You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think they should get a job. Write a letter to this friend. In your letter: - say they would not enjoy going to college - explain why getting a job is a good idea for them - suggest types of jobs that would be suitable for them
Sample Response
Hey Jenny, I was so glad to get your letter, and I totally get the dilemma you're facing about whether to go to college or start working. Let me share my thoughts with you. First, I have a hunch that college might not be your thing. You've always been more of a hands-on, practical learner, and I can't see you sitting in lectures and poring over textbooks for years. Though college can be a fantastic experience, it's not for everyone, and it's crucial to follow your own path. Getting a job now could be a great idea for you as it offers a chance to gain real-world experience, build skills, and figure out what you're passionate about. Plus, you could earn money and gain independenceyou'll be earning money and gaining independence, which is liberating. Given your friendly and outgoing personality, I think customer service jobs like working in a cafe, as a sales associate, or even in event planning could be a great start. These roles would let you interact with people and learn valuable communication skills Deletewhile earning a paycheck. Ultimately, the choice is yours, Jenny, and you should follow your gut. Just remember, there's no one-size-fits-all answer, and the important thing is finding what makes you happy and fulfilled. Catch up soon! [Your name]Warm regards,
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response is engaging, natural, and fully develops the advice with convincing reasons and suitable job suggestions. Its main limitation is presentation: the entire letter forms one continuous block and the closing lacks the writer's name, so dividing the ideas into purposeful paragraphs and completing the sign-off would make an already fluent response easier to follow and more convincingly letter-like.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter addresses every bullet point directly, develops relevant reasons and examples, and maintains an appropriately warm informal tone.
Make the final recommendation more decisive so it reinforces the stated view that taking a job is the better choice.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress clearly through college suitability, benefits of work, and appropriate job options, with cohesive links used naturally.
Divide the continuous block into distinct paragraphs for the three main ideas and place the closing on separate lines.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a wide and natural range of vocabulary, with precise informal expressions and effective job-related language.
Refine occasional broad wording by stating the specific kind of independence or benefit intended.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide variety of complex structures is used accurately and flexibly, with consistently clear meaning.
Polish the parallel structure in the list of suggested jobs so each option follows the same grammatical pattern.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think they should get a job. Write a letter to this friend. In your letter:
- say they would not enjoy going to college
- explain why getting a job is a good idea for them
- suggest types of jobs that would be suitable for them
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.