You recently went to see a good play at a theatre, but you did not enjoy it because of some problems in the theatre. Write a letter to the manager of the theatre. In your letter: - say which play you saw and when - describe the problems you experienced in the theatre - suggest what the manager should do
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, As an avid fan of theatre, I regularly watch the newest plays at your theatre. Unfortunately, my last visit was not very enjoyable, which is why I am writingwhich is why I write. I recently went to the matinee show of The Garage Rockstar last Saturday, May 15The Garage Rockstar - specifically last Saturday, May 15. However, once inside,However, inside, a young couple were occupying my seats because of an apparent double-booking error. Before I could speak to the couple, the usher directed me to the front since the play was about to begin. My girlfriend and I complied as the seats seemed to be in a better part of the theatre. Unfortunately, we were wrong since some side lightingthe some side lighting was aimed at usaimed our way, making it difficult to see properly and focus on the play. With today’s technology, double-booking errors should not occur. I suggest you review your system to determine what went wrong before another double-booking occursbefore it happens again. Ushers should also be instructed on what to do on such occasions. Had I been given options, I might have selected better seats than the ones we were giventhe ones given. Furthermore, the lighting should be set up correctly, not directed towards the audience, as this can be blinding and distracting. Better yet, perhaps your building needs to be upgraded with a more modern lighting systemneeds an upgrade to more modern lighting systems to the benefit of all. I hope these problems will be addressed asa soon as possible so that theatre enthusiasts can continue to enjoy the shows at your venue. Sincerely, Jeremy Cruise
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter is persuasive and professionally toned, with precise identification of the visit, a clear account of both problems, and practical remedies for booking, ushering, and lighting. Its main weakness is presentation: the whole response appears as a single paragraph, and a few small grammatical slips interrupt an otherwise fluent read. Divide the content into purposeful paragraphs and proofread for minor article and spelling errors.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter fully addresses the visit, the seating and lighting problems, and several practical actions for the manager in an appropriately formal tone.
Make the requested outcome even more direct by stating whether a reply, apology, or compensation is expected.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the visit to the problems and solutions, but the lack of paragraph breaks reduces structural clarity.
Use separate paragraphs for the visit details, each problem, the proposed remedies, and the closing request.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, precise, and well suited to a formal complaint, with only isolated awkward wording.
Refine occasional combinations such as references to the lighting so every phrase is fully natural and economical.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, with only isolated article and spelling slips.
Proofread carefully to remove small errors such as redundant articles and mistyped fixed phrases.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You recently went to see a good play at a theatre, but you did not enjoy it because of some problems in the theatre. Write a letter to the manager of the theatre. In your letter:
- say which play you saw and when
- describe the problems you experienced in the theatre
- suggest what the manager should do
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.