General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to City Councillor Opposing Proposed Shopping Centre

You have learned from a news article that a real estate company is going to build a shopping centre near your home. However, you think that the shopping centre should not be built there.

Write a letter to the city counsellor. In your letter:

say how you have learned about the plan
explain how it is going to negatively affect the residential area where you live
say what you think the city council should do about it

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Councillor Higgins,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed construction of a large-scale shopping centre on Oakwood Drive, as detailed in yesterday’s edition of The City Gazette.

While I appreciate the need for urban development, building a retail hub in our quiet residential neighbourhood is ill-advised. Our streets are narrow and already struggle with current traffic volumes; introducing a high-traffic commercial facility will inevitably lead to severe congestion and safety concerns for local families. Furthermore, the inevitable noise pollution and loss of green space will irrevocably damage the peaceful character of our community, which many residents have enjoyed for decades.

I urge the city council to reconsider this location and instead identify a site better suited for commercial activity, such as the derelict industrial zone near the southern bypass. It is crucial that the council prioritises the well-being of its constituents by preserving the integrity of our living environment. I would appreciate an update regarding any upcoming public consultation meetings where residents can formally voice these concerns.

Yours faithfully,

Arthur Pendelton

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response achieves high marks by addressing all bullet points with a coherent, logical argument and a consistently formal tone suitable for a city official. The most common mistake for Band 6 candidates is failing to provide specific, realistic reasons for the opposition, often relying on overly vague complaints that do not sound persuasive.

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

large-scale: extensive or involving a significant amount of resources
ill-advised: not sensible or not recommended by wise judgment
congestion: the state of being overcrowded or blocked
irrevocably: in a way that cannot be changed back
constituents: people who live in an area represented by officials
integrity: the state of being whole and in good condition

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

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

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.