This task 1 letter of complaint is about not being happy with the response from a train company about an item left on the train.
Getting the Tone Right
With these IELTS task 1 letters of complaint, you need to make sure the tone is formal.
Remember when you write to complain to a company it is to an anonymous person so it should not be too friendly or informal. However, you must still make it polite.
Also, remember you must write about the three bullet points you are given.
Now take a look at the question and model answer.
Task 1 Letter: Complaint to Train Company
| You recently took a train journey but you left an important item on the train. You phoned the train company to report it but you were not pleased with the response. Write a letter to the manager of the train company. In your letter • describe the item you left on the train • say why you were not pleased with the train company’s response to your phone call • explain what you want the manager to do about it Write at least 150 words You do NOT need to write any addresses Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam, |
Model Answer
Dear Sir or Madam,
I was a recent passenger of your train. Unfortunately, upon disembarking, I accidentally left important documents behind, which is why I write.
Last Friday, June 10, I was a passenger on your 3 pm train from Charlesville to Beartown. I was seated in the third row of the second carriage. What I left behind on my seat was a black, hard plastic case that contained a thesis that I was editing and my university students’ essays.
I realized the case was not with me when I got home, so I immediately phoned your station. I asked if they could relay an urgent message to any employees onboard about the documents. However, the lady on the line, Pamela, said she had no direct access to personnel on the train. The best she could do was create a customer complaint ticket, adding that someone would get back to me by Monday.
Well, now it is Tuesday, and no one has contacted me yet, so I would like to hear some news about my documents. Also, I strongly suggest that procedures be drawn up so that train employees can quickly check for forgotten items once reported.
I look forward to your immediate response.
Sincerely,
Rex Spectre
(206 Words)
Evaluation of the model answer
Task Achievement: Band 8.5
The letter clearly communicates the situation, provides all necessary details (date, time, seat location), and explains the actions taken so far. The request for a follow-up and a suggestion for improvement are also well-articulated. To improve slightly, the tone could be a bit more formal in places.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8
The letter is logically structured, with clear paragraphs. The flow is smooth, with effective transitions between the introduction, the main body, and the closing. There’s a natural progression of ideas, but the transition between describing the call and the suggestion for improvement could be slightly smoother.
Lexical Resource: Band 8
The vocabulary is appropriate for the context, and there’s good use of expressions such as “disembarking,” “urgent message,” and “customer complaint ticket.” However, there are some minor informal choices (e.g., “Well, now it is Tuesday”). More formal alternatives, such as “As of Tuesday,” would enhance the formality of the letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5
Grammar is used accurately throughout, with a range of structures demonstrated (e.g., “What I left behind on my seat was…”). The past tense is used correctly, and complex sentences are handled well. The letter could benefit from minor refinements in phrasing to make the tone more formal in a couple of spots, but there are no significant errors.
Overall Band: 8.5
This is a strong response with clear, coherent communication and appropriate language use. With a slightly more formal tone in a few places, it would likely score even higher.
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