Cambridge English: Advanced
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Writing Criteria (go to Task)
Writing Paper Part 2. Task Type: Letter of Complaint
| Content Should include a list of reasons for complaint about the service and food. Should state what action is required by the manager. |
| Communicative achievement Formal. Arguably, understatement ('I was rather disappointed...') would be more effective than being completely frank ('The service was terrible.'). The restaurant manager would be informed and might consider agreeing to your proposals. |
| Organisation Should have the layout of a formal letter, with appropriate beginning and ending (e.g. 'Dear Sir or Madam', 'Yours faithfully'). Should state the reason for writing in the first paragraph (e.g. 'I am writing to complain about....'). The second paragraph could expand on the experience(s) in the restaurant. The third paragraph could state what action is required. N.B. In the exam there is no need to write addresses. |
| Language Language of explanation and complaint. Vocabulary related to restaurants (e.g. course, dish, chef, bill, tip). Should not contain major errors that lead to misunderstanding or which irritate the reader. |
