ICSE · Class 10 · Formal letter
Question. The street lights in your locality have not worked for a month and the road is unsafe after dark. Write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner asking for them to be repaired.
22, Hill View Colony,
Kankanady,
Mangaluru — 575002.
3rd November 2026
The Municipal Commissioner,
Mangaluru City Corporation,
Lalbagh, Mangaluru — 575003.
Dear Sir,
Subject: I am writing to complain that the street lights in our colony are not working.
I hope you are doing well. I am a resident of Hill View Colony and a student of Class 10.
The street lights on our main road have not worked for over a month. It's very dark after 7 pm and people don't feel safe walking. Last week an elderly neighbour fell near the temple because she couldn't see a pothole. Many students come back from tuition late and there parents are worried. We have called the ward office twice but nobody has come.
I request you to kindly look into this matter and get the lights repaired as soon as possible so that the residents can walk safely again. We will be very thankful to you.
Yours sincerely,
Ananya Rao
A sample answer written by our team to look like a typical first attempt,
mistakes included. The marking beside it is exactly what our marker
returned on 25 September 2026.
6.5/ 10
A well-structured complaint covering all necessary points, though it loses marks on format pairing, subject line style, and informal contractions.
Band by band
Format1/2
Lost marks for using 'Yours sincerely' after 'Dear Sir', a full-sentence subject line, and missing comma after the year in the date.
Content3.5/4
Covers the duration, specific safety risks like the elderly neighbour's fall, and previous complaints clearly.
Expression and organisation1.5/3
Tone slips into chatty informal greetings ('I hope you are doing well') and uses informal contractions.
Accuracy0.5/1
Contains grammatical errors such as homophone confusion ('there' instead of 'their') and multiple contractions.
Format checklist
- ✓ Sender's address — Correctly laid out on three lines with appropriate punctuation.
- ✓ Date — Missing comma after the month: write '3rd November, 2026.'
- ✓ Receiver's address — Designation, organization, and location clearly stated with correct punctuation.
- ✓ Salutation — Correctly written as 'Dear Sir,'.
- ✗ Subject — Incorrectly framed as a full sentence rather than a concise phrase.
- ✓ Body — three paragraphs — Organised into three distinct paragraphs outlining purpose, details, and request.
- ✗ Complimentary close — Must use 'Yours faithfully,' when opening with 'Dear Sir,'.
- ✓ Signature and name — Full name provided; remember to leave room for a signature.
Line by line
Subject: I am writing to complain that the street lights in our colony are not working.
Subject: Complaint regarding non-functioning street lights in Hill View Colony.
Keep the subject line a concise noun phrase under ten words.
I hope you are doing well.
I am writing to draw your attention to a civic grievance.
Omit informal, chatty openings in formal official correspondence.
It's very dark after 7 pm and people don't feel safe walking.
It is very dark after 7 pm and people do not feel safe walking.
Avoid contractions in formal writing.
Next time
- Always match 'Dear Sir / Madam' with 'Yours faithfully,'—reserve 'Yours sincerely,' strictly for named recipients.
- Draft the subject line as a brief phrase (e.g., 'Complaint regarding...') rather than a full conversational sentence.
- Eliminate all conversational pleasantries and informal contractions to maintain a crisp, formal register.
