Email to building manager about noise (CLB 8)
Task prompt
Your upstairs neighbour plays loud music late at night several times per week. You have already spoken to the neighbour directly with no result. Write an email to your building manager explaining the situation, what you have already tried, and what you would like the manager to do.
Your task
Write a formal email to your building manager about a noise problem. Your email must:
- Describe the problem (frequency, timing)
- Mention your previous attempt to resolve it
- State clearly what you want the manager to do
- Keep a respectful, professional tone
Word count target: 140–180 words
Model answer (CLB 8)
Subject: Ongoing Noise Disturbance — Unit 12, 88 Birchwood Drive
Dear Ms. Farouq,
I am writing to bring a recurring noise issue to your attention. My upstairs neighbour in Unit 14 has been playing loud music after 11:00 p.m. on at least three nights per week for the past month, which has significantly disrupted my sleep and daily routine.
Approximately two weeks ago, I spoke to my neighbour directly and politely asked them to lower the volume after 10:00 p.m. While the music was quieter for a few days, the problem has returned to its original level.
I am hoping you can speak with the tenant in Unit 14 and remind them of the building’s quiet-hours policy. If the behaviour continues, I would also appreciate knowing the formal process for filing a noise complaint on record.
Thank you for looking into this matter.
Regards, David Osei Tenant, Unit 12
Why this scores CLB 8
| CLB Criterion | What this response does well |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Clear escalation: direct approach failed, now formal complaint |
| Detail | Frequency (“three nights per week”), duration (“past month”), timing (“after 11:00 p.m.”) |
| Organization | Problem → prior action → current request → formal process inquiry |
| Tone | Professional, non-aggressive — models mature conflict communication |
| Vocabulary | ”recurring,” “disrupted,” “quiet-hours policy,” “on record” |
| Grammar | Consistent tense control, subordinate clauses used correctly |
Common mistakes at CLB 6–7
| Weak version | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|
| ”My neighbour is very noisy. Please help.” | No timeline, no detail, no prior action mentioned |
| ”This neighbour is terrible and rude.” | Emotional, unprofessional — drops register score |
| Not mentioning prior attempt | Task specifically says to include this — omitting it loses task marks |
| ”I want you to kick them out.” | Unreasonable request; damages professional tone |
Examiner tip
At CLB 8, showing you already tried to solve the problem is not optional — the prompt specifically includes it. Examiners award marks for completeness. A response that skips one required element cannot score above CLB 7, no matter how well-written the rest is.