General Writing Sample Task 1 #73

Useful language

Purpose of letter

  • I am writing to...
    • suggest that...
    • complain about...
    • explain...
    • invite you to...
    • thank you for...
    • apologise for...
    • ask for your help with...
    • apply for...
    • give advice about...
    • say how sorry I am about/that...

Polite requests

  • I would appreciate it if you would/could...
  • I would be grateful if you would/could...

Saying 'No' politely

  • I'm afraid that...
  • I'm sorry that...

Ending

  • I look forward to hearing from you soon.
  • I hope to hear from you in the near future.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are a student at a language school in New Zealand studying Business English. Part of the course is a summer work placement programme. Unfortunately, you have just learnt from the school that this programme has now been cancelled.

Write a letter to the School Principal. In your letter:

  • state your reason for writing
  • describe the problem and your concerns
  • explain what you would like the Principal to do.

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Sample answer

Dear Mr Scheer,

I am writing this letter to express my deep disappointment with the news that the work placement programme has been cancelled this summer.

One of the main reasons I chose to study Business English at your school in July and August was the chance to participate in the work placement programme. There are many English schools in California that offer Business English, but not many who offer the chance to go and work in a local company as part of the course programme. Your school is more expensive than the competition, but I was happy to pay extra because I thought the course programme was better quality. Now however, I am very unhappy because I have spent a lot of money and I am not getting the course I want.

As the course programme is now very different to the one advertised, I would like to request a full refund of the money I have paid for this course. I will try to contact other schools in California, or maybe New York, which run Business English courses and can guarantee a work placement as part of the course.

I look forward to receiving your reply.

Yours Sincerely,

James charles

(202 words)


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