IELTS Formal Letter: Formal complaint regarding a delayed radio repair service

The task

Two weeks ago you bought a radio from a local branch of a well-known chain shop. It did not work properly. The shop took it back and said they would repair it. You have waited a week and still, it is not ready.

Write a letter to the shop to complain about it. In your letter:

→explain what has happened
→how you feel about it
→ask them to repair the radio soon or supply you with a new radio

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear Sir/Madam,

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8172 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service regarding a radio I purchased from your branch on 10th October. The device, a model ZR-500, failed to operate correctly immediately after purchase, and upon returning it, your staff assured me that a repair would be completed within five working days.

It has now been over a week since that deadline passed, and I have yet to receive any communication regarding the status of the repair. I am incredibly frustrated by this lack of professionalism and the inconvenience caused, as I purchased the radio specifically for daily use. Relying on a product that remains unavailable despite your assurances is unacceptable.

I request that you prioritise this repair immediately and inform me when I can collect the device. Should you be unable to provide a functional unit by this coming Friday, I expect a brand new replacement of the same model or a full refund. I trust you will resolve this matter promptly to avoid further escalation.

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Miller

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Write a letter, get a band free →

Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a consistently formal register while clearly addressing all three bullet points with specific, logical details. A common Band 6 error is failing to propose a clear solution or ultimatum, instead providing a vague request that lacks the assertive tone required for a formal complaint.

→Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
→If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
→No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

dissatisfaction
a feeling of unhappiness because expectations were not met
operate
to function or work in a specific way
assurances
confident statements intended to give someone confidence
inconvenience
trouble or difficulty caused to someone's personal plans
prioritise
to deal with a task before other things
escalation
an increase in the intensity or seriousness of conflict

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?+

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

What does the examiner look for?+

Keep practising

More complaint letters

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy