Letter to a neighbour about their dog
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's dog often barks at night and has been leaving a mess in the shared garden. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter:
- explain the problems the dog is causing
- describe how this is affecting you
- suggest what your neighbour could do about it
Band 7 model answer (168 words)
Dear Mr Patel,
I hope you are well. I am writing about your dog, Bruno, because a couple of problems have come up recently that I wanted to raise with you directly.
Over the past month, Bruno has been barking for long periods late at night, often well after midnight. He has also been leaving a mess on the shared lawn behind our houses, which I have twice had to clean up before my children could play there.
The barking is the bigger issue for us. My husband starts work at six, and the broken sleep is leaving him exhausted, while the mess means we can no longer let the children use the garden freely.
Could I suggest keeping Bruno indoors after ten in the evening and checking the lawn each morning? Perhaps a dog walker could also help while you are at work. I am sure we can sort this out easily, and I would be happy to talk it over any time.
Kind regards,
Rachel Moore
Why this reaches Band 7
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Task Achievement
All three bullets are covered and developed: the barking and the mess, the concrete effect on the family ("the broken sleep is leaving him exhausted"), and two workable suggestions plus the offer of a dog walker.
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Coherence and Cohesion
The letter moves cleanly from problem to impact to solution, and phrases such as "The barking is the bigger issue for us" prioritise the points rather than just listing them.
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Lexical Resource
Natural semi-formal phrasing like "raise with you directly", "sort this out easily" and "talk it over", which stays polite without turning stiff.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Controlled complex sentences, including the relative clause "which I have twice had to clean up", and a consistent tone from the named greeting to "Kind regards".
The one fix to reach Band 7
A Band 6 version of this letter usually sounds either accusing or apologetic. The single change that lifts it to Band 7 is tone control: state the problem plainly, show the effect, and offer a solution, all in the same calm, neighbourly register.
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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