There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors to your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: - describe the complaints that have been made - say why the reception area is important - suggest how the reception area could be improved
Sample Response
Dear Mr Abel,
I am writing in response to your request for suggestions regarding the reception area. Many complaints have been maderaised by visitors over the past couple of monthsduring the last couple of months, and I hope my suggestions will be helpful in decidinghelpful to you in deciding an appropriate response to this issuea fitting solution to this matter.
Many visitorsguests have complained abouthave expressed concerns about long waiting times, uncomfortable seatsseating, and a lack of clear signage. Some have also reportedmentioned that the area feels too crowded during peak hours and that the reception staff sometimes seem overwhelmed.
The reception area plays a crucial role in shaping the first impression of our company. It serves as the initial point of contact for clients and business partners, influencing their perception of our professionalism. A well-organised and welcoming space enhances our company’s reputation and ensures a positive visitor experience.
To address these concerns, I suggest adding more seating with ergonomic chairs, implementing a clear queuing system, and placing signs to guide visitors efficiently. Additionally, hiring an extra receptionist during busy periods could help reduce waiting times and improve customer service.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to discussing these improvements further.
Yours sincerely,
Emily Thompson
Why this response received Band 9.0
This is a highly effective formal letter that fully addresses the complaints, explains the reception area's importance, and proposes practical, directly relevant improvements. The organisation is exceptionally clear and the language is precise and consistently controlled, with only a slightly formulaic quality in places. The best refinement would be to make the opening a little more concise so the response reaches the substantive details even faster.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter fully achieves its purpose, develops every requested point, and maintains an entirely appropriate professional tone.
As a refinement, make the opening request-response sentence slightly more concise before moving to the detailed complaints.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is sequenced with excellent control, and each paragraph has a clear function within the letter's progression.
Reduce the small amount of formulaic framing so the progression feels even more direct and effortless.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys the complaints, business importance, and proposed solutions naturally and accurately.
Refine the slightly awkward phrase deciding a fitting solution to this matter to make an already strong lexical performance more idiomatic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A full range of complex structures is used flexibly and with consistently accurate grammar and punctuation.
Maintain this level of control while favouring the most concise clause structures in the opening paragraph.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors to your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:
- describe the complaints that have been made
- say why the reception area is important
- suggest how the reception area could be improved
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.