You are unhappy about a plan to make your local airport bigger and increase the number of flights. You live near the airport. Write a letter to your local newspaper. In your letter: - Explain where you live - Describe the problem - Give reasons why you do not want this development.
Sample Response
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing with regard to the article in your newspaper dated 7th September. My house is situated within 20 minutes walk of the airport. Please allow me to point out the problems which have caused serious damage on the residential area. I am fully sure that the problems must be aggravated if the plan is carried out to expand the airport and Increase the number of flights.
First of all, the low-flying aeroplanes are utterly distractive. They make such a big noise that I cannot concentrate on housework at all. What is worse, I am woken up by the late hour flights at midnight; I was diagnosed as Insomnia the other day. I should call this situation noise pollution.
Secondly, I am afraid that the expansion of the airport may reduce the plot of land for the playground which is under construction near the airport at the moment. To sum up, I strongly disagree with the plan. I would appreciate if you could possibly write the article about the problems and disagreement as I said above.
Yours faithfully
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use standard salutation Original: Dear Sir/Madam, Suggested revision: Dear Sir or Madam, Why it matters: The full conjunction is the conventional form in a formal letter.
- 2. Form compound modifier Original: 20 minutes walk Suggested revision: a 20-minute walk Why it matters: A measured compound adjective is singular and hyphenated before the noun.
- 3. Correct damage preposition Original: on Suggested revision: to Why it matters: The noun “damage” takes the preposition “to” for the affected place.
- 4. Use natural certainty phrase Original: fully sure Suggested revision: certain Why it matters: “Fully sure” is not a natural collocation in this formal context.
- 5. Use natural prediction Original: problems must be aggravated Suggested revision: problems will worsen Why it matters: The active verb is clearer and more natural for a predicted deterioration.
- 6. Use natural conditional Original: plan is carried out Suggested revision: plan goes ahead Why it matters: This is the idiomatic expression for a proposal being implemented.
- 7. Correct capitalization Original: Increase Suggested revision: increase Why it matters: A common verb within the sentence should not begin with a capital letter.
- 8. Choose correct adjective Original: utterly distractive Suggested revision: extremely disruptive Why it matters: “Disruptive” accurately describes the effect of aircraft noise, while “distractive” is unnatural here.
- 9. Correct noise expression Original: such a big noise Suggested revision: so much noise Why it matters: “Noise” is uncountable when referring generally to aircraft sound.
- 10. Use standard modifier Original: late hour flights Suggested revision: late-night flights Why it matters: The compound adjective “late-night” naturally describes flights operating at that time.
- 11. Correct diagnosis phrase Original: diagnosed as Insomnia Suggested revision: diagnosed with insomnia Why it matters: A patient is diagnosed “with” a condition, whose common noun is lowercase.
- 12. Use formal time word Original: the other day Suggested revision: recently Why it matters: “Recently” is more suitable for the formal register of this letter.
Suggested Rewrites
- Dear Sir/Madam, Dear Sir or Madam,
- 20 minutes walk a 20-minute walk
- on to
- fully sure certain
- problems must be aggravated problems will worsen
- plan is carried out plan goes ahead
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter is strongest in its clear progression from the writer's location to specific concerns about aircraft noise, health, and loss of playground land, ending with a relevant request to the newspaper. The main weakness is inaccurate word choice and grammar in several prominent phrases, which makes the formal message less natural. The priority is to use standard collocations and correct request structures while preserving this focused organisation.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all bullet points are addressed, and the reasons for opposing the development are relevant and adequately explained.
Develop the likely impact of losing playground land more specifically so the second objection is as convincing as the noise complaint.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas are arranged in a clear logical sequence, with effective paragraphing and easy-to-follow progression between the two main objections.
Use less mechanical signposting and connect the concluding request more smoothly to the evidence presented.
Lexical Resource
The response uses some less common vocabulary, but several choices, including utterly distractive and diagnosed as Insomnia, are inaccurate or unnatural.
Prefer established combinations such as extremely distracting, diagnosed with insomnia, and publish an article about residents' concerns.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentences conveys the message clearly, although grammatical errors appear regularly.
Correct possessives and request patterns, especially within twenty minutes' walk and I would appreciate it if you could.
Write this task while it is fresh
Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.
IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are unhappy about a plan to make your local airport bigger and increase the number of flights. You live near the airport. Write a letter to your local newspaper. In your letter:
- Explain where you live
- Describe the problem
- Give reasons why you do not want this development.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.