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Simone Braverman

Simone Braverman is the founder of IELTS-Blog.com and the author of several renowned IELTS preparation books, including Ace the IELTS, Target Band 7, the High Scorer's Choice practice test series, and IELTS Success Formula. Since 2005, Simone has been committed to making IELTS preparation accessible and effective through her books and online resources. Her work has helped 100,000's of students worldwide achieve their target scores and live their dream lives. When Simone isn't working on her next IELTS book, video lesson, or coaching, she enjoys playing the guitar or rollerblading.

IELTS Results competition winners in June 2022

What a wonderful way to start the week! Today we are happy to announce the winners of IELTS results competition in June. Congratulations to…

IELTS results competition winners of June 2022

Academic Module

  • 1st place – Wan-Hsuan Hsieh from Taiwan, Band 7.5
  • 2nd place – Janvi Valera from India, Band 7

Well done, Wan-Hsuan and Janvi! To mark this happy occasion we are sending certificates of achievement to your email addresses. We are also adding the winning IELTS results to the IELTS-Blog hall of fame – so please feel free to show them off to your friends!

How did they score so well?

Our guess would be, “They worked hard AND smart”, but luckily, we don’t have to guess. Our winners are notoriously selfless and happy to share their best tips for success with the other test takers. We have asked them to send anything they think might help others achieve similar results, and as soon as their advice lands in our Inbox, it will be posted on the blog.

It feels really good to see our student win! Wan-Hsuan Hsieh from Taiwan used our writing correction service to find out how to increase her Writing score. It was a real privilege to help her succeed in IELTS.

Did you know? IELTS results competition runs every month, and everyone is welcome to participate. Learn how to enroll here.

IELTS Letter, topic: Complaining about problems on your train journey

This is a model response to a Writing Task 1 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.

Set 4 General Training book, Practice Test 16

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You recently travelled by train on a long journey and you experienced various problems. Write a letter to the train company’s head office.

In your letter,

– give the details of your journey, including the date, time and where you sat
– explain the problems that happened and express your dissatisfaction
– ask about what action will be taken to improve the service

You should write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir / Madam,

Sample Band 9 Letter

Dear Sir / Madam,

Last week on the twenty-first of May, I travelled from Rome to Berlin as a passenger on the train Express 302, presumably under your management. I experienced several inconveniences and problems throughout the long and strenuous journey, and I would like to make an official complaint.

Firstly, the train was delayed one hour due to a malfunction with the doors. In addition to this, the train had to stop several times throughout the trip for a lengthy amount of time due to other technological problems. As a result, I arrived in Berlin three hours later than initially planned, which drastically changed my personal schedule. Secondly, the train was severely overbooked, and I was switched from first class to second class, where I was made to sit among a loud and obnoxious family. Contrary to what was advertised, there was no Internet available, and I was unable to complete some important business. Finally, when I went to complain calmly about the situation, the on-train personnel were unnecessarily rude.

I hope that you can appreciate that I have had a terrible experience with your company, and I look forward to reading in your reply about what action you intend to take.

Yours faithfully,

John Davies

Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Letters