General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Formal Letter to University Governor Regarding Campus Noise

You are living in a University residence, and you have a problem with the high levels of noise from a new campus restaurant which is open until midnight.

Write a letter to the governor of the University. In your letter:

complain about the situation
say why this is a problem
and propose ways to reduce the noise

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Dr. Aristhone,

I am writing to formally express my concern regarding the excessive noise levels emanating from the newly opened campus restaurant, The Bistro, which is situated directly beneath the student accommodation blocks.

Since the establishment began operating until midnight, my ability to study and sleep has been severely compromised. The sound of clattering cutlery, loud music, and boisterous patrons carries directly into my room, making it impossible to focus on my academic assignments or obtain necessary rest before early morning lectures. This ongoing disruption is negatively impacting my overall health and academic performance.

To address this, I propose that the university mandates the installation of professional-grade soundproofing materials within the restaurant’s ceiling. Furthermore, restricting outdoor seating after 9:00 p.m. would significantly reduce the volume of voices reaching the upper floors. These adjustments would allow the business to remain open while ensuring that students can live in a suitable environment.

I trust that you will take the necessary steps to resolve this matter promptly to restore the peace and productivity of our residence halls.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a consistently formal tone and fully addresses all three bullet points with specific, logical suggestions. A common mistake at Band 6 is failing to provide realistic solutions or using an overly aggressive, informal tone inappropriate for an official complaint to a university governor.

Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

Useful phrases from the letter

emanating: originating or coming out from a specific source
compromised: weakened or damaged by an external factor
boisterous: noisy, energetic, and rowdy in behavior
mandates: officially requires or orders something to happen
soundproofing: materials designed to prevent sound from passing through
residence halls: buildings on campus where students live

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.

Practise IELTS General writing

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

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.