You arranged to visit a friend in Canada but an important event at home now means that you must change the dates of the visit. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - explain the important event - apologise for the situation - suggest a new arrangement
Sample Response
Dear Ana, How are things with you? I'm afraid something has come up here which will probably affect my visit to Canada. Last week I was chosen to play tennis for my regional team in a national tournament. It was completely unexpected. I'm sorry but this probably means that I won't be able to visit you for the first week of January, as we planned. I must stay here and practise until the tournament begins, later that month. I wonder if it is possible for me to visit you later in the year. I can take some time off in early March and my air ticket can be changed with no problem. Is March a possibility for you? Please write and let me know what your reaction is. I'm sure you realise that it's an honour to be selected to represent your region and so I don't want to miss this great opportunity. I hope you will understand. I'm looking forward to hearing from you, Best wishes, Fernanda
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add contrast comma Original: I'm sorry but Suggested revision: I'm sorry, but Why it matters: A comma is needed before the contrasting conjunction in this sentence.
- 2. Remove unnecessary comma Original: the tournament begins, later that month Suggested revision: the tournament begins later that month Why it matters: The comma incorrectly separates the verb from its time expression.
- 3. Use tentative form Original: is possible for me to visit you Suggested revision: would be possible for me to visit you Why it matters: The conditional form is more natural when proposing an alternative arrangement.
- 4. Use natural phrasing Original: my air ticket can be changed with no problem Suggested revision: I can change my air ticket without any problem Why it matters: The active phrasing expresses the practical arrangement more naturally.
- 5. Make request specific Original: what your reaction is Suggested revision: whether March works for you Why it matters: This wording asks directly and naturally about the proposed dates.
- 6. Correct the pronoun Original: your Suggested revision: my Why it matters: The writer is representing their own region, so the possessive pronoun must refer to the writer.
- 7. Remove redundant connector Original: and so I don't want Suggested revision: so I don't want Why it matters: Using both connectors is unnecessary because “so” already marks the result.
- 8. Separate the closing Original: you, Best wishes, Suggested revision: you. Best wishes, Why it matters: The final sentence needs a full stop before the separate complimentary close.
Suggested Rewrites
- I'm sorry but I'm sorry, but
- the tournament begins, later that month the tournament begins later that month
- is possible for me to visit you would be possible for me to visit you
- my air ticket can be changed with no problem I can change my air ticket without any problem
- what your reaction is whether March works for you
- your my
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter fully covers the changed plans, the reason, the apology, and a practical alternative while maintaining a natural, friendly tone. Its main limitation is presentation as one continuous block, alongside a couple of slightly awkward choices such as asking for the friend's ‘reaction’ and referring to ‘your region.’ The highest-priority improvement is to separate the event, apology, and new arrangement into clear paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, all three bullet points are fully addressed, and the friendly register suits the recipient.
Make the apology slightly more explicit before explaining the revised travel plan.
Coherence and Cohesion
The message progresses logically from the problem and its cause to the proposed March visit and request for confirmation.
Use distinct paragraphs for the event, the apology, and the replacement arrangement to make the structure easier to scan.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and generally natural, with effective phrases such as ‘take some time off’ and ‘great opportunity.’
Replace slightly awkward wording such as ‘what your reaction is’ with the more natural ‘whether March would suit you.’
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of simple and complex structures is controlled accurately, and errors are rare and non-impeding.
Refine punctuation around closing phrases and avoid the unnecessary comma before ‘later that month.’
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You arranged to visit a friend in Canada but an important event at home now means that you must change the dates of the visit. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- explain the important event
- apologise for the situation
- suggest a new arrangement
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.