# Letter to the council about a school crossing: IELTS Writing Task 1 samples

Writing Task 1 - General Training - Community

The road outside a primary school in your area has become dangerous for children who need to cross it.

Write a letter to your local council. In your letter

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

You should say:
- describe the problem with the road
- explain why the situation has become worse recently
- suggest what the council should do

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 7 sample

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to ask the council to take action about the traffic on Station Road, outside Greenfield Primary School, where my two children study.

The main problem is that there is no safe place for children to cross the road. Cars often drive very fast, and because many parents park near the gate, it is difficult for drivers to see the children.

In the last few months the problem has become more serious. A new housing estate was built behind the school, so now much more people use this road to get to the town centre. Last week my daughter nearly got hit by a car while she was crossing with her friends.

I would suggest that the council puts a pedestrian crossing near the school entrance. It would also be helpful to put a sign that warns drivers about children, and perhaps a speed camera. I really think something needs to happen before somebody gets hurt.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Rahul Mehta

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 letter addresses all three bullets and gives a real example, the near-accident, to support the request. The organisation is clear, with one paragraph per bullet. The tone is mostly formal, but "nearly got hit" and "I really think something needs to happen" sound more spoken than written. "Much more people" is a noticeable error. A Band 8 letter would name exact times or speeds and present the suggestions in a more persuasive order.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-1/letter-to-council-about-dangerous-school-crossing).

## Common questions

### How many words should I write?

At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.