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 Mr Albert, Hope you are doing great. I am writing in response to the complaint letter I received from you yesterday regarding the noise from my flat. I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to you. With regards to the noise, I am a final year art major student and my term exams are due next week. To clear the exam, we need to play multiple musical instruments with different songs. I am practising with a guitar and a flute to create a good impression on the examiners. I am remorseful that I was practising at night due to which you suffered. I did not realize I was so loud. I had words with my professor and he has allowed me to take one of the classrooms for practising in the evening. In the daytime, I will practise at my friend’s place so that the noise does not irritate anyone in the neighbourhood. Once again, I am extremely sorry for any annoyance caused by my actions. Yours Sincerely, Akshay Saf
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add sentence subject Original: Hope you are doing great. Suggested revision: I hope you are doing well. Why it matters: The sentence needs an explicit subject in standard written English.
- 2. Avoid repetition Original: complaint letter Suggested revision: complaint Why it matters: The noun “complaint” already conveys that the message was a complaint.
- 3. Correct fixed phrase Original: With regards to Suggested revision: With regard to Why it matters: The standard formal expression uses singular “regard” in this construction.
- 4. Hyphenate compound modifier Original: final year Suggested revision: final-year Why it matters: A compound modifier before a noun should be hyphenated here.
- 5. Use concise course label Original: art major student Suggested revision: art student Why it matters: This is a more concise and natural description of the field of study.
- 6. Specify exam timing Original: are due next week Suggested revision: begin next week Why it matters: Exams normally begin or take place rather than being “due.”
- 7. Correct exam collocation Original: To clear the exam Suggested revision: To pass the exam Why it matters: “Pass an exam” is the standard English collocation.
- 8. Keep pronouns consistent Original: we need to play Suggested revision: I need to play Why it matters: The letter describes the writer's own examination, so the pronoun should remain singular.
- 9. Clarify musical practice Original: multiple musical instruments with different songs Suggested revision: different pieces on several musical instruments Why it matters: The revision correctly expresses playing pieces on instruments rather than instruments with songs.
- 10. Remove unnecessary preposition Original: practising with a guitar Suggested revision: practising the guitar Why it matters: The instrument can be used directly after “practising” in this context.
- 11. Correct impression collocation Original: create a good impression Suggested revision: make a good impression Why it matters: English conventionally uses “make an impression,” not “create an impression,” here.
- 12. Keep British spelling Original: did not realize Suggested revision: did not realise Why it matters: British spelling is more consistent with the other language choices in this IELTS letter.
Suggested Rewrites
- Hope you are doing great. I hope you are doing well.
- complaint letter complaint
- With regards to With regard to
- final year final-year
- art major student art student
- are due next week begin next week
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter responds directly and courteously, explaining the musical practice, apologising several times, and proposing credible arrangements that should prevent further disturbance. The main limitation is that all ideas appear in one block and some expressions are not idiomatic, which slightly reduces polish. Organise the response into purpose, explanation, and action paragraphs while choosing more precise collocations.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
All three bullet points are clearly and sufficiently developed, and the apologetic, respectful tone suits a letter to a neighbour.
Make the timing of the new practice arrangements completely explicit so the promised solution leaves no possible ambiguity.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a clear sequence from acknowledgement and explanation to apology and remedial action, with effective linking.
Divide the content into short paragraphs so each communicative function is easier to identify.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and appropriate overall, but phrases such as 'clear the exam' and 'had words with my professor' are imprecise in context.
Use natural collocations such as 'pass the exam' and 'spoke to my professor' to improve precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The writer uses varied sentence forms with good overall control, despite a few awkward constructions and minor punctuation issues.
Revise compressed expressions such as 'at night due to which you suffered' into more natural subordinate clauses.
Use this task for your next draft
Feedback is more useful when you actively apply it in a draft, rather than only recognising improvements on the page.
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.
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