You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey - IELTS General Writing Task 1

In the IELTS Writing Task 1 General, you may receive prompts instructing you to write a formal letter. Topics like ‘You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey’ can cover a variety of situations, including expressing appreciation for excellent service or lodging a complaint about a bad experience. Regardless of the specific scenario, mastering the formal letter format and using descriptive language to convey your message effectively is crucial.

So, let’s explore the three sample answers, ranging from Band 7 to 9 on the IELTS General Writing Task 1 sample formal letter topic, ‘Letter to the Train Company about a Journey’/‘You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey’, to enhance your letter-writing skills and achieve your desired band level for IELTS.

Question for Letter to the Train Company about a Journey

Outline for an IELTS Formal Letter

Check out the outline/structure for IELTS General Writing Task 1 formal letters, like 'You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey’.

Band 7 Sample Answer for You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey 

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention a concerning experience I had with your train service recently.

Last week, I purchased train tickets for a journey a week in advance. However, upon arriving at the station on the day of travel, I was informed by your staff that the tickets I had purchased could not be used.

Furthermore, I was deeply disappointed by the lack of assistance and professionalism by your staff when I approached them for help. Despite explaining my situation, they were unhelpful and provided no viable solutions to resolve the issue. I would like to suggest that the train company takes immediate action to address this matter. Firstly, there needs to be better communication between the ticket booking system and the station staff to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

I trust that you will take this matter seriously and implement the necessary measures to prevent such inconveniences for your customers in the future.

Yours faithfully,

Ayush

(Word Count- 175)

Band 8 Sample Answer for Writing Task 1 Question – Letter to the Train Company about a Journey

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the service I received during a recent train journey booked with your company.

A week before the journey, I purchased train tickets online for my travel. However, upon arriving at the station on the day of departure, I was informed by your staff that the tickets I had were invalid and could not be used. Moreover, the manner in which your staff handled the situation only exacerbated my dissatisfaction. Despite my attempts to explain the situation and seek assistance, they were unhelpful and dismissive, failing to offer any viable solutions.

In light of this experience, I strongly urge the train company to take immediate corrective action. Firstly, there is a clear need for improved coordination between the online booking system and station staff to prevent such discrepancies in ticket validity. Additionally, I recommend providing training to your staff to enhance their customer service skills and ability to handle similar situations with empathy and efficiency.

I trust that you will address these concerns promptly to ensure a more satisfactory experience for your customers in the future.

Sincerely,

Lisa

(Word Count – 188)

Band 9 Sample Answer for Writing Task 1 Question – Letter to the Train Company about a Journey

Respected Management Team,

I, Manoj, am writing to address an incident I experienced during a recent journey with your train company.

Before my scheduled journey, I purchased train tickets online for my travel. However, upon arriving at the station on the day of departure, your staff informed me that the tickets I had were not valid. I was deeply disappointed by the lack of assistance by your staff. Despite my efforts to seek clarification and resolve the issue, they were unresponsive and provided no satisfactory explanation.

Given this situation, I would like to recommend that the train company takes immediate action to address these issues. Firstly, there is a need for improved communication and coordination between the online booking system and station staff to ensure the accuracy and validity of tickets. Additionally, I suggest providing comprehensive support to your staff to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle customer queries and complaints effectively.

I trust that you will take this matter seriously and implement the necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Sincerely,

Manoj

(Word Count – 181)

Tips to Frame a Band 8+ Answer for You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey

Here are some important IELTS General Writing Task 1 tips to help you write an effective letter on the IELTS General Writing Task 1 topic, ‘You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey’.

• Be precise about the ticket details and the timeline: When describing the issue with the tickets, include exact dates, times, and ticket details such as the route, class, and booking method. For example, ‘I booked two first-class tickets from Birmingham to London for Saturday, 18th May, via your online platform a week in advance’. 
• Explain the denial in context to highlight the injustice: Rather than simply stating ‘I was told I couldn’t use the tickets’, explain what the reason was and why it didn’t make sense. This will showcase coherence and cohesion in your writing. 
• Describe the staff’s behaviour using specific language: Instead of saying ‘the staff were unhelpful’, describe what they did or did not do that made the experience worse. It will not only enable you to showcase your IELTS vocabulary but also justify your complaint.
• Suggest a reasonable and constructive resolution: In the last bullet point, do not just say ‘please fix this’. Suggest specific corrective actions that would show goodwill from the company. This shows that you're not just complaining but offering a way forward, which is important for daily communication. 
• Maintain a firm but polite tone: Even though the situation is frustrating, avoid using angry or emotional language. Instead, write with assertiveness and clarity, such as, ‘As a regular customer, I found this experience disappointing and inconsistent with the service I expect from your company’.

Well done on completing this test! But it does not end at this. Attempt writing some more formal letters from IELTS General Writing Task 1 practice tests on your own now that you have reviewed the sample responses on the topic of You Recently Bought Some Train Tickets for a Journey and know how to write a formal letter. Also, you can use our FREE evaluation service or submit your responses in the comments section below if you need help assessing them.

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