You recently went shopping at the local supermarket. When you got home and checked your bill, you found that you had been charged for items you did not purchase. Write a letter to the supermarket manager. In your letter: - explain what has happened - say how you feel about the error - say what you would like the manager to do about it
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, Yesterday I purchased a few products from your store. After I got homeAfter I got back home and checkednoticed the bill, I was surprised to find that I had been overcharged. I hope that you will takeI am hoping that you would take steps to prevent such mistakes from recurringsteps not to repeat such mistakes and refundreturn me the overcharged amount. Regarding the transaction detailsIn relation to the specifics of the bill, I went to your Daily Needs shop on 28th March 2025 at around 5:30 p.m.5.30 pm and purchased six itemspurchased 6 items in total. I paid $230.50 for the items using my credit cardusing my Master Card issued by City Bank. The invoice number is 28-462014 and I am attaching a copy of my receipt. The issue with the bill is that my correct total should have been $49.45 loweractual invoice should have been 49.45 dollars less than the amount I paidthan the amount paid. The invoice indicates that I was charged for nine itemsbought 9 items, although I purchased only sixwhich is a mistake. I have been charged for a pair of socks, a bottle of virgin olive oil and an air freshener which I did not purchasewhich I never did purchase. BecauseAs a solution, and because I am a loyal customer of your shop, I hope that you will agreeI am hoping that you will agree to refund me the extra amount or deduct it from my next billadjust it with my next bill. Thank you for your attention to this mattergiving the matter your attention and I hope to receivehear your reply soon. Yours faithfully, Tommy Lee
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter's strongest feature is its precise account of the transaction, including the date, payment, invoice number, overcharge and three incorrect items, followed by a clear request for reimbursement. Its main weakness is presentation: the entire letter is compressed into one paragraph, and the writer's reaction is limited to being surprised. Prioritise separate paragraphs for the incident, impact and requested action, adding a concise statement of concern about billing accuracy.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The incident and requested remedy are developed thoroughly in an appropriate formal tone, while the required explanation of feelings is present but very brief.
Add one sentence explaining concern or disappointment about the billing error while keeping the detailed refund request and supporting receipt information.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information follows a clear logical order, but presenting the salutation, full body and closing as one continuous paragraph weakens organisation and accessibility.
Use separate paragraphs for the purpose, transaction evidence, incorrect items, and requested refund or account adjustment.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a good range of precise transactional and complaint vocabulary, with occasional awkward collocations that do not obscure meaning.
Use 'checked the bill', 'refund the overcharged amount', 'the correct total was $49.45 lower' and 'credit it to my next bill'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of simple and complex structures is handled with generally good control, though modality, object patterns and a few relative constructions are awkward.
Prefer 'I hope that you will', 'refund the amount to me' and 'items that I did not purchase' for more accurate formal phrasing.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You recently went shopping at the local supermarket. When you got home and checked your bill, you found that you had been charged for items you did not purchase. Write a letter to the supermarket manager. In your letter:
- explain what has happened
- say how you feel about the error
- say what you would like the manager to do about it
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.