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 seriousdeep concern about the proposed expansion of Toronto Airport, which would allow more flightswhich is set to increase the number of flights in our area. As an Ontario resident who livesa resident of Ontario, living just a few kilometres from the airport, I believe this development will bring serious consequencessignificant negative consequences for our community. I hopeI am hoping that you will report on the proposalpublish a news report about it and use your platformpromote a voice to stop the expansion of the airport.
The primary issue with this expansion is a further risethe inevitable rise in noise pollution. Currently, the sound of aircraft is already disruptive, especially during early mornings and late nights. Increasing the number of flights will only exacerbate this, affecting the sleep and well-being of thousands of residents. Furthermore, the additional air traffic will lead to higher levels of air pollution, posing health risks to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
From an environmental perspective, expanding the airport contradicts efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Instead of investing in larger airports, resources should be directed towards sustainable transport solutions. I urge local authorities to reconsider this plan and seek alternatives that prioritise community welfare over commercial interests. I hope you will include this in your report.
Yours faithfully,
James Weston
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter is a focused and persuasive response that clearly locates the writer near the airport, explains the existing disruption, and develops compelling health and environmental objections. Its progression, formal tone, and language control are consistently strong, with only an occasional slightly unnatural phrase. The best refinement would be to identify the local neighbourhood more precisely and replace the few awkward collocations.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter fully addresses the purpose and all bullet points with relevant, well-developed reasons in an appropriate formal register.
Name the specific neighbourhood rather than only Ontario to make the writer's location even more precise.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is logically sequenced across purposeful paragraphs, and cohesive devices guide the reader smoothly without becoming mechanical.
Reduce the slight repetition of the publication request at the beginning and end for an even tighter conclusion.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys the community, health, and environmental concerns effectively, with only rare awkward phrasing.
Replace 'promote a voice' with a more idiomatic expression such as 'give residents a platform' or 'raise public awareness'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately and naturally, with punctuation and agreement consistently well controlled.
Maintain this accuracy while tightening a few long sentences so emphasis remains as direct as possible.
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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.