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General Training Task 1 letter

IELTS General Training Letter: Letter about noise

Question type: General Training Task 1: semi-formal letter

The question

Your neighbour has recently been making a lot of noise late at night.

Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: - explain what the problem is - describe how it is affecting you - suggest a solution

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ...

Write your own answer first. Then get an estimated band and corrections from our AI marker.

Answer this question

How to approach it

  1. Keep a polite, friendly tone: you will still live next to this person.
  2. Cover the three points in order: the problem, the effect, a solution.
  3. End positively to keep good relations.

Sample letter

192 words (minimum 150). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.

Dear Mr Collins,

I hope you don't mind me writing to you. I live in the flat directly below yours, and I wanted to mention something that has been bothering me recently.

For the past two or three weeks, there has been quite a lot of noise coming from your flat late at night, often loud music and what sounds like furniture being moved. It usually continues until around one or two in the morning, even on weekdays.

Unfortunately, this is making it very difficult for me to sleep. I start work at seven, so I need to get up early, and I've been feeling exhausted during the day. It's also affecting my young son, who has been waking up in the night.

I wonder whether you could keep the volume down after about eleven o'clock on weeknights. If you are planning a party, perhaps you could let me know in advance, and I'd be happy to be more flexible at weekends.

I'm sure you weren't aware of how much sound travels between the flats. Thank you for understanding, and please feel free to knock on my door if you'd like to talk about it.

Best regards,

Daniel Reyes

Useful language from this answer

I hope you don't mind me writing to you
a polite, friendly opening
has been bothering me
has been annoying me
I wonder whether you could…
a polite request
keep the volume down
make less noise
I'm sure you weren't aware of
avoiding blame

Common mistakes with this question

  • Being rude or threatening, which is inappropriate for a neighbour.
  • Missing the solution, the third bullet point.
  • Not saying how the noise affects you, only that it is annoying.

Now write your own answer

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This model answer was written by TestWise Prep to show the features of a high-scoring answer. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise.