You travelled by plane last week and your suitcase was lost. You have still heard nothing from the airline company. Write to the airline. In your letter: - explain what happened - describe your suitcase and say what was in it - ask what the airline is going to do about it
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I was one of the passengers who took the flight from Narita, Tokyo to Heathrow, London on 7th September. Unfortunately, my suitcase was lost and I could not find it after I arrived at Heathrow Airport. Although I searched it for an hour and afterwards lodged a written complaint to the luggage claim department, I have not been contacted yet by anyone regarding the whereabouts of the luggage. My suitcase is Grey Samsonite and approximately 10x95 cm in diameter. It has 3 stickers on one side and a heart-shaped sticker on the other side. The front of the luggage has a small scratch near the main zipper. My initials "DF" are also written on the front. It contains some clothing items, a few books and a copy of my university thesis, which I urgently require. I would really appreciate it if you could urgently locate my suitcase and update me regarding this. My luggage claim number was 00026 and I can be contacted on my mobile phone, which is +2154875424, anytime. Thank you for giving the matter your attention. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Daniel Fillip
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural travel phrase Original: took the flight Suggested revision: was on the flight Why it matters: This is a more natural way to describe being a passenger on a particular flight.
- 2. Correct verb pattern Original: searched it for an hour Suggested revision: searched for it for an hour Why it matters: The verb needs the preposition "for" when the missing object is what was sought.
- 3. Clarify sequence Original: afterwards Suggested revision: then Why it matters: "Then" links the search and subsequent complaint more directly.
- 4. Use standard department name Original: luggage claim department Suggested revision: baggage services desk Why it matters: This is a clearer and more conventional name for the airport service handling lost bags.
- 5. Improve adverb placement Original: not been contacted yet by anyone Suggested revision: not yet been contacted by anyone Why it matters: Placing "yet" before the participle gives the clause a more natural formal order.
- 6. Make reference precise Original: update me regarding this Suggested revision: update me on its whereabouts Why it matters: Naming the suitcase's whereabouts removes the vague reference to "this".
- 7. Use natural collocation Original: giving the matter your attention Suggested revision: giving your attention to this matter Why it matters: The revised phrase uses the conventional pattern "give attention to".
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: My suitcase is Grey Samsonite and approximately 10x95 cm in diameter. Suggested revision: My suitcase is a grey Samsonite model measuring approximately 10 × 95 cm. Why it matters: The rewrite supplies the missing article and noun and expresses two dimensions without calling them a diameter.
- 9. Separate letter stages Suggested revision: Divide the letter into short paragraphs for the incident, the suitcase description, and the requested action. Why it matters: Grouping each communicative stage separately would make the detailed complaint easier to follow.
Suggested Rewrites
- took the flight was on the flight
- searched it for an hour searched for it for an hour
- afterwards then
- luggage claim department baggage services desk
- not been contacted yet by anyone not yet been contacted by anyone
- update me regarding this update me on its whereabouts
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter fully addresses the lost-luggage situation with useful identifying details, a clear account of events, and an appropriately formal request. Its main limitation is presentation: the response is not divided into purposeful paragraphs, and a few expressions describing the search, dimensions, and requested update are awkward. Prioritise clearer paragraphing and more natural, precise phrasing while retaining the strong level of specific detail.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are fully covered, and the formal tone is consistently appropriate.
Make the requested action even more explicit by asking for a firm tracing update and a timetable for resolution.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the journey and loss to identification details and the requested response, with cohesive links used effectively.
Separate the account, suitcase description, and requested action into distinct paragraphs to make the structure more immediately visible.
Lexical Resource
A strong range of suitably formal and specific vocabulary conveys the complaint clearly, although a few collocations are awkward.
Replace imprecise phrases such as searching the suitcase and being updated regarding this with more natural lost-luggage expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex sentences are generally accurate and well controlled, with only occasional awkward constructions and punctuation.
Refine the placement of modifiers and contact details so that complex sentences remain concise and unambiguous.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You travelled by plane last week and your suitcase was lost. You have still heard nothing from the airline company. Write to the airline. In your letter:
- explain what happened
- describe your suitcase and say what was in it
- ask what the airline is going to do about it
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.