use the question paper to plan your writing for task 1 and task 2.

Please share any of your tips or experience for essay planning in the comments box below:

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