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General Training Task 1 — complaint letter: Complaint to sports club manager about issues. This page gives the exam question and a band 9 model answer, with the tone, opening and closing lines that suit the letter. Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
You recently joined a sports club and have noticed some issues that need to be addressed. Write a letter to the club manager.
In your letter:
• Describe the issues you have noticed
• Explain how these issues have affected your experience
• Suggest what the manager could do to improve the situation
| Letter type | Complaint |
| Tone | Formal |
| Opening | Dear Sir or Madam, |
| Closing | Yours faithfully, |
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing as a recent member of Westfield Fitness Club to bring to your attention a number of concerns regarding the standard of facilities and services that, in my view, fall considerably short of what members paying the current annual membership fee should reasonably expect.
Since joining six weeks ago, I have noticed that several cardio machines on the main gym floor are out of order, with no indication of when repairs will be completed. The changing rooms are also frequently untidy during peak hours, with showers not cleaned and benches cluttered with towels.
These issues have significantly affected my experience, as I often arrive after work to find limited equipment available and spend much of my session waiting rather than exercising. The poor cleanliness standards do not reflect well on a club that advertises itself as a premium facility.
I would suggest a weekly equipment maintenance schedule with visible repair updates, increased cleaning during peak hours, and a booking system for popular machines between 5 and 8 p.m.
Yours faithfully,
Strategy
Formal member complaint. Mention that you are a paying member — this establishes your right to complain. Describe at least
2 specific issues (broken equipment, overcrowding, poor cleanliness) for strong Task Achievement.
Common trap
Bullet 3 suggestions must be ACTIONABLE and REALISTIC. "Fix everything" is not a suggestion. "Implement a
weekly equipment maintenance check" and "introduce a booking system for peak hours" are.
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