General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Formal Letter to Council Opposing Historic Building Demolition: IELTS formal letter sample

An IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 formal letter with a Band 8 sample answer, why it scores well and the phrases worth borrowing for your own letter writing.
  • 189 words
  • Formal letters
  • Complaint
  • 20 minutes
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The task

The Local Council in the area where you live has decided to demolish an old historical building to build a shopping centre.

Write a letter to the head of the Council. In your letter:

  • →explain why it is important to preserve the old building
  • →suggest how the building can be used to benefit the local community
  • →suggest another place for the shopping centre

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8189 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Councillor Higgins,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the council’s proposal to demolish the Victorian library building on High Street to make way for a new shopping centre.

This structure is a vital piece of our local heritage. It serves as a tangible link to our town's industrial past, representing architectural craftsmanship that simply cannot be replicated today. Its destruction would irrevocably diminish the unique character of our neighbourhood, which is already suffering from the loss of several historic landmarks.

Rather than razing it, I propose repurposing the building into a community arts and cultural hub. It could host local exhibitions, workshops, and a small library, providing a space that fosters social cohesion rather than mere commercial consumption. Many residents would welcome such a facility.

Regarding the shopping centre, I suggest the derelict industrial site on the eastern edge of town. This area is currently an eyesore, possesses excellent road access, and would benefit from the regeneration that a modern shopping complex would bring without sacrificing our precious history.

I trust you will reconsider this decision and prioritise our community's heritage.

Yours faithfully,

Arthur Penhaligon

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.

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

The response achieves Band 8 by fully developing each bullet point with specific, logical suggestions and maintaining a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide a concrete, realistic alternative location, instead offering vague or impractical 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.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

  • irrevocably

    in a way that cannot be changed or reversed

  • razing

    completely destroying a building or other structure

  • repurposing

    adapting something for a different use than intended

  • social cohesion

    the bonds that bring people together in society

  • derelict

    in a very poor condition as a result of disuse

  • regeneration

    the process of improving a place or system

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 many words 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.

What does the examiner look for?+

The response achieves Band 8 by fully developing each bullet point with specific, logical suggestions and maintaining a consistently professional tone throughout. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide a concrete, realistic alternative location, instead offering vague or impractical suggestions.

Keep practising

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