Your neighbours have recently written to you to complain about the noise from your houseflat. Write a letter to your neighbours. In your letter: - explain the reasons for the noise - apologise - describe what action you will take
Sample Response
Dear Mrs Barbara, I am very shocked to learn from your letter that the noise from my flat has been a source of disturbance for you and it has been spoiling your evening and causing distress. I am utterly regretful about that. I had no idea that the noise would reach your flat and cause you trouble. Please accept my sincere apology and I assure you that I will be more careful from now on. As you may have guessed, I am trying to refit my kitchen in the evening when I get back from my office. Unfortunately, it is taking longer than expected and I have been having problems with getting things to fit properly. The banging and hammering must have created the cacophony and I should have been more cautious. As the kitchen work is still not finished, I have decided to call a professional after reading your letter. I will instruct him to keep the noise level as minimum as possible and the work should be done in the next two or three days. I will make sure he works only during the daytime, so you will not be disturbed in the evening again. I am really sorry to have caused you the problem. Yours sincerely, Gorner Brek
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Tone control Original: I am very shocked to learn Suggested revision: I am very sorry to learn Why it matters: 'Shocked' is possible, but 'sorry' better matches the purpose of apologising.
- 2. Natural apology Original: utterly regretful Suggested revision: truly sorry Why it matters: This is more natural and sincere in a neighbourly letter.
- 3. Join clauses correctly Original: Please accept my sincere apology and I assure you Suggested revision: Please accept my sincere apology, and I assure you Why it matters: A comma helps join the two independent clauses.
- 4. Specify action Original: I will be more careful from now on Suggested revision: I will make sure no noisy work is done in the evening Why it matters: A specific action better addresses the complaint.
- 5. Overdramatic word Original: The banging and hammering must have created the cacophony Suggested revision: The banging and hammering must have created a lot of noise Why it matters: 'Cacophony' is accurate but too dramatic for this simple apology.
- 6. Fixed expression Original: keep the noise level as minimum as possible Suggested revision: keep the noise level to a minimum Why it matters: The natural expression is 'keep something to a minimum'.
- 7. Completion wording Original: the work should be done Suggested revision: the work should be finished Why it matters: 'Finished' is more natural for renovation work.
- 8. Smoother closing Original: so you will not be disturbed in the evening again Suggested revision: so you will not be disturbed again in the evenings Why it matters: This improves word order and generalises the plan.
- 9. Natural object Original: I am really sorry to have caused you the problem Suggested revision: I am really sorry to have caused you this problem Why it matters: 'This problem' is more natural than 'the problem' here.
- 10. Plain wording Original: source of disturbance Suggested revision: disturbance Why it matters: The phrase is understandable but wordy.
- 11. Natural phrase Original: only during the daytime Suggested revision: only during the day Why it matters: The shorter phrase is more natural.
- 12. Tone and concision Original: I am very shocked to learn from your letter that the noise from my flat has been a source of disturbance for you and it has been spoiling your evening and causing distress. Suggested revision: I am very sorry to learn from your letter that the noise from my flat has been disturbing your evenings and causing you distress. Why it matters: This keeps the meaning but sounds more natural and apologetic.
Suggested Rewrites
- I am very shocked to learn I am very sorry to learn
- utterly regretful truly sorry
- Please accept my sincere apology and I assure you Please accept my sincere apology, and I assure you
- I will be more careful from now on I will make sure no noisy work is done in the evening
- The banging and hammering must have created the cacophony The banging and hammering must have created a lot of noise
- keep the noise level as minimum as possible keep the noise level to a minimum
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The response fully covers the noise reason, apology, and action plan. It gives enough detail about kitchen refitting and daytime professional work, though the apology could be less repetitive.
Keep the clear action plan and reduce repeated apology language so the letter feels more concise.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas progress logically, but the whole response is presented in one block, which weakens readability for a letter.
Use paragraph breaks after the apology, after the explanation, and before the action plan.
Lexical Resource
Lexical range is good, with precise words such as 'refit' and 'professional', but a few choices are too strong or unnatural for a neighbourly apology.
Use plain, sincere wording for apology and noise, and avoid dramatic words such as 'cacophony'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is mostly accurate, but several phrases need article, preposition, or comparative correction.
Check adjective phrases after 'as' and use natural expressions such as 'to a minimum'.