IELTS Writing Correction Service
Writing Samples
Band 8

You’ve just returned from a disastrous holiday! It was not as described by the agent and you experienced serious problems. Write a letter of complaint to the agent. In your letter - remind the agent about the holiday - explain to them what happened - ask for compensation

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the trip I booked through your agency three weeks ago. It was a deeply disappointing experience, and I would like to request a full refund for the inconvenience and distress it caused. My name is Fagbenro Adekunbi, and I booked a holiday suite for my husband and me on 21st September 2025 (Booking No. 455446742). The agent who handled our reservation assured us that the
hotel
Use synonyms
 was among the finest in the region, with all basic amenities included. Unfortunately,
this
Linking Words
 was far from the truth. When we arrived at the
hotel
Use synonyms
, we discovered that the rooms were dirty, many of the facilities were broken, and the surroundings were unsafe and poorly maintained. The situation was so unpleasant that we were forced to cancel the trip entirely.
Furthermore
Linking Words
, when I contacted the agent to explain the issue, he was unprofessional and dismissive, even suggesting that I might have gone to the wrong
hotel
Use synonyms
. Only after several discussions did he admit the mistake and apologise.
Although
Linking Words
 I appreciate his apology, I believe I am entitled to a full refund, as we did not spend a single night at the
hotel
Use synonyms
 and received none of the promised services. I would be grateful if you could process the refund promptly. Thank you for your time and understanding. Yours faithfully, Kunbi

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task response
TR: The letter meets the task but add the exact money you want back and keep the name the same at the end. Also give clear dates of the trip to help.
coherence and cohesion
CC: Use clear paragraphs. Put one idea in each paragraph. Use simple linking words like and, but, because, so.
task response
Formal tone is suitable for a complaint.
coherence and cohesion
Includes booking number and dates, which helps the reader.

Structure your letter

A letter needs to be written using a proper format, including the following:

  • A greeting (Dear sir/madam, Dear John, Dear Mr. Smith)
  • The main body (consisting of paragraphs for each part of the letter)
  • A closing (Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully, Best wishes, Kind regards, Love)

When writing a letter as part of the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, it is important to include the bullet points presented to you in the question.

All three bullet points need to be presented. And remember that some bullet points contain more than one element. So, make sure to watch for ‘and’ and plurals.

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • holiday
  • trip
  • agent
  • description
  • not as described
  • booking
  • dates
  • destination
  • problem
  • unsafe
  • dirty
  • broken
  • room
  • bed
  • air conditioning
  • water
  • noise
  • quality
  • price
  • money back
  • refund
  • compensation
  • receipts
  • photos
  • evidence
  • proof
  • taxis
  • meals
  • extra costs
  • response
  • reply
  • please
  • thank you
  • soon
  • date
  • solution
  • apology
  • agreement
  • terms
  • contract
  • charge
  • arrange
  • contact
What to do next:
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