IELTS · Guide 16 · 8 min read
IELTS General Training Task 1 sample answers: formal letter to a council
An IELTS General Training formal letter about a bus route closure, with answers at bands 8, 6.5 and 5 and commentary on tone and all four criteria.
How to use this worked session
This page takes one formal letter task from General Training Writing Task 1 and shows three answers at different levels, with comments on what lifted or limited each one. Write your own letter first in 20 minutes, aiming for at least 150 words, then compare.
The task
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Your local council has announced that a bus route used by many people in your area will stop running next month.
Write a letter to the council. In your letter:
- explain how you and other people use this bus route
- describe the problems that stopping it would cause
- suggest what the council could do instead
Write at least 150 words. Do not write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
What the task is really asking
- You are writing to an organisation you do not know, so the tone is formal. "Dear Sir or Madam" goes with "Yours faithfully".
- There are three points. Each needs its own paragraph and enough detail to be convincing.
- The purpose is persuasive but polite: you want the council to change its decision.
Strong response (around band 8)
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing in response to the council's recent announcement that the number 14 bus service between Hollin Park and the town centre will be withdrawn from the start of next month. As a resident of Hollin Park for over ten years, I would like to explain why this decision would cause considerable hardship. The route is far more widely used than its passenger figures might suggest. I take it every weekday to reach my office, and on most mornings the bus is full of students heading to the college and older residents travelling to the health centre on Market Street. For many of these passengers, there is simply no practical alternative. If the service ends, the nearest bus stop will be more than a mile away, along a busy road with no proper pavement for much of its length. Elderly and disabled residents in particular are likely to become isolated, and I suspect that more people will drive into town, adding to congestion and parking problems. If cost is the main concern, I would urge the council to consider reducing the frequency of the service, perhaps to one bus an hour outside peak times, rather than withdrawing it entirely. Alternatively, a smaller vehicle could be used during quieter periods. I would be grateful if you could take these points into account before a final decision is made. Yours faithfully, Daniel Okafor
Commentary
- Task Achievement: The purpose is clear in the first sentence. All three points are covered fully, each in its own paragraph, with convincing details (who uses the bus, where the next stop is, why the walk is unsafe). Two practical suggestions are offered. The tone is formal and firm but never rude, and "Yours faithfully" correctly matches "Dear Sir or Madam".
- Coherence and Cohesion: One paragraph per bullet point, framed by an opening and a polite closing request. Linking is natural ("For many of these passengers", "If cost is the main concern", "Alternatively"), and each paragraph builds on the last.
- Lexical Resource: Formal vocabulary used precisely: "withdrawn", "considerable hardship", "no practical alternative", "become isolated", "I would urge", "take these points into account". There is no slang and no forced, over-formal language.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A range of structures, including conditionals, passives ("will be withdrawn", "could be used"), participle clauses ("heading to the college", "adding to congestion") and polite modals ("I would be grateful if you could"). No noticeable errors.
What kept it from the top band: very little; a brief mention of how many people use the route, even as an estimate, would make the case even stronger.
Pass-level response (around band 6.5)
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing about the decision to stop the number 14 bus from next month. I live in Hollin Park and I use this bus very often, so I am very worried about this news. I use the bus every day to go to work in the town centre. Also, many other people in my area use it, for example students who go to college and old people who need to visit the doctor. In the morning the bus is always busy. If the bus stops, it will cause a lot of problems. The next bus stop is very far from our homes, and it is difficult for old people to walk there, especially in winter. Also, more people will use their cars, so there will be more traffic in the town centre and it will be hard to find parking. I understand that the council need to save money. However, I would suggest to keep the bus but with less buses in the day, for example one bus every hour. This would be better than stopping it completely. I hope you will think again about this decision. Yours faithfully, Daniel Okafor
Commentary
- Task Achievement: All three points are covered and the purpose is clear. The tone is mostly appropriate, though "I am very worried about this news" and "old people" sound slightly informal for a letter to a council. Details are relevant but general: "very far" is less persuasive than a distance.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Clearly organised, one paragraph per point. "Also" starts two sentences, and "very" is used five times, which makes the letter feel repetitive.
- Lexical Resource: Adequate for the purpose, but mostly everyday words ("stop the bus", "think again"). Errors: "less buses" (should be "fewer buses") and "suggest to keep" (should be "suggest keeping" or "suggest that the council keeps").
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: A sensible range, with conditionals and a polite "I would suggest". Most sentences are correct; the errors above are noticeable but do not block meaning.
What would lift it: replace everyday words with more formal equivalents ("elderly residents", "reconsider", "withdraw"), give one precise detail per point, and check "fewer/less" and verb patterns after "suggest".
Weaker response (around band 5)
Dear Sir or Madam, I'm writing because I hear you will stop the bus number 14 and I'm really angry about it!!! This is a very bad decision. I am using this bus every day for go to my work. My neighbours also use it and the students and old people. The bus is always full in the morning so I don't understand why you want stop it. If you stop the bus we will have big problem. We must walk very far to the other bus stop and the road is dangerous. Old people can not walk so far. Also I will must take a taxi and it is very expensive for me. Maybe I will lose my job if I am late every day. Please don't do this. You must find other way to save money, not stop our bus. Maybe you can make the ticket more expensive a little. Thanks a lot, Daniel
Commentary
- Task Achievement: All three points are touched on, but the tone is wrong for a formal letter: contractions, exclamation marks, "I'm really angry" and "Please don't do this" sound like a complaint to a friend. The suggestion is underdeveloped. "Thanks a lot" and a first name only do not match "Dear Sir or Madam". The letter is close to the minimum length.
- Coherence and Cohesion: The paragraphs follow the three points, which helps. Within them, ideas are added with "and" and "Also" rather than linked, and the jump from the taxi to losing a job is not explained.
- Lexical Resource: Simple, informal vocabulary, with errors such as "for go to my work" and "more expensive a little". There is little sense of formal register.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Mostly simple sentences. Errors include the present continuous for a habit ("I am using this bus every day"), "want stop", "will must" and missing articles ("big problem", "other way").
What would lift it: remove contractions and exclamation marks, express strong feelings politely ("I was concerned to learn ..."), close with "Yours faithfully" and a full name, and develop the suggestion with a reason.
The three answers side by side
| Feature | Band 8 | Band 6.5 | Band 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three points covered | Fully, with detail | Yes, general detail | Yes, thinly |
| Tone | Formal, firm and polite | Mostly formal | Informal and emotional |
| Opening and closing | Correct pair, full name | Correct pair, full name | Mismatched, first name only |
| Vocabulary | Precise formal register | Everyday, some errors | Informal, frequent errors |
| Grammar | Wide range, accurate | Some range, a few errors | Mostly simple, many errors |
Self-check checklist
- Is the purpose of my letter clear within the first two sentences?
- Have I covered all three points, each in its own paragraph?
- Have I given at least one specific detail for each point?
- Is my tone formal throughout: no contractions, slang or exclamation marks?
- Does my closing match my opening ("Dear Sir or Madam" with "Yours faithfully")?
- Have I expressed disagreement firmly but politely?
- Have I checked verb patterns ("suggest keeping", "need to go") and "fewer/less"?
- Is my letter at least 150 words?
About the band levels
The band levels on this page are our own estimates for practice purposes. They are not official scores and are not produced or endorsed by any IELTS partner. Only a certified examiner marking a real test can give you an official band.