General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · complaint

Letter to local council regarding lake pollution: 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.
  • 200 words
  • Formal letters
  • Complaint
  • 20 minutes

The task

You have discovered a lot of rubbish in a lake near where you live. In the past, the lake had always been clean.

Write a letter to the local council. In your letter:

  • →describe the type of rubbish that you saw in the lake
  • →explain where you think the waste has come from
  • →suggest what the council should do about the problem

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

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8200 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my grave concern regarding the alarming accumulation of waste in Miller’s Lake, a site that has historically been a pristine landmark for our community.

During my walk yesterday, I was dismayed to find the shoreline littered with a variety of refuse. Specifically, there are numerous discarded plastic bottles, single-use food containers, and several rusted metal canisters submerged near the reeds. This debris not only creates an unsightly mess but clearly poses a significant threat to the local waterfowl and aquatic life.

I believe this waste has originated from the recent increase in visitors at the newly opened picnic area on the northern bank. Unfortunately, the current bin facilities there are insufficient, and it appears that litter is either being blown into the water or left behind by careless individuals who find the existing bins already overflowing.

I strongly urge the council to install additional, lidded waste receptacles at the picnic site and to arrange for a scheduled weekly collection. Furthermore, placing informative signage regarding the importance of preserving our local environment might discourage such negligence in the future.

I look forward to hearing your plan to address this issue.

Yours faithfully,

Arthur Pringle

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

A Band 8 response addresses all bullet points with a clear, consistent formal tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific suggestions for the council, instead offering vague statements like 'please fix this', which lacks the necessary detail for a high score.

  • →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

  • pristine

    in its original, clean, and unspoilt condition

  • refuse

    waste matter or rubbish that is discarded

  • submerged

    completely covered or hidden under a liquid

  • insufficient

    not enough to meet the required needs

  • receptacles

    objects or containers used to store things

  • negligence

    failure to take proper care over something

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 addresses all bullet points with a clear, consistent formal tone and sophisticated vocabulary. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to provide specific suggestions for the council, instead offering vague statements like 'please fix this', which lacks the necessary detail for a high score.

Keep practising

More complaint letters

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