4.6Model answers
- 2 reading texts
Task A, formal
The question
You recently stayed at a hotel and were not satisfied with your room.
Write a letter to the hotel manager. In your letter:
• explain when you stayed and which room you had
• describe the problems you experienced
• say what you would like the manager to do
Write at least 150 words.
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to complain about the standard of the room I was given during my recent stay at your hotel.
I stayed at the Marina branch from 3 to 6 September and was allocated room 412 on the fourth floor. I had booked a quiet double room with a sea view, and this was confirmed in writing when I made the reservation two months earlier.
Unfortunately, the room did not match that description in several respects. It faced the main road rather than the sea, and the traffic noise continued until well after midnight, which made it almost impossible to sleep. In addition, the air conditioning produced a loud rattling sound whenever it started, and although I reported this twice at reception, nobody came to look at it during the three days I was there.
I would therefore be grateful if you could refund the difference between the room I booked and the room I received. I would also appreciate an explanation of why my two requests for assistance were not acted upon.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Rana Haddad
Why this letter scores well
- All three bullet points are covered, in order, one per paragraph.
- Every bullet point is developed: the dates and room number, then two separate problems each with a consequence, then two specific requests.
- The register is consistently formal: no contractions, and Dear Sir or Madam is correctly paired with Yours faithfully.
- There is a mix of sentence types, including a relative clause and a sentence beginning with although.
- The tone is firm but polite, which is what a complaint letter needs.
Task B, informal
The question
You have just moved to a new city. Write a letter to a friend. In your letter:
• explain why you moved
• describe your new home and the area
• invite your friend to visit you
Write at least 150 words.
Dear Omar,
I hope you and the family are well. I'm writing because I've finally moved, and I wanted you to hear it from me rather than from social media.
The move happened faster than I expected. I was offered a job at a school here in Ajman at the end of the summer, and since the position started in August I had about three weeks to find somewhere and pack everything. It was chaotic, but I'm glad I did it.
My new flat is on the fifth floor of a building two streets from the corniche, so I can see the water from the kitchen window. It's smaller than my old place, but the area is much livelier. There's a decent bakery downstairs and a park at the end of the road where I go running in the evenings.
You should come and see it for yourself. Any weekend in November works for me, and the spare room is ready.
Let me know what you think.
Best wishes,
Ahmad
Why this letter scores well
- The register is informal and consistent: contractions, direct address, a natural opening and closing.
- Each bullet point becomes one paragraph with specific detail rather than general statements.
- The invitation is concrete. It gives a month and mentions the spare room, which turns a vague offer into a real one.
- The vocabulary is everyday but precise: chaotic, livelier, corniche, spare room.