IELTS Letters - Formal Letter http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/formal-letter.html

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IELTS Letter Samples - Formal

Letter

This is an example of an IELTS task 1 formal letter.

It is formal as it is to an insurance company, and is not to someone

that you know. It is an example of how to write a letter of complaint.

See comments on the letter at the bottom of the page.

IELTS Formal Letter - Example 3

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Your car insurance company has told you that they are

going to increase the amount you have to pay in

insurance for your car each month. You are not happy

about this.

Write a letter to your insurance company. In your

letter explain

Why you are writing to them1.

Why you think the insurance should not be

increased

2.

What you want them to do3.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Model Answer

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing to you as I recently received a letter from you informing

me that the insurance premium for my car is going to increase from

next month.

As you will be aware if you check my records, I have held my

insurance with your company for nearly seven years now. During this

time, I have never had an accident and never had any reason to make

a claim on my insurance.

I understand that at times prices need to be increased. However, this

increase you are suggesting will result in a 20% increase in the

amount I pay each month, a rate I feel is too much.

I would therefore like you to write back to me and explain why such an

increase has been proposed. If you are unable to justify it to my

satisfaction, then I am afraid that I will have no other option but to

move my insurance to another company.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours faithfully,

Mr Mahmoud Khan

(Words 169)

Comments

The answer clearly addresses all the bullet points from the question.

The writer gives reasons why the letter is being written and why the

increase is considered unfair, and then goes on to explain what he

wants the company to do to resolve the situation.

The writer expands on his ideas by giving extra details. For example,

he explains that he has had insurance for seven years and never had

an accident, and he also explains how the increase will affect him i.e.

result in a 20% rise in his payments. It is important when writing a

letter to give extra information to support the letter whilst remaining

on topic.

The tone of the letter is well-controlled, with appropriate opening

(Dear Sir / Madam) and closing (Yours faithfully) phrases, and

IELTS Letters - Formal Letter http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/formal-letter.html

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further phrases that ensure the formal letter still remains polite (I

understand that..., I’m afraid..., I look forward to hearing from

you...) despite the fact that it is a letter of complaint.

There are some other good examples of phrases appropriate to a

semi-formal or formal letter (As you will be aware..., I would

therefore like you to...).

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Mahek Sahni · Mercy memorial school

explanatory letter

Reply · Like · January 31 at 5:52am

Bhonagiri Venkatesham · Works at Brewsters Brewing Companyand Restaurant - Airdrie

nice and simple

Reply · Like · November 23, 2013 at 12:16pm

Rahul Gotra · SSM College

as I write that kind of letter then how many bands I canget..........plz ans thanks.

Reply · Like · September 9, 2013 at 4:45am

Shsd Khan · Chittagong University

good and simple language.

Reply · Like · August 11, 2013 at 5:04am

Krishna Kshetri · LBC College

Nice

Reply · Like · April 3, 2013 at 5:29am

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