You borrowed an important textbook during the last term from a classmate. You now realize your classmate has returned home overseas and you still have the book. Write a letter to him/her. In your letter: apologize for the mistake find out how important the book is to him/her say what you will do Dear...............,
Sample Response
Dear Francisco, How are you? I hope you had a safe journey back to Portugal. I'm writing this letter to apologize for not returning your book as promised. I really am sorry that I could not return the book "Advanced Introduction to Behavioral Economics" before you had travelled to your home country. I borrowed this book from you during the last term, and I'm indebted to you for lending me this book just before the term final exam. It was a great help. I intended to return it within a few days but to my bad, I totally forgot, which I deeply regret. I'm not quite sure if this book is still important to you. If so, just let me know, and I'll manage to send it to your address. I am ready to bear the courier cost. I can post it via express airmail immediately. Alternatively, I can send you some money so that you can buy it from your country. Please let me know what you want me to do. Please do write to me sometimes and stay fine. Warm wishes, Merrill
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Tense choice Original: before you had travelled Suggested revision: before you travelled Why it matters: Simple past is enough here.
- 2. Natural phrase Original: to your home country Suggested revision: back home Why it matters: This sounds more friendly.
- 3. Time phrase Original: during the last term Suggested revision: last term Why it matters: The article is unnecessary.
- 4. Natural phrase Original: term final exam Suggested revision: final exam of the term Why it matters: This is clearer.
- 5. Wrong idiom Original: to my bad Suggested revision: unfortunately Why it matters: This is not a standard English phrase.
- 6. Tone control Original: totally forgot Suggested revision: completely forgot Why it matters: This is slightly more polished.
- 7. Whether choice Original: not quite sure if Suggested revision: not quite sure whether Why it matters: “Whether” is better for a possibility.
- 8. Direct offer Original: I'll manage to send it Suggested revision: I will send it Why it matters: “Manage to” is unnecessary.
- 9. Precise phrase Original: to your address Suggested revision: to your current address Why it matters: This fits the overseas context.
- 10. Cost collocation Original: bear the courier cost Suggested revision: cover the courier cost Why it matters: Use the standard collocation.
- 11. Mailing phrase Original: post it via express airmail Suggested revision: send it by express airmail Why it matters: Use “send by”.
- 12. Preposition choice Original: buy it from your country Suggested revision: buy it in your country Why it matters: Use “in” for a place.
Suggested Rewrites
- before you had travelled before you travelled
- to your home country back home
- during the last term last term
- term final exam final exam of the term
- to my bad unfortunately
- totally forgot completely forgot
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter strongly addresses all bullets: apology, checking importance and offering return or replacement options.
Keep the relevant content, then revise the wording and organisation points highlighted in the essay comments.
Coherence and Cohesion
The progression is clear and logical, though paragraphing would make it easier to scan.
Use clearer paragraphing and smoother links so each bullet point is easy to follow.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is mostly natural, but a few phrases are non-idiomatic, such as “to my bad” and “bear the courier cost”.
Prefer natural collocations and precise topic vocabulary over overformal or translated-sounding phrases.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is mostly accurate, with minor tense, preposition and idiom issues.
Proofread tense, articles, prepositions and sentence boundaries before submitting.