IELTS General Task 1: Letter to a Newspaper Opposing a New Building

IELTS Writing Practice — AI-Powered Feedback

Writing Prompt

A large office building is going to be constructed on an area of open land close to where you live, and you feel strongly that it is the wrong decision.

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. In your letter:

explain how the piece of open land is currently used by the community
describe the problems you think the new building would create
suggest what should be done with the land instead

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,

Show Band 8–9 model answer

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the proposed construction of a large office building on the open land beside Maple Avenue.

At present, this field serves as the only accessible green space in our neighbourhood. Local families use it daily for informal football matches, dog walking and children’s play. In summer, community barbecues and charity fun-runs are held there, and the small wildflower area, planted by volunteers, has become a valuable habitat for bees and butterflies as well as an outdoor classroom for the nearby primary school.

Replacing this shared space with a large office complex would, in my view, create several serious problems. Firstly, it would generate heavy traffic on already congested residential streets, increasing noise and air pollution. Secondly, the building would overlook adjacent houses, reducing privacy and blocking natural light. Finally, the loss of greenery would further erode residents’ mental well-being and children’s opportunities for safe, outdoor play.

Instead of offices, I strongly urge the council to designate the site as a protected community park, with simple facilities such as benches, a small playground and a properly maintained sports field. This would preserve a vital public amenity while still requiring minimal investment.

Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]

Why this response works

This response addresses all three bullet points fully and clearly, explaining current community use, anticipated problems, and a practical alternative. The tone and format are appropriate for a formal letter to a newspaper editor. Ideas are logically organised with clear paragraphing and effective cohesion. Lexical resource is varied and precise (e.g. “accessible green space”, “overlook adjacent houses”, “designate the site as a protected community park”) with natural collocations. Grammar is accurate with a mix of complex structures and few, if any, noticeable errors. The word count fits the recommended range, making this a strong high-band sample.