Transition Words

Transition words ensure coherence from one idea to another and overall flow in a paper. They allow the writer to go from
one idea to the next, and they help the reader to see how these ideas are connected. When choosing a transition word,
make sure that it expresses the right relationship between two ideas.

Addition
To specify or reinforce an idea, use transition words like:

additionally equally important indeed likewise

also furthermore in fact moreover
as well in addition in the same way similarly

Causality
To draw a relationship of cause and effect between two elements, use transition words like:

accordingly consequently next then

as a result for this reason since therefore
because hence subsequently thus

Conclusion
To end a discussion on a topic, use transition words like:

finally in conclusion therefore to sum up

in any case in short thus ultimately
in brief regardless to conclude without a doubt

Condition
To establish a condition, set limits, or consider another point of view, use transition words like:

admittedly generally of course rarely

considering granted often sometimes
for the most part occasionally ordinarily (un)fortunately

Contrast
To oppose two or more ideas, use transition words like:

although instead on the one hand . . . regardless

despite nevertheless . . . on the other hand whereas
however on the contrary rather yet

To know more, see The Canadian Writer's Handbook, Checkmate, The Little, Brown Handbook, or similar writing guides.
© 2016 Academic Writing Help Centre (AWHC), Student Academic Success Service (SASS), University of Ottawa
This content is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Emphasis
To place more importance on an idea in an effort to get the reader's attention, use transition words like:

above all essentially most of all particularly

again in particular most significantly primarily
certainly most importantly notably specifically

Example
To introduce an example, use transition words like:

an example of this is for example in this case to demonstrate this

as an example for instance like to illustrate this
e.g. in one such case take a look at such as

Introduction
To introduce a new idea, use transition words like:

as for initially primarily to begin

concerning in the case of regarding when it comes to
firstly in the first place similarly with regard(s) to

Progression
To establish the order in which ideas follow one another, use transition words like:

according to this before . . . second not only . . .

after earlier on . . . third . . . but also
as previously stated first . . . for this reason prior to

To know more, see The Canadian Writer's Handbook, Checkmate, The Little, Brown Handbook, or similar writing guides.
© 2016 Academic Writing Help Centre (AWHC), Student Academic Success Service (SASS), University of Ottawa
This content is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
IELTS Task 1 Academic Writing: Language Use

1) Introduce the Graph

You need to begin with one or two sentences that state what the IELTS
writing task 1 shows. To do this, paraphrase the title of the graph, making
sure you put in a time frame if there is one.

Language for the introduction:

Ex: The given diagram shows…

Introductory words Type of visual Verb

The given bar graph picture compares

The supplied chart pie chart delineates
The presented column presentation depicts
The shown data process table describes
The provided diagram table data enumerates
diagram expresses
map pie chart and gives
figure table gives data on
flow chart gives information on
graph bar graph and illustrates
illustration pie chart indicates
information outlines
line graph shows
shows data about
presents
presents information
about
provides
represents
summarizes

Best Fit Edu September, 2017

2) Give an Overview
You also need to state what the main trend or trends in the graph are. Don’t
give detail such as data here – you are just looking for something that
describes what is happening overall.

Language for the Overview

Ex. Overall, the consumption of fish and chips declined over the period,
whereas the amount of pizza and hamburgers that were eaten increased.

Overview Language
As a general trend, Generally speaking,
As can be seen, In common,
As is observed, In general,
As is presented, It can be clearly seen that
As an overall trend, It is obvious that
At the first glance, it is clear Overall

3) Give the Detail

• You can now give more specific detail in the body paragraphs.
• When you give the detail in your body paragraphs in your IELTS writing task
1, you must make reference to the data.
• The key to organizing your body paragraphs for an IELTS writing task 1 is
to group data together where there are patterns.
• To do this you need to identify any similarities and differences.
• Look at the graph – what things are similar and what things are different?

Language to Similarities / differences

Exactly the same Almost the Same Not the same

absolutely the same as about the same as The reverse is the
equal to almost identical to case...
exactly the same as almost the same as It is quite the
nearly the same as opposite/ reverse...
identical to
just the same as practically the same
as
precisely the same
the same as

Best Fit Edu September, 2017

Language to describe changes on a graph

Ex: Pizza consumption increased gradually until it overtook the consumption

of fish and chips in 1990. It then levelled off from 1995 to 2000

Increase Decrease No change

Fast Fast leveled out
doubled Collapse / a collapse plateaued / plateau
jump / a jump dive remained constant
leap / a leap drop / a drop in remained stable/ a
move upward go into free-fall halved stability
rocket(ed) plummet remain static
shot up plunge remained steady /
skyrocket take a nosedive steadiness
soar remained the same
surge Neutral was unchanged
tripled decline / a decline in
upsurge decrease/ a decrease in Ups and Downs
fall / a fall • changes Intermittently
Neutral go down / a downward
Climb / a climb trend • change sporadically
go up / an upward slide / a slide • erratically -erratic
trend reduce / a reduction • fluctuate
improve / an Slow • irregularly - irregular
improvement dip
increase / an increase slump • rise and fall
in a downward trend •
rise / a rise in a downward tendency a
Slow descending trend
an upward trend
an upward tendency

Language to describe low and high points on a graph

Low point High point

hit rock bottom culminated at
the bottommost point culmination of
the lowest point hit the peak
touch the lowest point / reached peak – the peak
the nadir reached the peak
reached the apex
reached the vertex
touched the highest point

Best Fit Edu September, 2017

Adverbs/Adjectives to describe changes on a graph

Rapid/Huge Moderate Steady Slight

considerably-considerable moderately- steadily-steady fractionally-
dramatically-dramatic moderate ceaselessly-ceaseless fractional
enormous-enormously gradually-gradual mildly-mild
hurriedly-hurried progressively- slightly-slight
noticeably-noticeable progressive slowly-slow
overwhelmingly- sequentially- tediously-tedious
overwhelming sequential
quickly-quick
rapidly-rapid
sharply-sharp
significantly-significant
speedily-speedy
substantially-substantial
swiftly-swift

Words and Phrases of approximation

Language of approximation
about a little more than
almost a little less than
approximately more or less
around nearly
just about practically the same
just below roughly
just over roughly the same
just under well above
well below

Words and Phrases to show time

1. Between ... (year/ month) ... and ... (year/ month) ...
2. From ... (year/ month/ day/date) ...to ... (year/month/day /date) …
3. In... (year/ month) ...
4. On ... (day/ day of the week/ a date) ...
5. At ......, In ......, By ......
6. During ... (year)...
7. Over the period/ over the century/ later half of the year/ the year...
8. Over the next/past/previous days/weeks/months/years/ decades …

Best Fit Edu September, 2017

Language for presenting percentages
You can present a percentage data in one of the three different ways. It is
suggested that you use all these formats in your report writing instead of
repeating the same style to show percentages in your writing.

% = In percentage / in %. % = In proportion % = In fraction

20% of One out of five, One fifth of

ten percent of One out of ten One tenth of
50% fifty percent of One out of two One half of

Best Fit Edu September, 2017

Language for IELTS Writing Part One- Describing Processes & Tasks

Brainstorm phrases into these three categories

First stage Next stage Last stage

Hints

What phrases with these words (or versions of them) can you add above? There is usually
more than one expression per word: First/ Begin/ Stage/ Initial/ Follow/ Last/ Final

Compare your ideas with those below the dotted line.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First stage Next stage Last stage

The first/ initial stage/ At this point Finally
step/ part of the process The next step The last/ final step is
is… Subsequently To bring the process to a
To start with… After/ Following that close,…
At the beginning/ start of The following step is The process concludes
the process,… ,and then with/ by…
First of all ,after which
Firstly,… After + ing, …
To begin with… After having + PP,…
Initially… When that stage is
The process/ cycle starts finished/ completed,…
with… Once …
The start of the process/ Having completed…,
cycle is… the… moves on to…
At first… As soon as…
This is followed by…

What are the differences between First/ At first and Last/ At last?

What information would you want to include in the introduction to a process task? What
phrases could you use?

Compare your ideas with the ones on the next page.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2012

The pictures/ visuals/ diagram illustrate/ show/ explain how…/ the steps involved in…/ the
process by which…

There are… stages, starting with… and ending with…

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2012

 IELTS Writing Samples And Model Answers
Thank you for your interest in my IELTS Writing Samples and Model Answers. In the next 14
pages, you’re going to see Writing Samples for the Writing Task 1 and 2 for both Academic and
General Training IELTS. These are part of the materials I give my students.

First, you’ll see examples of Questions and Model Answers (Samples) for 7 different types of
Writing Task 2 Essays (for both Academic and General Training):

1. Advantages and Disadvantages (Expository Version)

2. Causes/Problems and Solutions
3. Mixed
4. Opinion
5. Discussion
6. Advantages and Disadvantages (Opinion Version)
7. Two Part Expository and Opinion

Then, for Academic IELTS students, you’ll be able to go through 4 different types of Writing
Task 1 (Academic) tasks:

1. Graph with a Time Period

2. Graph without a Time Period
3. Process
4. Maps

Finally, for General Training IELTS students, you’ll be able to go through 3 different types of
Writing Task 1 (General Training) letters:

1. Formal Letter
2. Semi-Formal Letter
3. Informal Letter

I hope these samples help you as much as it has helped my students. These are just 14 pages out
of more than 100 pages (for Writing) and 200 pages (for all 4 modules – Writing, Reading,
Listening and Speaking) that I give my students in my classes

At the end of this document, I’ll include more information about my IELTS classes if you’re
interested to find out more about how I can help you pass your IELTS.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Task 2 – Essay Type 1 – Advantages and Disadvantages (Expository Version)

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing
high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young
people who decide to do this.

In various nations around the world, many people advocate taking a gap year in order to work
or travel before beginning one’s tertiary education. While this offers a few advantages, there
are also some disadvantages which are worth considering.

There are two main benefits to students travelling or working before their university
education. Firstly, through travelling, they will be able to expand their horizons. When
students go overseas, they will be exposed to different cultures and customs. As a result, they
will gain a deeper understanding of the world. In addition, students who work will learn to
appreciate the value of money. This is because they will realize the hard work involved in
earning money. Consequently, they would think more before purchasing anything they desire
and may become less impulsive in their spending.

On the other hand, various drawbacks may be noted. In the first place, travelling could cause
people to feel homesick. Many students have not been apart from their family and friends
before so when they travel, they may miss these people. In extreme circumstances, students
may even become depressed. Additionally, students who work may not want to return to their
studies. The reason for this is that they may enjoy earning money and becoming financially
independent. Therefore, their whole future could be negatively affected as these days it is
very important for everyone to graduate with a degree in order to be competitive in the job
market.

In conclusion, if students take a gap year, they could gain invaluable experience and learn to
become more independent in relation to money. However, they may also become homesick
and end up not continuing their studies. Therefore, it is necessary to weigh the benefits
against the drawbacks carefully before coming to a decision as to whether students should go
on such an adventure.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Task 2 – Essay Type 2 – Causes/Problems and Solutions

In some countries the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and fitness
are decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be
taken to solve them?

In many nations around the world, declining health and a lack of fitness are becoming very
common among people. There are a number of causes of this, but certain measures could be
taken to alleviate this problem.

There are several causes of this situation. The main one is that technological advancements
have resulted in a sedentary lifestyle. Because of the prevalent use of computers and vehicles,
it is no longer necessary to move around much. This leads to people becoming overweight,
which also adversely affects their health and fitness. In addition, people are consuming more
unhealthy processed food nowadays. For example, fast food, junk food and processed canned
food have become extremely popular due to people’s chronic busyness. Such food results in a
lot of health problems if it is consumed in large quantities.

Various possible courses of action could be taken in order to tackle the above. In the first
place, the government could launch a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the
importance of eating healthily and exercising. For instance, advertisements by the ministry of
health about the dangers of eating junk food and not exercising should be regularly shown on
television and the internet. Another way forward could be for schools to prohibit unhealthy
food from being sold in schools. If schools start to ban too much fried food or food that is
high in sugar and salt, students will be forced to eat a more balanced and healthy diet at
school. The result is that health would improve dramatically.

In conclusion, various factors have led to problems related to health and fitness, but this
situation could be addressed by the launch of a health and fitness campaign and the
implementation of effective regulations to limit the sale of unhealthy food in schools. Given
this situation, it is recommended that steps should be taken immediately in order to ensure
that the health and fitness of the people in the country improves.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Task 2 – Essay Type 3 – Mixed

Today more people are travelling than ever before. Why is this the case? What are the benefits of
travelling for the traveller?

It is undeniable that travelling has become much more popular as compared to the past. There
are several reasons why this is happening and this situation offers various benefits.

More people are taking overseas trips for the following reasons. One of the reasons is to get a
better education. These days, many students in the developing countries study in developed
countries because many of the schools and universities there are of a higher quality. For
example, most of the top ranked universities in the world are located in countries like
America and the United Kingdom. In addition, people may need to go on business trips
overseas. Because we live in a globalized world, a person working for a multinational
company may often need to travel to another office overseas for work. Also, businessman and
entrepreneurs often travel to neighbouring countries in order to expand their business.

People who travel can experience many benefits. In the first place, they can gain invaluable
experience through their time abroad. An example of this is that a person would encounter
different cultures and customs when visiting and living in another country, which could make
him or her more open-minded. Furthermore, people can also make new friends from different
countries. The result of such friendship could be the creation of business opportunities or just
the sharing of one’s different experiences. Consequently, the lives of both parties would be
enriched.

In conclusion, people go overseas nowadays in order to receive a better education or to do

business. Through going overseas, these people can broaden their horizons and widen their
social circle. Given the above, it is recommended that everyone should consider taking a trip
overseas at least once in their life.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Task 2 – Essay Type 4 – Opinion

Some people argue that capital punishment is good for a country. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

It is argued by some that the death penalty benefits a nation. I completely agree with this
opinion and in this essay I will state the reasons for my view.

The most compelling reason for holding to my view is that the death penalty is an effective
deterrent to serious crime. This is because it instils fear of carrying out serious crimes as
people would not want to lose their life as a result of that. For example, people who are
thinking of murder or committing violent acts will think twice before doing so. As a result of
this policy, crime rate would go down.

Another reason for my position is that the government will be able to spend less money on
keeping the criminal in prison. If the criminal is jailed for many years or for life, the
government would need to pay for the enormous expenses involved such as the cost of food
for the prisoners and the salaries for the prison officers. However, with the death sentence, the
prisoner will spend less time in prison and this would reduce the cost of imprisonment
substantially.

Lastly, with capital punishment, the dangerous criminal would never be able to reoffend. The
reason for this is that executed criminals will no longer be alive and therefore they will never
pose a threat to society ever again. This would make society a safer place.

In conclusion, I totally agree with the opinion that sentencing serious criminals to death is
beneficial for countries. This is because of its deterrent effect, its ability to save the
government a lot of money and the fact that we can keep dangerous criminals out of society
forever. Given this situation, it is recommended that governments around the world should
think about implementing this form of punishment.

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 Task 2 – Essay Type 5 – Discussion

Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe
that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

While some people argue that we should emphasize the importance of competition when
teaching children, others take the view that focusing on cooperation is more important. In my
opinion, it is better for children to be taught to cooperate.

On one side of the argument, there are people who hold the opinion that encouraging
competitiveness in children will yield better results. The most compelling reason for believing
this is that competitiveness prepares them for life in the real world. When students grow up,
they will need to compete with other students for a place in university. Furthermore, there’s
no doubt that in the job market, people will be competing with many others to get a good job.
Another reason is that this encourages them to excel in everything they do. When there’s
competition, everyone is challenged to do their best. For example, if there’s a prize for the
student with the highest marks in a particular subject, every student will be motivated to do
his or her best. This encourages growth and the pursuit of excellence.

Despite the above arguments, I am of the view that instilling a sense of cooperation in
children will prove more beneficial. Indeed, one reason why I take this position is that in
many instances, winning is not everything. A society focused solely on winning and
competing ignores other important traits like compassion and generosity. Such traits are
important for a proper functioning of society. Furthermore, it is my opinion that achieving
one’s goal often requires the ability to cooperate, rather than compete, with others. In society
and work, cooperation and teamwork is often required. For instance, a company will only
achieve its overall goal if all parts work together and complement each other.

In conclusion, while both views are commonly held in society, I believe that cooperation is a
more important value. This is because children need to understand that winning against
another is not the most important thing and that cooperation often enables them to achieve
their goals. Given this situation, it is recommended that schools should put more effort into
promoting teamwork activities.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Task 2 – Essay Type 6 – Advantages and Disadvantages (Opinion Version)

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing
high school and starting university studies. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages for
young people who decide to do this?

In various nations around the world, many people advocate taking a gap year in order to work
or travel before beginning one’s tertiary education. While there is clearly a drawback to this, I
personally believe that the benefits are more significant.

The disadvantage of going on a gap year is that students may end up not returning to their
studies. The reason for this is that they may enjoy earning money and becoming financially
independent. Therefore, their whole future could be negatively affected as these days it is
very important for everyone to graduate with a degree in order to be competitive in the job
market.

On the other hand, one of the major advantages is that students will be able to expand their
horizons if they travel overseas. When students go abroad, they will be exposed to different
cultures and customs. For example, westerners visiting a country like Thailand will be able to
experience traditional Thai dance like Khon and traditional Thai sport like Muay Thai. As a
result, they will gain a deeper understanding of the different places in the world.

In addition to that, students who work will be able to learn to appreciate the value of money.
This is because they will realize the hard work involved in earning an income. Consequently,
they would think more before purchasing anything they desire and may become less
impulsive in their spending.

In conclusion, the advantages are of greater significance than the disadvantage. Despite the
fact that students may not continue on studying at university, they will gain a lot of
experience when they travel or learn to better appreciate money when they work. Given this
situation, it is recommended that schools should encourage more students to consider taking a
gap year.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Task 2 – Essay Type 7 – Two Part Expository and Opinion

Nowadays the way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology. In
what ways has technology affected the types of relationships people make? Has this become a
positive or negative development?

These days, the relationship people have with each other has been affected by advancements
in technology. There are several ways in which our relationships have been affected and I
believe that this has been negative.

Relationships have changed in the following ways. One of the major ways is that nowadays
people have more acquaintances and fewer close friends. For example, many people may
have hundreds and thousands of friends on social media websites like Facebook as it is easy
to connect through these websites. However, most of these people are not really close friends
at all. In addition, technology has led to less face-to-face interaction between people. Because
using social media sites has become an integral part of the lives of many people these days
and connecting with others has become so much easier as a result of such sites, most people
spend more time online chatting with their friends than actually meeting them face-to-face.

I believe that the above changes have been negative for the following reasons. In the first
place, people now feel lonelier as they spend more time with the computer rather than with
other human beings. Studies have shown that people need real face-to-face interaction if they
want to remain emotionally healthy. Therefore, the lack of such communication has made
many people become lonely and even depressed. Furthermore, many people who use
technology to communicate with others are gradually losing important social skills. It is very
common for people nowadays to know how to communicate and express themselves using
emoticons or other forms of expression that are common online. However, an unfortunate
consequence of all this is that people do not know how to express themselves properly using
their body language or tone of expression.

In conclusion, because of technology, people have fewer close friends and have less direct
contact with people. This development is negative as it is easier for people to feel lonely
because of this and they are becoming less adept in social situations. Given this situation, it is
recommended that people should seek to spend less time on electronic devices in order to
improve their relationships with others.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Academic Task 1 – Type 1 – Graph with a Time Period

This chart gives information about how much money was earned by three London bakeries
over a 10-year period from 2000 to 2010.

In general, it can be seen that the trend for the annual income of Robbie's Bakery and Bernie's
Buns was upward while there was a downward trend in the yearly earnings of Lovely Loaves.

To begin with, the yearly income of Robbie's Bakery remained stable at around 55,000
pounds from 2000 to 2005. Subsequently, it increased dramatically to just above 100,000
pounds by the end of the graph. Its income overtook that of Lovely Loaves between 2005 and
2006 and became the highest income from 2006 to 2010. As for Bernie's Buns, its income
began at a much lower figure of 20,000 pounds, but increased drastically to over 60,000
pounds by 2010. This figure was more than three times its original one.

The income of Lovely Loaves was the highest in 2000 at around 82,000 pounds. It fluctuated
in the first four years and then plunged to half its original figure in 2010. This meant that it
had the lowest income of all three bakeries.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Academic Task 1 – Type 2 – Graph without a Time Period

The chart gives figures for the sales of eight different items in two London bakeries on a
typical Saturday in 2010.

Overall, it can be seen that doughnuts were the most popular item in both bakeries.

For Bernie's Buns, nearly 140 donuts were sold every Saturday. This figure was about 7 times
more than the number of salads sold (19). The second and third bestselling item was cookies
and cakes, at around 118 and 102 items sold respectively. Rolls and crisps both sold equally
well at above 70 items sold.

Lovely Loaves sold nearly 20 fewer doughnuts than Bernie's Buns at around 120. Its lowest
selling item was toasted sandwiches (22). While Bernie's Buns sold more of most of the items
as compared to Lovely Loaves, Lovely Loaves sold slightly more fresh loaves (50 vs. 40).
Furthermore, Lovely Loaves sold more than three times the number of salads as compared to
Bernie's Buns, at around 62 and 18 respectively.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Academic Task 1 – Type 3 – Process

The diagrams highlight the steps involved in producing cement and the process by which
concrete is produced using cement.

There are six stages in the former process from the mixing of two raw materials to the
packaging the cement and two stages in the latter process that involves four materials.

The first stage is that limestone and clay are crushed, which produces powder. This powder is
mixed in a mixer and then moves through a rotating heater. Subsequently, the material is
heated with fire. The following step is that the mixture moves along a conveyor belt and is
then ground through a grinder, which produces cement. Finally, the cement is packed into
bags and transported to the construction site where it is used to make concrete.

In order to make concrete, a concrete mixer is filled with 50% gravel, 25% sand, 15% cement
and 10% water. Once these materials have been added, the mixer rotates until concrete is
produced.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 Academic Task 1 – Type 4 – Map

The two maps illustrate the main changes which took place in Tumbledown between 1995
and 2010.

In general, it can be seen that city of Tumbledown became bigger, with more buildings than
before.

To the north of the river, the park made way for a science park and museum, which was
slightly bigger in size. The school, which was to the east of the park in 1995, was demolished
and a hotel and a spa were built in its place. Finally, some shops were constructed to the south
of the hotel and spa.

To the south of the river, there was the replacement of the farmhouse and farmland with a
science academy and science laboratories. The city of Tumbledown expanded to about one a
half times its size. While there was a hospital to the northeast of the city, it no longer existed
in 2010. To the east of Tumbledown, the large wood area was cut down to about 20% of its
original size. The top area was replaced by a hi-tech centre by 2010.

Jonathan’s IELTS materials from http://www.IELTSUniversity.com / Call Jonathan at 9768 1054

 General Training Task 1 – Type 1 – Formal Letter

You have recently bought a piece of equipment for your kitchen but it did not work. You phoned
the shop but no action was taken.
Write a letter to the shop manager. In your letter
• describe the problem with the equipment
• explain what happened when you phoned the shop
• say what you would like the manager to do
(Cambridge 8, GT B)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the washing machine I bought at your store
and the poor customer service I experienced a few days ago.

Last Tuesday, I bought a Prince LS777 washing machine from your store. I installed it on the
same day and it was working fine for the first two days. However, on the third day, I tried to
use it but it would not start.

Immediately, I phoned your shop and spoke with one of your supervisors. He assured me that
he would get back to me after a day or two and tell me what I could do to get my washing
machine replaced. Because I did not receive any call from him, I called your shop again and
was again promised a return call. It has been more than three days and nobody has called.

This has been a very disappointing experience for me. I would appreciate it if you could call
me back at 6765 1551 as soon as you read this letter and let me know how I can get my
machine replaced.

I await your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,
Rickson Gracie

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 General Training Task 1 – Type 2 – Semi-Formal Letter

Your neighbours have recently written to you to complain about the noise from your houseflat.
Write a letter to your neighbours. In your letter
• explain the reasons for the noise
• apologise
• describe what action you will take
(Cambridge 5, GT A)

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Jones,

I am writing to sincerely apologize for the loud noise you heard yesterday during my birthday
party.

The reason for the noise is that I was celebrating my 40th birthday party. I have not had a
birthday celebration for over 15 years and therefore I planned a huge party yesterday. I
invited over 50 of my friends and I guess the fun and laughter resulted in the high level of
noise.

Please accept my apologies for the disruption of your sleep during the night. I did not realize
that the noise was heard in your flat until you mentioned it to me this morning. It was not my
intention to cause so much trouble to you.

Because of this incident, I promise to refrain from holding big parties at my flat in future. I
will also ensure that any events held at my place will not produce so much noise.

Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Yours sincerely,
Jackson Lee

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 General Training Task 1 – Type 3 – Informal Letter

Last month you had a holiday overseas where you stayed with some friends. They have just sent
you some photos of your holiday.
Write a letter to your friends. In your letter
• thank them for the photos and for the holiday
• explain why you didn’t write earlier
• invite them to come and stay with you
(Cambridge 7, GT B)

Dear Jason, John and Jack,

How are you guys doing? I hope you all are doing great in your studies! Exams are coming
right?

Firstly, I’d like to thank you for the photos you sent me. I just received them yesterday and it
was a pleasant surprise. All the pictures also remind me of the great fun we had together,
especially at the beach! Thanks so much for having me over and planning the whole trip.

I’m sorry that I couldn’t write to you all earlier. I just finished my final exams. As you know,
this is my final year and I had to work extra hard in order to do well. My results for the first
three years in college were awful so I had to make up for it this year. I hope everything goes
well.

Since I’m free now and don’t need to study, I’d like to invite you all to come over here. I
think your exams will be over in one month’s time right? Let me know if you all are able to
visit me for a few days. You guys can stay in my guest room and I will plan everything for all
of you.

I look forward to your positive response.

Best Regards,
Mike

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