General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to newspaper editor regarding bus service changes

The local government is planning to change the bus timetable. You are not happy about the proposed changes. You have decided to write about it to the editor of a local newspaper.

Write a letter to the newspaper. In your letter:

describe the changes
explain how that will affect you
say how you would like the service to be improved

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

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the local council’s proposed revisions to the bus timetable for the Number 42 route, which are scheduled to take effect next month.

The council intends to reduce the frequency of buses from every fifteen minutes to once an hour during off-peak periods, while also cancelling the final late-night service entirely. These adjustments seem to overlook the needs of those who rely on public transport outside of standard office hours.

As a shift worker at the local hospital, I depend on the current schedule to reach my place of employment for evening rotations. If these changes proceed, I will be forced to rely on expensive taxis, significantly impacting my monthly budget. Furthermore, the lack of late-night options will leave many residents stranded after evening social engagements or shifts, compromising public safety.

I strongly urge the council to reconsider these cuts. Instead of reducing frequency, I suggest they trial smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles during off-peak times to maintain the current timetable. I hope that by highlighting these concerns, the council will prioritize the connectivity of our community.

Yours faithfully,

Arthur Pendelton

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all three bullet points with specific, logical consequences and constructive suggestions while maintaining a consistently professional tone. The most common mistake for a Band 6 candidate is failing to provide a concrete, realistic solution for the service improvement, often offering vague or irrelevant suggestions.

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

revisions: changes or adjustments made to an existing plan
off-peak: times when demand for a service is lower
compromising: causing a situation to become less safe or secure
connectivity: the ability to travel easily between different locations
prioritize: to treat something as more important than others
rely: to depend on something for a specific need

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.