IELTS General Writing Task 1: Letter Requesting a Refund (Band 9 Sample)
This General Training Task 1 asks you to write a formal letter requesting a refund for a service that disappointed you. A band-9 letter covers all three bullet points, keeps a firm but courteous tone, and makes a clear request. Below is a model letter of roughly 190 words, followed by why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
Get your own IELTS essay graded by AI
Band scores on all four criteria, line-by-line corrections and a model rewrite — free to start.
01 · The task
You recently paid for an online course, but it did not meet your expectations. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: give details of the course you booked, explain why you were dissatisfied, and say what you would like the company to do.
02 · Band 9 sample answer
192 words · Band 9Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to request a full refund for an online course I purchased from your website on the 5th of March. The course, entitled "Digital Marketing Essentials", cost £150 and was advertised as a comprehensive, up-to-date programme with live tutor support.
Unfortunately, the course fell well short of what was promised. Much of the material was several years out of date and clearly recycled from older courses, and the "live tutor support" turned out to be an automated chatbot that could not answer even basic questions. When I emailed your support team about these issues, I received no reply at all.
Given that the course bears little resemblance to how it was described, I believe I am entitled to a full refund of £150. I would be grateful if this could be processed within the next fourteen days. Should you wish to discuss the matter, I have kept copies of the advertisement and my correspondence.
I look forward to your prompt response.
Yours faithfully, Emma Tran
03 · Why this scores Band 9
All three bullet points are fully covered — the details of the course (title, price, date, what was promised), the reasons for dissatisfaction (outdated content, a fake "live" tutor, no support reply), and a clear request (a full refund within fourteen days). Every point is developed with specifics.
The letter follows a logical complaint structure — the purchase, the problems, the request, the close — with one idea per paragraph. Cohesion is smooth — "Unfortunately...", "When I emailed your support team...", "Given that the course bears little resemblance..." — and the formal opening and closing are correctly matched.
The vocabulary is precise and firm-but-polite — "request a full refund", "fell well short of what was promised", "bears little resemblance to", "I believe I am entitled to", "processed within" — striking exactly the assertive yet courteous tone a refund request requires.
A range of structures is used accurately: a relative clause ("an online course I purchased from your website"), a "given that" clause carrying the justification, and a formal conditional ("Should you wish to discuss the matter..."). The formal register is maintained, and the letter is error-free.
04 · Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
05 · Frequently asked questions
What tone should a refund request use?
Firm but polite. State clearly what went wrong and what you want, but stay courteous ("I would be grateful if...") rather than angry. A reasonable, factual tone is more persuasive than an aggressive one.
Should the letter be formal?
Yes — you are writing to a company you do not know personally. Use "Dear Sir or Madam,", avoid contractions, and close with "Yours faithfully,". Keep the register consistent throughout.
How specific should the details be?
Quite specific. Naming the course, its price, the purchase date and the exact problems makes the request credible and covers the bullet points fully, which is central to Task Achievement.
How long should the letter be?
At least 150 words; a band-9 letter is usually 170–200. This model is 192 words, enough to cover all three bullets firmly and politely without padding.
Want feedback on your own answer?
Toey grades your essay on Task, Coherence, Lexical Resource and Grammar, then shows exactly how to reach the next band — free to start.
Try the free IELTS Writing grader