General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to television station manager regarding programming quality

You feel the evening programs on a local television station are uninteresting.

Write a letter to the manager of the television station. In your letter:

explain why you do not like the current programs
describe what kind of programs you would like to see instead
explain why these programs would be better

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 express my dissatisfaction with the current evening programming on Channel 9. As a long-term viewer, I have noticed a decline in the quality of content broadcast between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm.

At present, the schedule is dominated by repetitive reality shows and low-budget talk programs that lack intellectual stimulation. These broadcasts feel outdated and fail to engage those of us who seek thoughtful, well-produced local content after a long working day. Consequently, many households in my neighbourhood have shifted their viewing to streaming services.

I believe the station would benefit from introducing more investigative documentaries and local history features. Replacing the current filler content with programs that highlight regional achievements or explore societal challenges would offer significantly more value to the community.

Such programming would not only foster a stronger sense of local identity but also attract a more diverse audience, including younger professionals who are currently underserved. I am confident that a shift toward educational and high-quality investigative journalism would revitalise your evening ratings.

Thank you for considering these suggestions for improving your future broadcasts.

Yours faithfully,

Arthur Penhaligon

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a professional, persuasive tone while fully addressing all three bullet points with specific, logical suggestions. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to link the proposed programs to why they would be 'better,' often merely listing show types without explaining the benefit to the station or audience.

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

dissatisfaction: a feeling of unhappiness because something is not enough
dominated: to be the most important or common thing
intellectual stimulation: content that encourages deep thinking and mental activity
underserved: not receiving enough services or attention from someone
revitalise: to give new life or energy to something
investigative: intended to examine a subject in great detail

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.