General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Formal Letter to University Governor Regarding Campus Noise: 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.
  • 179 words
  • Formal letters
  • Complaint
  • 20 minutes

The task

You are living in a University residence, and you have a problem with the high levels of noise from a new campus restaurant which is open until midnight.

Write a letter to the governor of the University. In your letter:

  • →complain about the situation
  • →say why this is a problem
  • →and propose ways to reduce the noise

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8179 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Dr. Aristhone,

I am writing to formally express my concern regarding the excessive noise levels emanating from the newly opened campus restaurant, The Bistro, which is situated directly beneath the student accommodation blocks.

Since the establishment began operating until midnight, my ability to study and sleep has been severely compromised. The sound of clattering cutlery, loud music, and boisterous patrons carries directly into my room, making it impossible to focus on my academic assignments or obtain necessary rest before early morning lectures. This ongoing disruption is negatively impacting my overall health and academic performance.

To address this, I propose that the university mandates the installation of professional-grade soundproofing materials within the restaurant’s ceiling. Furthermore, restricting outdoor seating after 9:00 p.m. would significantly reduce the volume of voices reaching the upper floors. These adjustments would allow the business to remain open while ensuring that students can live in a suitable environment.

I trust that you will take the necessary steps to resolve this matter promptly to restore the peace and productivity of our residence halls.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

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.

Write a letter, get a band free →

Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response maintains a consistently formal tone and fully addresses all three bullet points with specific, logical suggestions. A common mistake at Band 6 is failing to provide realistic solutions or using an overly aggressive, informal tone inappropriate for an official complaint to a university governor.

  • →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

  • emanating

    originating or coming out from a specific source

  • compromised

    weakened or damaged by an external factor

  • boisterous

    noisy, energetic, and rowdy in behavior

  • mandates

    officially requires or orders something to happen

  • soundproofing

    materials designed to prevent sound from passing through

  • residence halls

    buildings on campus where students live

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?+

A Band 8 response maintains a consistently formal tone and fully addresses all three bullet points with specific, logical suggestions. A common mistake at Band 6 is failing to provide realistic solutions or using an overly aggressive, informal tone inappropriate for an official complaint to a university governor.

Keep practising

More complaint letters

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

Write a letter, get a band free