There is an ongoing problem with a garden that you share with a neighbour. Write a letter to this neighbour about the situation.
This letter has to raise a genuine grievance with someone the writer will keep living next to, so the tone has to stay firm but neighbourly.
The question
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
There is an ongoing problem with a garden that you share with a neighbour. Write a letter to this neighbour about the situation.
In your letter,
describe the problem with the shared garden
explain how the problem is affecting you
suggest what should be done to resolve it, including how any costs should be shared
You do not need to write your own address. Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Mr Delaney,
Write at least 150 words.
What this letter needs
What makes this scenario tricky is the ongoing relationship: unlike a one-off complaint to a company, this is a neighbour the writer will see every day, so the letter has to describe real frustration, such as destroyed plants and a damaged fence, without sounding confrontational, and then propose a practical, fair solution, such as splitting a repair cost, that keeps the relationship on good terms.
Structure
Salutation — Dear Mr/Ms [Surname], — a neighbour you know well enough to name, addressed directly rather than via a formal notice.
Opening — Explain that you want to raise a couple of issues with the garden you share.
Body 1 — Describe the dog digging up the garden and the damage this has caused.
Body 2 — Describe the loose fence and explain why it now feels like a safety issue, not just cosmetic.
Body 3 — Suggest two practical solutions — keeping the dog contained and splitting the repair cost.
Closing — Invite them to share their thoughts, keeping the tone cooperative since you will remain neighbours.
Model answers
Band 6.0 model answer
172 words
Dear Mr Delaney,
I hope you are well. I am writing about a couple of small problems with the garden that we share between our two houses.
Over the last few weeks, I have noticed that your dog has been digging holes on my side of the garden, especially near the flower beds, and some of the plants I grew this spring have now been destroyed. I also noticed that the fence between our properties has come loose in two places, probably from the dog pushing against it, and it might fall down completely if it is not fixed soon.
This has been quite frustrating, given the time I spent on the garden this year, and the fence is also a safety concern.
Would it be possible for you to keep the dog on your side of the garden, perhaps by using a lead when he is outside? I would also like to suggest that we share the cost of repairing the fence, since we both use it.
Yours sincerely, [Your Name]
Why this is Band 6.0
Covers all three points but plainly, describing the problems as a simple list: 'your dog has been digging holes... I also noticed that the fence...'
Vocabulary is basic, e.g. 'quite frustrating' and 'a safety concern' used without much elaboration.
The proposed solution is present but brief: 'I would also like to suggest that we share the cost of repairing the fence.'
Sentences are short and mostly joined with 'and', with limited variety in structure.
Band 7.0 model answer
188 words
Dear Mr Delaney,
I hope you are keeping well. I am writing about a couple of issues that have come up recently with the garden shared between our two properties.
Over the past few weeks, your dog has taken to digging holes on my side of the garden, particularly around the flower beds, and several of the plants I put in this spring have unfortunately been destroyed as a result. I have also noticed that the fence dividing our gardens has come loose in two places, which I suspect is from the dog leaning against it, and I am a little concerned it could give way entirely if it isn't addressed soon.
This has been rather frustrating, given how much time I invested in the garden this year, and the state of the fence is also becoming something of a safety concern.
Would you be able to keep the dog on your side of the garden, perhaps by using a lead while he is outside? I would also suggest that we split the cost of repairing the fence, since it benefits both households equally.
Yours sincerely, [Your Name]
Why this is Band 7.0
Content is fully covered and logically grouped, with the dog problem and the fence problem given separate, well-developed paragraphs.
Uses less common vocabulary accurately, such as 'taken to digging' and 'give way entirely'.
Mixes sentence types, e.g. 'which I suspect is from the dog leaning against it, and I am a little concerned it could give way entirely if it isn't addressed soon' links cause and consequence smoothly.
Register stays consistently polite and neighbourly, softened with phrases like 'Would you be able to' rather than a direct demand.
Band 8.5 model answer
204 words
Dear Mr Delaney,
I hope you're keeping well. I wanted to raise a couple of issues that have cropped up recently with the garden our two houses share.
Over the past few weeks, your dog has developed a habit of digging holes on my side of the garden, particularly around the flower beds, and several of this spring's plants have sadly not survived as a result. I have also noticed that the dividing fence has worked loose in two places, most likely from the dog leaning against it, and I am somewhat concerned it may come down altogether if it isn't seen to soon.
I don't mind admitting this has been a little frustrating, given the time I put into the garden this year, and the fence, beyond the plants, is starting to feel like a genuine safety issue rather than just an eyesore.
Would you be able to keep him on your side, perhaps with a lead while he's out? I'd also suggest we split the cost of repairing the fence, since we both rely on it equally, and I'm happy to get a couple of quotes from local handymen if that would make things easier on your end.
Yours sincerely, [Your Name]
Why this is Band 8.5
Content covered with real precision — the safety concern about the fence gets the most careful development: 'starting to feel like a genuine safety issue rather than just an eyesore.'
Idiomatic, natural phrasing throughout, such as 'I don't mind admitting' and 'while he's out.'
Handles complex grammar with no strain, e.g. the long sentence combining the dog's habit, its effect and a hedge ('most likely from the dog leaning against it') in one controlled structure.
Precise vocabulary with no padding: 'developed a habit of', 'somewhat concerned' and 'rely on it equally' are all used accurately.
Closes with a genuinely warm, practical offer, 'I'm happy to get a couple of quotes from local handymen', that reflects a real ongoing neighbourly relationship.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.
This is a semi-formal letter question. The answers above show you what each band looks like when it is finished. What they cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in twenty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the letter is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Answers checked here may be published on this page, without your name, to help other learners. Nothing else about you is stored.
Common questions
How do I complain about a neighbour's pet without sounding overly critical of them personally?
Focus on the dog's behaviour and its effect, not the neighbour's character — for example describing that the dog 'has taken to digging holes' rather than suggesting the neighbour is careless or a bad pet owner.
Should I offer to pay for the fence repair myself to keep the peace?
No — since the fence is shared and used by both properties, proposing to 'split the cost of repairing the fence' is fairer and is exactly the kind of balanced solution this task is looking for.
How do I make the safety concern about the fence sound serious without being alarmist?
State the practical risk plainly, as in noting it 'could give way entirely if it isn't addressed soon', and let the fact speak for itself rather than adding dramatic language on top of it.
Is it okay to end the letter with a slightly informal sign-off, given the neighbour isn't a stranger?
The salutation and 'Yours sincerely,' close should stay standard for a semi-formal letter, but the body itself can use a warmer, more conversational tone, such as contractions like 'I'd also suggest' or 'he's out', to reflect the closer relationship.
