IELTS General Writing Task 1: Letter to the Council (Band 9 Sample)
This General Training Task 1 asks you to write a formal letter to your local council about a problem in your area. A band-9 letter covers all three bullet points, keeps a firm but courteous tone, and proposes a clear solution. Below is a model letter of roughly 190 words, followed by why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
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01 · The task
There is a problem with rubbish and litter in your local area. Write a letter to the local council. In your letter: describe the problem, explain how it is affecting local residents, and suggest what the council should do about it.
02 · Band 9 sample answer
192 words · Band 9Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to draw your attention to the growing problem of litter and rubbish in the Riverside area, where I have lived for the past ten years. The situation has deteriorated noticeably over recent months and now requires urgent action.
The main issue is that the public bins along the high street and in the park are consistently overflowing, and are emptied far too infrequently. As a result, rubbish spills onto the pavements and is scattered by the wind, leaving the whole neighbourhood looking neglected. Worse still, the waste is beginning to attract rats and other vermin, which is a genuine health concern for the many families with young children who use the park.
I would therefore urge the council to take two straightforward measures: to increase the frequency of rubbish collections, particularly at weekends, and to install a number of additional bins in the busiest areas. A short public awareness campaign about littering would also help.
I would be grateful if you could look into this matter as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully, James Carter
03 · Why this scores Band 9
All three bullet points are fully covered — the problem (overflowing, infrequently-emptied bins), how it affects residents (litter, a neglected area, vermin and a health risk to families), and clear suggestions (more frequent collections, extra bins, an awareness campaign). Each point is developed with specific detail.
The letter follows a logical complaint structure — the problem, its effects, the proposed solution, and the request — with one idea per paragraph. Cohesion is smooth — "The main issue is...", "As a result...", "Worse still...", "I would therefore urge..." — and the formal opening and closing are correctly matched.
The vocabulary is precise and firm-but-polite — "draw your attention to", "has deteriorated noticeably", "overflowing", "attract vermin", "urge the council to take" — striking exactly the assertive yet courteous tone a letter of complaint to an authority requires.
A range of structures is used accurately: a relative clause ("the Riverside area, where I have lived for the past ten years"), a result structure ("As a result, rubbish spills onto the pavements"), and a polite request ("I would be grateful if you could look into this matter"). The formal register is maintained throughout, and the letter is error-free.
04 · Useful 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.
05 · Frequently asked questions
What tone should a letter to the council use?
Firm but courteous. You are raising a genuine problem, so state it clearly and request action, but stay polite ("I would be grateful if you could...") rather than angry. A respectful tone is more persuasive with an authority.
Should the letter be formal?
Yes — you are writing to an official body you do not know personally. Use "Dear Sir or Madam,", avoid contractions, and close with "Yours faithfully,". Keep the register consistent throughout.
How specific should I be about the solution?
Quite specific. Concrete, reasonable suggestions ("more frequent collections and additional bins") cover the bullet point far better than a vague "please do something". Proposing a realistic fix shows the examiner you have addressed the task fully.
How long should the letter be?
At least 150 words; a band-9 letter is usually 170–200. This model is 192 words, enough to describe the problem, its effects and a solution without padding.
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