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This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of complaining about problems related to a roommate.
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IELTS Essay: Roommate Letter
You live with a roommate at university but you have trouble studying because of a problem related to your roommate. Write a letter to an administrator at your university and include:
- Who you are
- The problem
- What you suggest they do
To whom it may concern,
My name is Nhi and I am a 3rd-year medical students currently attending your university and residing in the Williams dormitory along the south border of campus. I just transferred here after completing my first 2 years at Sonoma College.
I am writing because there is an issue with my assigned roommate related to being inconsiderate. The problem is that my roommate keeps very unusual sleeping hours. She often arrives home late and is very noisy entering the room. Oftentimes she will begin to watch a movie or play music late at night and wake me up. I have tried to talk to her but she has not changed her habits so far.
I am writing because I would like someone in a position of authority to issue her a warning and, if that fails, I need a new room or roommate. I hope that this can be resolved simply by having someone speak with her because we get along well otherwise.
Please inform me at your earliest convenience of the steps that will be taken.
Sincerely,
Nhi
Analysis
1. To whom it may concern,
2. My name is Nhi and I am a 3rd-year medical students currently attending your university and residing in the Williams dormitory along the south border of campus. 3. I just transferred here after completing my first 2 years at Sonoma College.
- Address the letter to someone.
- Include the first bullet point.
- Add in some more detail if you want.
1. I am writing because there is an issue with my assigned roommate related to being inconsiderate. 2. The problem is that my roommate keeps very unusual sleeping hours. 3. She often arrives home late and is very noisy entering the room. 4. Oftentimes she will begin to watch a movie or play music late at night and wake me up. 5. I have tried to talk to her but she has not changed her habits so far.
- Begin to develop the second point.
- Add more detail to it.
- Keep developing it.
- Put in as much as possible for a higher task achievement score.
- Too much is better than too little.
1. I am writing because I would like someone in a position of authority to issue her a warning and, if that fails, I need a new room or roommate. 2. I hope that this can be resolved simply by having someone speak with her because we get along well otherwise.
3. Please inform me at your earliest convenience of the steps that will be taken.
4. Sincerely,
5. Nhi
- Develop the last point.
- Keep developing it.
- Add an ending sentence.
- Use a phrase like regards or sincerely.
- 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.
To whom it may concern,
My name is Nhi and I am a 3rd-year medical students currently attending your university and residing in the Williams dormitory along the south border of campus. I just transferred here after completing my first 2 years at Sonoma College.
I am writing because there is an issue with my assigned roommate related to being inconsiderate. The problem is that my roommate keeps very unusual sleeping hours. She often arrives home late and is very noisy entering the room. Oftentimes she will begin to watch a movie or play music late at night and wake me up. I have tried to talk to her but she has not changed her habits so far.
I am writing because I would like someone in a position of authority to issue her a warning and, if that fails, I need a new room or roommate. I hope that this can be resolved simply by having someone speak with her because we get along well otherwise.
Please inform me at your earliest convenience of the steps that will be taken.
Sincerely,
Nhi
Answers
3rd-year junior
currently attending now going to school at
residing in living in
dormitory along rooms for students to stay in next to
border side
transferred moving from one school to another
completing finishing
issue problem
assigned roommate person given to me to live with
related to concerning
inconsiderate not being polite to others
keeps very unusual sleeping hours sleeps at weird times
arrives comes back
noisy entering loud coming in
oftentimes usually
begin start
late at night after 10pm
wake me up make me get up
so far to this point
position job
authority person with power
issue problem
warning formal admonishing
if that fails if that doesn’t work
resolved simply taken care of easily
get along well friendly with each other
otherwise in all other situations
inform tell
earliest convenience as soon as you can
steps that will be taken actions to be done
sincerely from
Pronunciation
Practice with this tip using Google voice search to improve your pronunciation:
θɜːd-jɪə
ˈkʌrəntli əˈtɛndɪŋ
rɪˈzaɪdɪŋ ɪn
ˈdɔːmɪtri əˈlɒŋ
ˈbɔːdə
trænsˈfɜːd
kəmˈpliːtɪŋ
ˈɪʃuː
əˈsaɪnd ˈruːmmeɪt
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
kənˈsɪdərɪt
kiːps ˈvɛri ʌnˈjuːʒʊəl ˈsliːpɪŋ ˈaʊəz
əˈraɪvz
ˈnɔɪzi ˈɛntərɪŋ
ˈɒfntaɪmz
bɪˈgɪn
leɪt æt naɪt
weɪk miː ʌp
səʊ fɑː
pəˈzɪʃən
ɔːˈθɒrɪti
ˈɪʃuː
ˈwɔːnɪŋ
ɪf ðæt feɪlz
rɪˈzɒlvd ˈsɪmpli
gɛt əˈlɒŋ wɛl
ˈʌðəwaɪz
ɪnˈfɔːm
ˈɜːlɪɪst kənˈviːniəns
stɛps ðæt wɪl biː ˈteɪkən
sɪnˈsɪəli
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
To whom it may concern,
My name is Nhi and I am a 3________r medical students c_________________g your university and r______________n the Williams d______________g the south b__________r of campus. I just t______________d here after c___________g my first 2 years at Sonoma College.
I am writing because there is an i_______e with my a_____________________e r__________o being i______________e. The problem is that my roommate k__________________________________________s. She often a________s home late and is very n__________________g the room. O____________s she will b________n to watch a movie or play music l_____________t and w____________p. I have tried to talk to her but she has not changed her habits s_______r.
I am writing because I would like someone in a p___________n of a_____________y to i_______e her a w__________g and, i____________s, I need a new room or roommate. I hope that this can be r_______________y by having someone speak with her because we g__________________l o___________e.
Please i_________m me at your e______________________e of the s_______________________n.
S____________y,
Nhi
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Where you Live
- Do you like where you live now?
- Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors?
- Is it a good area for children to grow up?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
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
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