IELTS General Writing Task 1: Complaint Letter to Council (Band 9)
This General Training Task 1 asks for a formal letter to your local council opposing plans to expand a nearby airport. A band-9 answer covers all three bullet points fully — it says exactly where you live, describes the problems the expansion would cause, and explains why you object to the development. Because you are writing to an official body you do not know personally, the register must stay formal and measured throughout. The model below is about 190 words.
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1The task
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. There are plans to make your local airport bigger and increase the number of flights. You live near the airport. Write a letter to your local council. In your letter: say where you live; describe the problem; say why you do not want the development to take place. Write at least 150 words.
2Band 9 sample answer
189 words · Band 9Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to express my strong concern about the proposed expansion of Riverside Airport and the accompanying increase in the number of flights. I am a resident of Elmwood Avenue, a quiet street barely two kilometres from the end of the main runway.
The development would create serious problems for those of us living in the immediate area. The additional flights, many of them scheduled for early morning and late at night, would generate a level of noise that makes normal sleep and conversation almost impossible. On top of this, the extra air and road traffic would worsen the pollution and congestion that already trouble our neighbourhood.
I strongly object to the plans for several reasons. Beyond the immediate disruption to health and daily life, the expansion would lower the value of local homes and damage the peaceful character that drew many families here in the first place. I also fear it would set a precedent for further uncontrolled growth.
I would therefore urge the council to reconsider these proposals and to consult local residents before any decision is taken.
Yours faithfully, Helen Marsh
3Why this scores Band 9
1Task Achievement
All three bullet points are fully developed: the location is precise (a resident of Elmwood Avenue, two kilometres from the runway), the problems are concrete (night-time noise, worsened pollution and congestion), and the objection is reasoned (health, falling house prices, loss of character, precedent). Nothing is left vague.
2Coherence & Cohesion
The letter follows a clear logical order — purpose and location, problems, reasons for objecting, and a closing request — with one bullet handled per paragraph. Linking is smooth and formal ("On top of this", "Beyond the immediate disruption", "I would therefore urge"), never a bolted-on list of connectors.
3Lexical Resource
Vocabulary fits a formal complaint precisely: "express my strong concern", "generate a level of noise", "worsen the pollution and congestion", "set a precedent for further uncontrolled growth". The phrasing is measured and persuasive rather than emotional or memorised.
4Grammatical Range & Accuracy
A range of accurate structures is used: the conditional "would" throughout to describe a hypothetical development, a reduced relative clause ("many of them scheduled for early morning"), and a formal closing modal ("I would therefore urge the council to reconsider"). The letter is error-free.
4Useful 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.
5Frequently asked questions
How should I open and close a formal IELTS letter to a council?
When you are writing to an official body and do not know the individual’s name, open with "Dear Sir or Madam," and close with "Yours faithfully,". This is the correct pairing for an anonymous formal letter; a first-name greeting or "Yours sincerely," here would break register and cost you marks.
How long should General Training Task 1 be?
At least 150 words. A band-9 formal letter usually runs 170–200 words, enough to develop each bullet fully without padding. This model is 189 words, and both the greeting and sign-off count toward the total.
Do I have to cover every bullet point?
Yes. This prompt has three bullets — where you live, the problem, and why you object. Missing or barely touching any one caps your Task Achievement score, so turn each bullet into its own developed paragraph.
Can I invent details like the airport name and my address?
Absolutely — you are expected to. Inventing a specific street (Elmwood Avenue), a distance from the runway and concrete objections (night flights, falling house prices) makes the letter vivid and persuasive, which strengthens Task Achievement.
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