Two weeks ago you bought a radio from a local branch of a well-known chain shop. It did not work properly. The shop took it back and said they would repair it. You have waited a week and still, it is not ready. Write a letter to the shop to complain about it. In your letter: - explain what has happened - how you feel about it - ask them to repair the radio soon or supply you with a new radio
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, Two weeks ago I purchased a radio from your Blue Street branchfrom your store. I was excited to purchase it but disappointed to find that it was faulty. I returned the product with the hope that you would either replace it or repair it but to my dismay, nothing has been done so far. I am hoping that you would either repair or replace iteither replace or repair it within the next three days. Regarding the order detailsIn relation to the specifics of the order, I bought the radio from your Blue Street branchfrom your shop from the Blue street branch. But, it was an utter disappointment when the brand-new radiothe brand new radio was not working as it should have been. The issue with the radio is that it does not tune in to any oftune in to the main stationscommon channels except for one or two. I talked to your representatives in the shop and they agreed to repair it within a couple of days. Now, it has been a week and the radio is not yet ready. Whenever I call the shop, one of your salesmen promises to deliver the radio within a day. However, it has not been done yetBut it is not done yet and all I have received is an apologyall I got is an apology and regret. The order number is 587416 and I am attaching a copy of my receipt. As a solution, and because I like the modelbecause I really like the functionality of the radio, please repair the radio within the next three days or replace it with a new one. Otherwise, I will be forced to raise the matter with senior managementcomplain to higher management. Thank you for giving the matter your attention and I hope to hear your reply soon. Yours faithfully, Mansoor Abedi
Why this response received Band 7.0
The complaint fully explains the faulty radio, the unsuccessful repair process, the writer’s dissatisfaction, and the desired remedy, with appropriately specific supporting details. Its main limitation is a dense single-block presentation, compounded by repeated information and several unnatural or grammatically uneven phrases. Prioritise dividing the letter into focused paragraphs and polishing formal complaint language so the strong content is delivered more concisely and professionally.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter explains the faulty radio, the shop’s failure to repair it, the writer’s dissatisfaction, and the requested repair or replacement. The task is fully addressed.
Keep the strong complaint content, but make the tone more consistently formal and avoid repeated information.
Coherence and Cohesion
The progression is clear, but the single-block layout and some repeated points make the letter visually dense.
Divide it into paragraphs for purchase history, repair delay, feelings, and requested solution.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is appropriate for a complaint, with useful phrases such as to my dismay, order number, and replace it with a new one. Some expressions are unnatural or repetitive.
Use more precise phrases such as local branch, tune in to stations, and all I have received is an apology.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is generally clear, but there are issues with articles, tense, word order, and subject-verb agreement.
Proofread complaint sentences for correct articles and present perfect forms.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
Two weeks ago you bought a radio from a local branch of a well-known chain shop. It did not work properly. The shop took it back and said they would repair it. You have waited a week and still, it is not ready. Write a letter to the shop to complain about it. In your letter:
- explain what has happened
- how you feel about it
- ask them to repair the radio soon or supply you with a new radio
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.