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 or Madam, I am writing to express my disagreement with the decision to expand the Miami International Airport as it has many detrimental consequences. My home is situated on Callos street - next to the airport, and I am hoping that you would publish an editorial to protest the development. The residents are constantly confronted with the noise and turbulence problems, created by the flights arriving and departing the airport. This is a significant issue as a major part of our population comprises young school children. The nuisance does not allow the old people a peaceful night either. Moreover, the commotion caused by the flight sometimes results in cracks or even broken glass doors and house cabinets. Now given the situation, I believe that Miami is not among the front line airports of the country and there is a restriction imposed by the government on the number of flights operated daily. I would like to plea to the president an obstruction on this plan because an expansion of the airport will aggravate the problems in our community. An increase in the number of flights will cause more turbulence and nuisance, which is explicit. I am not against any development in our country and I believe it would be ideal if the authority could come up with an alternate approach to this issue. Last but not least, I would request your editorial section to publish a report on this moot issue. In anticipation of your favourable action. Yours faithfully, Jones Nathan
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove unnecessary article Original: the Miami International Airport Suggested revision: Miami International Airport Why it matters: This proper airport name does not normally take the definite article.
- 2. Capitalise street name Original: street Suggested revision: Street Why it matters: The street-type word is capitalised when it forms part of a specific address.
- 3. Use suitable tense Original: would Suggested revision: will Why it matters: 'Will' is appropriate for the hoped-for future action in this direct request.
- 4. Clarify editorial stance Original: to protest the development Suggested revision: opposing the development Why it matters: This wording states the requested position of the editorial more naturally.
- 5. Use accurate local effect Original: noise and turbulence problems Suggested revision: noise and vibration Why it matters: 'Vibration' describes a physical disturbance experienced by nearby residents more accurately than 'turbulence'.
- 6. Add required prepositions Original: arriving and departing the airport Suggested revision: arriving at and departing from the airport Why it matters: The verbs require 'at' and 'from' when used with the airport.
- 7. Use precise proportion Original: a major part of our population Suggested revision: a large proportion of local residents Why it matters: This phrase describes the affected community more naturally and precisely.
- 8. Remove redundancy Original: young school children Suggested revision: schoolchildren Why it matters: 'Schoolchildren' already conveys that the residents are children.
- 9. Use respectful term Original: the old people Suggested revision: older residents Why it matters: This is a more respectful and context-specific reference to the affected group.
- 10. Fix number agreement Original: the flight sometimes results Suggested revision: flights sometimes result Why it matters: The general repeated cause requires a plural noun and matching verb.
- 11. Use natural collocation Original: house Suggested revision: household Why it matters: 'Household cabinets' is the more natural noun combination in this context.
- 12. Remove redundant linker Original: Now given the situation Suggested revision: Given the situation Why it matters: Using both 'now' and 'given' creates an unnecessary double transition.
Suggested Rewrites
- the Miami International Airport Miami International Airport
- street Street
- would will
- to protest the development opposing the development
- noise and turbulence problems noise and vibration
- arriving and departing the airport arriving at and departing from the airport
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter establishes the writer's location and objection clearly, supports the complaint with several effects on local residents, and uses a suitably formal tone. Its impact is weakened by a dense single-paragraph structure and by several imprecise or unnatural expressions that make parts of the argument less convincing. Prioritise clear paragraphing and more accurate wording when explaining the consequences and proposed action.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The location, existing problems, and reasons for opposing expansion are all addressed with relevant supporting detail and a clear request to the newspaper.
Keep the reasoning focused by clarifying or removing the confusing reference to airport status, government restrictions, and a plea to the president.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument has a recognisable progression, but it is presented in one long paragraph and the middle section shifts between points somewhat unevenly.
Group the location, current effects, consequences of expansion, and requested newspaper action into separate paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The letter demonstrates a broad vocabulary, but frequent imprecise collocations such as "turbulence problems," "front line airports," and "plea to the president an obstruction" reduce clarity.
Choose simpler, accurate phrases such as "aircraft noise and vibration," "major airports," and "appeal to the authorities to block the plan."
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex sentences is used with generally clear meaning, although agreement, article, modifier, and sentence-completion errors remain noticeable.
Proofread clause boundaries and agreement, including "flights sometimes cause" and a complete closing sentence instead of "In anticipation of your favourable action."
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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.