You ordered a new chequebook from your bank two weeks ago but have received nothing. Write a letter to the manager complaining about the bad service. In your letter: - say when and how you ordered the chequebook - ask how much longer you will have to wait - ask what action the manager will take
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain about the poor customer service that I have received from your bank lately. Despite giving a chequebook requisition almost fifteen days ago, I am yet to receive it. I have not got a proper response from the branch and I am hoping you would resolve it. Two weeks ago I ordered a chequebook by filling out the request form when I visited the bank in person. But neither have I got the chequebook nor have received any correspondence from the bank. I urgently need the chequebook as I have a few bills that I need to pay by cheque. I maintain a checking account with your Lockshire branch and my account number is CAA-2547847354. I am requesting a proper explanation for the delay and poor service. Please inform me how much longer I will have to wait for my chequebook. I would also like to know what action you are going to take regarding this bad service. I have been a customer of your bank for more than fifteen years and this is the first time I have had to complain. It is very disappointing. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, Rocky Taylor
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct the collocation Original: giving a chequebook requisition Suggested revision: submitting a chequebook request Why it matters: Submit a request is the natural collocation for sending this form to the bank.
- 2. Use formal wording Original: I have not got a proper response Suggested revision: I have not received a clear response Why it matters: Received and clear are more precise in a formal complaint.
- 3. Fix modal choice Original: I am hoping you would resolve it Suggested revision: I hope you will resolve the matter Why it matters: Will correctly expresses the action you expect the manager to take.
- 4. Fix parallel structure Original: But neither have I got the chequebook nor have received any correspondence from the bank. Suggested revision: However, I have received neither the chequebook nor any correspondence from the bank. Why it matters: The revised correlative structure uses a single verb correctly with both objects.
- 5. Make wording concise Original: a few bills that I need to pay by cheque Suggested revision: several bills to pay by cheque Why it matters: The shorter phrase conveys the same reason more efficiently.
- 6. Remove vague modifier Original: a proper explanation Suggested revision: an explanation Why it matters: Proper adds no precise meaning to the request for an explanation.
- 7. Use formal phrasing Original: what action you are going to take Suggested revision: what action you will take Why it matters: Will take is more concise and appropriately formal for this request.
- 8. Clarify the reference Original: It is very disappointing. Suggested revision: This delay is very disappointing. Why it matters: Naming the delay gives the pronoun reference a clear connection to the complaint.
- 9. Format the letter Suggested revision: Separate the salutation, body, closing, and name onto distinct lines, with the body divided into short purpose, detail, and request paragraphs. Why it matters: Clear letter formatting would make the complaint and requested actions easier to follow.
Suggested Rewrites
- giving a chequebook requisition submitting a chequebook request
- I have not got a proper response I have not received a clear response
- I am hoping you would resolve it I hope you will resolve the matter
- But neither have I got the chequebook nor have received any correspondence from the bank. However, I have received neither the chequebook nor any correspondence from the bank.
- a few bills that I need to pay by cheque several bills to pay by cheque
- a proper explanation an explanation
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter achieves its complaint purpose very clearly, covers all three requests, and supports them with specific account and timing details in a suitably formal tone. The principal weakness is presentation as one continuous paragraph, compounded by repeated references to poor service; dividing the content into purposeful paragraphs and reducing repetition would make the message more fluent and professionally organised.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The complaint fully covers when and how the order was made, the expected wait, and the action requested from the manager.
Specify the preferred remedial action, such as expedited delivery or direct confirmation, to sharpen the final request.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information follows a sensible sequence and uses clear referencing, but the single unbroken paragraph weakens organisation.
Separate the opening complaint, order details, requested action, and closing into distinct functional paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is sufficiently varied and appropriately formal, although “poor service,” “bad service,” and “chequebook” are repeated noticeably.
Use more natural alternatives for “giving a chequebook requisition” and vary repeated complaint language without sacrificing precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of simple and complex sentences is mostly controlled, with a few awkward verb and correlative constructions.
Correct structures such as “I am hoping you would resolve it” and maintain full parallelism in the neither-nor sentence.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You ordered a new chequebook from your bank two weeks ago but have received nothing. Write a letter to the manager complaining about the bad service. In your letter:
- say when and how you ordered the chequebook
- ask how much longer you will have to wait
- ask what action the manager will take
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.