IELTS General Training Writing Task 1: The Complaint Letter

​In the IELTS General Training Writing Task 1, you may be asked to write a letter for a variety of purposes--making a request, giving information, offering an apology, or, in some cases, making a complaint. A complaint letter is a formal piece of writing that explains a problem, its impact, and what you would like to be done about it. It’s important to express your concerns clearly while maintaining a polite and respectful tone.

A strong complaint letter typically follows a simple, logical structure:

1. Introduction – State the purpose of the letter and provide a brief context.
2. Describe the problem – Clearly explain what the issue is.
3. Explain the effect – Show how the problem is affecting you.
4. Suggest a solution – Politely say what you would like the company or person to do.
5. Closing – End with a formal, courteous closing.

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Below is an IELTS GT Writing Task 1 question prompt: 

You work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.
Write a letter to the shop or company which supplied the equipment.
In your letter
• describe the problem with the equipment
• explain how this problem is affecting your work
• say what you want the shop or company to do

Write at least 150 words. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,

Here's a  sample letter that follows the  format discussed above:

Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to inform you about a problem I have encountered with an oven I purchased from Baker’s Hub about a month ago. I use this oven regularly as part of my home-based baking business.

The main issue is that the oven fails to maintain a consistent temperature during baking. Although it sometimes works fine, there have been several occasions when the temperature has dropped unexpectedly mid-bake, causing my cakes to deflate. This inconsistency has made it very difficult to rely on the oven for professional use.

As a result, I’ve been experiencing a great deal of stress, unsure whether each batch will turn out properly.  On several occasions, I’ve had to remake cakes that didn’t bake correctly, which has led to unnecessary costs and wasted time. This has affected both my confidence and the quality of service I provide to my customers.

I would appreciate it if you could send someone to inspect the oven and either repair the issue or offer a replacement. I hope this could be arranged immediately, as I have several upcoming orders to fulfill.

I look forward to your prompt assistance.

Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]

Here’s a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown explaining why this letter is well-structured and effective for IELTS GT Writing Task 1, especially for a letter of complaint:

Paragraph 1: Opening Greeting & Purpose 
"Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to inform you about a problem I have encountered with an oven I purchased from Baker’s Hub about a month ago. I use this oven regularly as part of my home-based baking business."

✅ Clear purpose: The first sentence immediately states the reason for writing — a problem with a purchased item.
✅ ​Context: Mentioning the purchase date and its use for a home-based business gives important context, making the issue more relatable and serious.
✅ ​Polite tone: The letter is formal but not aggressive, which is key in complaint letters.

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Paragraph 2: Description of the Problem "
The main issue is that the oven fails to maintain a consistent temperature during baking. Although it sometimes works fine, there have been several occasions when the temperature has dropped unexpectedly mid-bake, causing my cakes to deflate. This inconsistency has made it very difficult to rely on the oven for professional use."

✅Detailed description: The fault is described clearly, including when and how it happens.
✅ Specific effects: The mention of cakes deflating and the unreliability shows the writer is not just complaining but has observed and assessed the issue.
✅ Logical flow: The paragraph explains the nature and impact of the problem in a coherent order.

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Paragraph 3: Impact on Work
"As a result, I’ve been experiencing a great deal of stress, unsure whether each batch will turn out properly. On several occasions, I’ve had to remake cakes that didn’t bake correctly, which has led to unnecessary costs and wasted time. This has affected both my confidence and the quality of service I provide to my customers."

✅ Real-world consequences: The letter ties the problem to lost time, wasted resources, and professional impact.
✅ ​IELTS-friendly detail: This paragraph helps boost Task Achievement by addressing the prompt directly and supporting it with concrete examples.
✅ ​Tone: It’s appropriately emotional without being overly dramatic ​

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Paragraph 4: Suggested Action
"I would appreciate it if you could send someone to inspect the oven and either repair the issue or offer a replacement. I hope this could be arranged immediately, as I have several upcoming orders to fulfill."

✅ Polite request: The tone is respectful yet clear about what action is being asked.
✅ Urgency explained: Request for immediate action is justified by mentioning upcoming work

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Paragraph 5: Closing
"I look forward to your prompt assistance.
Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]"

✅ Formal closure: “Yours faithfully” is the correct sign-off for a letter starting with “Dear Sir or Madam.”

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Summary: Why this structure is excellent for IELTS:

• Task Achievement: All 3 bullet points are clearly addressed with supporting detail.
• Coherence and Cohesion: Each paragraph has a clear purpose and flows logically.
• Lexical Resource: Vocabulary is natural and task-appropriate (e.g., "unnecessary costs," "deflate," "fulfill orders").
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A good mix of sentence types, all accurately written.