General Training Writing Task 1 · semi-formal · complaint

Formal letter to landlord regarding neighbour noise disturbance

You have been living in a rental apartment for the past year. Recently a new neighbor moved in and has been making a lot of noise, which disturbs you.

Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter:

explain the situation
describe why it bothers you
suggest a solution

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to bring to your attention a persistent issue regarding the noise levels originating from apartment 4B, which has become a significant concern since a new tenant moved in last month.

Over the past three weeks, there has been loud music and frequent gatherings late into the night, often continuing well past midnight. As I work early shifts, this constant disruption has made it impossible to get adequate rest. The thin walls of the building mean that every bass-heavy track and raised voice is clearly audible in my living room and bedroom, effectively preventing me from relaxing or sleeping in my own home.

I would appreciate it if you could speak with the new resident regarding the building’s noise policy, particularly the quiet hours stipulated in our lease agreement. Perhaps a formal reminder of these rules would encourage them to be more considerate of their neighbours. If the situation does not improve, I would welcome your advice on any further steps I should take to resolve this matter.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

186 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a consistent, polite, yet firm semi-formal tone while addressing all bullet points with specific, logical details. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide a concrete, actionable solution, instead merely complaining about the noise without suggesting how the landlord should intervene.

Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.
Polite and friendly at once: a few contractions are fine, slang is not. Close with Yours sincerely or Kind regards.
State the purpose in the first two sentences; small talk costs words you need for the bullets.

Useful phrases from the letter

persistent: continuing to happen despite being annoying or unwanted
originating: having a specified place as the starting point
audible: able to be heard clearly by someone
stipulated: demanded or specified as part of an agreement
considerate: careful not to cause inconvenience to other people
prompt: done without delay or acting in a timely manner

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Semi-formal. Write to someone you know but not closely, such as a manager, landlord or neighbour, using their title and surname.

How long should an IELTS General Training letter be?

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.