General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to the editor regarding inaccurate city reporting

Recently you saw an article in a newspaper/journal about a city/town you know and some of the information in the article was incorrect.

Write a letter to the editor regarding this. In your letter:

how you know about this city/town
what information was incorrect
what the editor should do about this

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 concern regarding the article published in your journal on 12th October titled 'The Hidden Gems of Bristol'. Having resided in the Clifton area of Bristol for over twenty years, I felt compelled to highlight several factual errors within the piece.

My deep familiarity with the city stems from having spent two decades working as a local historian and tour guide. I have witnessed the city's evolution firsthand and take great pride in its authentic heritage, which makes the inaccuracies in your coverage particularly disappointing.

Specifically, the article claims that the Clifton Suspension Bridge was constructed in the early twentieth century. This is incorrect; the structure was actually completed in 1864, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Furthermore, the piece incorrectly identifies the SS Great Britain as being permanently docked in the city centre, whereas it is actually situated in the Great Western Dockyard.

I strongly suggest that you publish a formal correction in your next edition to rectify these historical oversights. Providing your readers with precise information is essential for maintaining the integrity of your publication.

Yours faithfully,

Arthur Pendelton

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

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response clearly addresses all bullet points with sophisticated, accurate vocabulary and a consistent, professional tone. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide specific corrections or using an overly aggressive tone that lacks the formal register required for an editor.

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

compelled: Feeling forced or driven to do something.
authenticity: The quality of being genuine or real.
rectify: To put something right or correct a mistake.
oversights: Unintentional failures to notice or do something.
integrity: The quality of being honest and having principles.
situated: To be located in a particular place.

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.