Letter to a neighbour about late-night noise
This is a model answer written to show what a Band 7 response looks like against the marking criteria. It is a worked example, not a graded submission. To see your own band, paste your writing into the free checker.
The prompt
Your neighbour often plays loud music late at night, and it is disturbing you. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter:
- describe the problem and when it happens
- explain how the noise affects you
- suggest a solution that would suit you both
Band 7 model answer (154 words)
Dear Mrs Okafor,
I hope this note finds you well. I am writing about the music coming from your flat late at night, which has become difficult to live with.
Over the last few weeks, the music has continued past midnight on most weeknights, and because our bedrooms share a wall, the bass carries straight through. Last Tuesday it did not stop until nearly two in the morning.
As I leave for work at seven, the broken sleep is starting to affect me badly. I have been tired and unfocused during the day, and my daughter has struggled to rest properly before her school exams.
I completely understand wanting to relax with music in the evening, so could I suggest turning it down after eleven, or perhaps using headphones later at night? If it would help to talk about this in person, please do knock on my door any evening.
Kind regards,
Daniel Reid
Why this reaches Band 7
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Task Achievement
Each bullet gets a developed paragraph: when the noise happens (with the specific "Last Tuesday" example), how it affects the writer and his daughter, and a compromise that acknowledges the neighbour's side.
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Coherence and Cohesion
The purpose is stated in the first sentence and the letter builds logically to the request, with cause-and-effect links such as "because our bedrooms share a wall".
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Lexical Resource
Precise, measured wording like "the bass carries straight through" and "tired and unfocused", firm about the facts without becoming hostile.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good mix of structures, including the polite suggestion form "could I suggest turning it down", with accurate control throughout.
The one fix to reach Band 7
What usually holds this letter at Band 6 is a complaint with no way out: the writer vents but never proposes anything. The fix that reaches Band 7 is the third bullet, a specific compromise ("after eleven", "headphones") that shows the neighbour what to actually do.
Now check your own answer.
Paste your own attempt at this prompt and Examinerly names the single criterion keeping you below your target band, and shows the sentence-level fix. We never inflate your band.
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