IELTS Essay: Roommate Letter

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.

1. Address the letter to someone.
2. Include the first bullet point.
3. 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.

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.
5. 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

1. Develop the last point.
2. Keep developing it.
3. Add an ending sentence.
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.

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:

How to deal with Annoying RoomMate?

Speaking Practice

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

Where you Live

1. Do you like where you live now?
2. Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors?
3. 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

IELTS Essay: Letter of Complaint