A friend you met last year has invited you to visit them in their country. You have never been there before and need some information before you leave. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - request advice about a gift for his/her family - ask about activities and clothing - find out about the food
Sample Response
Dear Robert,
Hi there, I hope you’re enjoying your college year. Thanks very much for asking me to come and visit you in Singapore. As you know, I haven’t travelled to Asia before, so I though I’d write and ask you a few questions.
I want to bring a present with me and I wondered what would be appropriate. Perhaps you could let me know what your mum’s hobbies are and then I could come up with an idea based on one of them.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct spelling Original: though Suggested revision: thought Why it matters: The past-tense verb is misspelled here.
- 2. Ask about plans Suggested revision: Add a paragraph asking what activities are planned and what clothing you should bring. Why it matters: The response does not address the activities-and-clothing bullet point.
- 3. Ask about food Suggested revision: Add a separate question about the food you can expect during the visit. Why it matters: The response omits the required request for information about food.
Suggested Rewrites
- though thought
- Ask about plans Add a paragraph asking what activities are planned and what clothing you should bring.
- Ask about food Add a separate question about the food you can expect during the visit.
Why this response received Band 6.0
The response’s strongest feature is its natural, friendly tone and generally clear, controlled language, especially when asking about a suitable family gift. Its major limitation is that it stops after only 84 words and omits the required questions about activities, clothing, and food. The highest priority is to complete the letter by covering each missing bullet with specific questions and adding an appropriate closing.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear and the gift request is developed, but two of the three required bullet points are entirely missing and the letter is substantially under length.
Add specific questions about planned activities, suitable clothing, and local food, then finish with an appropriate closing.
Coherence and Cohesion
The greeting, introduction, and gift paragraph follow a clear sequence, although the incomplete response prevents a fully developed progression.
Organise the missing content into logically ordered paragraphs and link each request smoothly to the visit.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for a friendly letter, with effective phrases such as “come up with an idea,” despite the limited sample of language.
Extend the letter with precise vocabulary for activities, weather, clothing, and food while maintaining the same natural tone.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A useful range of simple and complex structures is mostly controlled, with the misspelling “though” for “thought” as the main noticeable lapse.
Proofread verb forms and spelling carefully after completing the letter, particularly in complex sentences.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
A friend you met last year has invited you to visit them in their country. You have never been there before and need some information before you leave. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- request advice about a gift for his/her family
- ask about activities and clothing
- find out about the food
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.