You are going on a short training course at a college in Green mount, Northern Ireland. You need somewhere to live while you are there. Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In your letter: - explain your situation - describe the accommodation you require - say when you will need it You should write at least words.
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam,
Greetings of the day! I, Jenny Jackson, student ID – ILT-6556, am writing this letter in order to request you to arrange a lodging facility for me, as I have enrolled for the Irish Language training course for a month only in St. Xavier’s College, Greenmount, Northern Island.
At the onset, let me share with you the specifics about my stay. Although the duration of my course is short, I wanted to reside alone without any interference, so that I can dedicate time to my studies. Additionally, as this language course is a mandatory criterion to be fulfilled in my further degree course, I aim to get good grades without any distraction.
Further, I humbly request if you can please be able to provide a single furnished room with a kitchenette and attached bathroom. I do not mind if the accommodation is on any floor, provided if it is secured and within a walking distance from my college.
Finally, this is to inform you that my course will commence on April 2nd, 2021. However, to get settled and acquainted with the college premises, I will arrive on 31st March and continue my stay till 5th May 2021. While finalizing the housing facilities, I will be thankful if you can please attach the pictures as well as other required details in your email. You can also reach me at +44 714 2346489.
I hope you will consider the plight and reply as soon as possible.
With regards,
Jenny Jackson
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Complete noun phrase Original: student ID – Suggested revision: student ID number Why it matters: The noun phrase needs 'number' to introduce the identifier naturally.
- 2. Fix request structure Original: request you to arrange Suggested revision: request that you arrange Why it matters: Use a that-clause after 'request' in this formal construction.
- 3. Use natural term Original: a lodging facility Suggested revision: accommodation Why it matters: 'Accommodation' is the more natural term for the housing being requested.
- 4. Improve word order Original: for a month only Suggested revision: for only one month Why it matters: This placement of 'only' makes the duration clearer and more natural.
- 5. Correct preposition Original: in Suggested revision: at Why it matters: Use 'at' when referring to enrolment at an institution.
- 6. Correct place name Original: Island Suggested revision: Ireland Why it matters: The location named in the task is Northern Ireland.
- 7. Correct fixed phrase Original: onset Suggested revision: outset Why it matters: 'At the outset' is the appropriate expression for introducing details.
- 8. Use natural wording Original: I wanted to reside alone without any interference Suggested revision: I would like to live alone without interruptions Why it matters: This wording expresses the current preference more naturally and precisely.
- 9. Clarify course requirement Original: a mandatory criterion to be fulfilled in my further degree course Suggested revision: a mandatory requirement for my future degree course Why it matters: The original phrase is wordy and uses 'further' imprecisely for the future course.
- 10. Use plural noun Original: distraction Suggested revision: distractions Why it matters: The countable noun is more naturally plural after 'without any' here.
- 11. Fix conjunction Original: if Suggested revision: that Why it matters: The condition should be introduced by 'provided that', not 'provided if'.
- 12. Choose correct adjective Original: secured Suggested revision: secure Why it matters: 'Secure' describes a safe property, whereas 'secured' suggests that an action has been performed.
Suggested Rewrites
- student ID – student ID number
- request you to arrange request that you arrange
- a lodging facility accommodation
- for a month only for only one month
- in at
- Island Ireland
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter’s strongest feature is its thorough coverage of the accommodation request, with clear dates and specific room preferences presented in a logical sequence. Its main limitation is a pattern of awkward or overly formal phrasing that sometimes makes the tone sound unnatural. The highest-priority improvement is to use simpler, more idiomatic request language while retaining the useful supporting detail.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are covered, and relevant details about the course, room, and dates are supplied.
Maintain the formal register while replacing melodramatic or unnecessary details with a more direct request for accommodation information.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically through the situation, accommodation requirements, and dates, with effective paragraphing.
Use fewer formulaic transitions such as ‘At the onset,’ ‘Further,’ and ‘Finally’ so the progression feels more natural.
Lexical Resource
The letter shows a good range of vocabulary, but several collocations and word choices are unnatural or imprecise.
Prefer idiomatic choices such as ‘accommodation,’ ‘secure,’ and ‘walking distance of the college’ over awkward formal expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates meaning clearly, though recurring errors reduce grammatical precision.
Review request and condition structures, especially forms such as ‘I would be grateful if you could’ and ‘provided it is secure.’
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are going on a short training course at a college in Green mount, Northern Ireland. You need somewhere to live while you are there. Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In your letter:
- explain your situation
- describe the accommodation you require
- say when you will need it You should write at least words.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.