This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of writing a letter of complaint.

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IELTS Essay: Letter of Complaint

You recently stayed at a hotel for a conference with your company and there were several problems with your room. Write to the hotel management to complain. Include

  • Where you stayed
  • What the problems were
  • How they can fix your complaints

Dear Intercontinental management team,

I am writing to bring to your attention some problems I experienced during a recent stay at your Los Angeles location. I was staying there last weekend in room 302 with a party from my company who were all attending the conference on sustainable solutions for developing countries.

The problems were in chiefly in my room. The air conditioner was not working when I first arrived and when I informed the reception desk it took several hours for someone to repair it. Also, there was an issue with the television (there was a lot of static) and the bathroom had a somewhat foul odor. I reported all this to the front desk, however they did not appear receptive to make immediate changes.

I would suggest that when you encounter complaints such as mine in the future that you move the guest to a new room while you work on fixing everything. Besides that, you should double check your rooms to ensure that there are no outstanding problems before guests enter.

I look forward to your reply and hope you will take my advice.

Best regards,

Karen

Analysis

1. Dear Intercontinental management team,

2. I am writing to bring to your attention some problems I experienced during a recent stay at your Los Angeles location. 3. I was staying there last weekend in room 302 with a party from my company who were all attending the conference on sustainable solutions for developing countries.

  1. Address the letter to someone.
  2. Include your purpose for writing.
  3. Add in some more detail if you want.

1. The problems were in chiefly in my room. 2. The air conditioner was not working when I first arrived and when I informed the reception desk it took several hours for someone to repair it. 3. Also, there was an issue with the television (there was a lot of static) and the bathroom had a somewhat foul odor. 4. I reported all this to the front desk, however they did not appear receptive to make immediate changes.

  1. Begin to develop the second point.
  2. Add more detail to it.
  3. Keep developing it.
  4. Put in as much as possible for a higher task achievement score.

1. I would suggest that when you encounter complaints such as mine in the future that you move the guest to a new room while you work on fixing everything. 2. Besides that, you should double check your rooms to ensure that there are no outstanding problems before guests enter.

3. I look forward to your reply and hope you will take my advice.

4. Best regards,

5. Karen

  1. Develop the last point.
  2. Keep developing it.
  3. Finish developing it.
  4. Use a phrase like regards or sincerely.
  5. Write your name at the end of the letter.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take notes on a piece of paper to aid memory retention.

Dear Intercontinental management team,

I am writing to bring to your attention some problems I experienced during a recent stay at your Los Angeles location. I was staying there last weekend in room 302 with a party from my company who were all attending the conference on sustainable solutions for developing countries.

The problems were in chiefly in my room. The air conditioner was not working when I first arrived and when I informed the reception desk it took several hours for someone to repair it. Also, there was an issue with the television (there was a lot of static) and the bathroom had a somewhat foul odor. I reported all this to the front desk, however they did not appear receptive to make immediate changes.

I would suggest that when you encounter complaints such as mine in the future that you move the guest to a new room while you work on fixing everything. Besides that, you should double check your rooms to ensure that there are no outstanding problems before guests enter.

I look forward to your reply and hope you will take my advice.

Best regards,

Karen

Answers

management team bosses in charge

bring to your attention show you so that you notice

experienced encountered

recent stay at the hotel recently

location place

staying at the hotel

party group

attending going to

conference large meeting

sustainable solutions ways to help the environment

developing countries poorer countries

chiefly mainly

air conditioner keeps the room cool

arrived got to

informed told you about

reception desk front desk

took several hours required a long time

repair fix

static poor reception

somewhat foul odor smelled kind of bad

reported informed

front desk reception desk

appear receptive seemed to care

immediate changes fixes right away

suggest advise

encounter complaints get feedback

move the guest put in a new room

besides that moreover

double check look over again

ensure make sure

outstanding problems issues that are apparent

enter come to

I look forward to your reply waiting for your answer

take my advice listen to me

Best regards sincerely

Pronunciation

ˈmænɪʤmənt tiːm 
brɪŋ tuː jɔːr əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n 
ɪksˈpɪərɪənst 
ˈriːsnt steɪ 
ləʊˈkeɪʃən
ˈsteɪɪŋ 
ˈpɑːti 
əˈtɛndɪŋ 
ˈkɒnfərəns 
səsˈteɪnəbl səˈluːʃənz 
dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ ˈkʌntriz
ˈʧiːfli 
eə kənˈdɪʃənə 
əˈraɪvd 
ɪnˈfɔːmd 
rɪˈsɛpʃən dɛsk 
tʊk ˈsɛvrəl ˈaʊəz 
rɪˈpeə 
ˈstætɪk
ˈsʌmwɒt faʊl ˈəʊdə
rɪˈpɔːtɪd 
frʌnt dɛsk
əˈpɪə rɪˈsɛptɪv 
ɪˈmiːdiət ˈʧeɪnʤɪz
səˈʤɛst 
ɪnˈkaʊntə kəmˈpleɪnts 
muːv ðə gɛst 
bɪˈsaɪdz ðæt
ˈdʌbl ʧɛk 
ɪnˈʃʊə 
aʊtˈstændɪŋ ˈprɒbləmz 
ˈɛntə
aɪ lʊk ˈfɔːwəd tuː jɔː rɪˈplaɪ 
teɪk maɪ ədˈvaɪs
bɛst rɪˈgɑːdz

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Dear Intercontinental m_____________________m,

I am writing to b____________________n some problems I e_____________d during a r_____________y at your Los Angeles l___________n. I was s_________g there last weekend in room 302 with a p_______y from my company who were all a______________g the c______________e on s____________________s for d_____________________s.

The problems were in c________y in my room. The a_______________r was not working when I first a__________d and when I i___________d the r_________________k it t__________________s for someone to r_______r it. Also, there was an issue with the television (there was a lot of s_______c) and the bathroom had a s____________________r. I r__________d all this to the f___________k, however they did not a____________________e to make i_________________s.

I would s_________t that when you e______________________s such as mine in the future that you m_______________t to a new room while you work on fixing everything. B______________t, you should d______________k your rooms to e_________e that there are no o__________________s before guests e______r.

I___________________________y and hope you will t___________________e.

B_____________________s,

Karen

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSk2Fk8sZKA

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.deputy.com/blog/the-20-most-common-hotel-guest-complaints

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Travelling

  1. Do you like travelling?
  2. What is the most beautiful country you have visited?
  3. Would you like to have a job that demands travelling to other countries?
  4. What problems can occur when travelling?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Write a letter to your manager about your work from the last year. Include

What you did

What you think you could improve

A training request

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