You have just read an article in an international travel magazine which contained some information about your town that is incorrect. Write a letter to the editor of the magazine. In your letter: - correct the information in the article - explain why it is important for the magazine to give - correct information - suggest what the magazine should do about this situation
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam,
I recently came across an article in your magazine about Guanajuato, Mexico, and, while I appreciate the coverage of this beautiful colonial city, I noticed a factual inaccuracy that I would like to address.
The article mentioned that El Callejón del Beso (the Alley of the Kiss) is located in Mexico City, whereas it is actually a famous landmark in Guanajuato. This narrow alley, steeped in romantic legend, is a well-known attraction that draws visitors from all over the world.
It is crucial for a publication of your reputation to provide accurate information and fact-check every piece of information you provide, as many tourists rely on your content when planning their trips. No doubt that inaccurate details can lead to confusion, disappointment, and even a negative travel experience.
To rectify this, I kindly suggest that you publish a correction in your next issue or on your website, ensuring that readers receive the correct information. I believe this will maintain the magazine’s credibility and enhance its value to travellers.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours faithfully,
Alejandro Ramírez
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. State the reading directly Original: came across an article Suggested revision: read an article Why it matters: Read is more direct and precise when the letter responds to a specific article.
- 2. Keep the reference objective Original: coverage of this beautiful colonial city Suggested revision: coverage of Guanajuato Why it matters: Naming the town directly is more concise and avoids unnecessary evaluative wording.
- 3. Use precise reporting Original: mentioned Suggested revision: stated Why it matters: Stated is more precise for a factual claim printed in an article.
- 4. Use formal correction wording Original: actually a famous landmark Suggested revision: in fact a famous landmark Why it matters: In fact introduces the factual correction in a suitably formal way.
- 5. Use concise attraction wording Original: draws visitors from all over the world Suggested revision: attracts visitors from around the world Why it matters: Attracts is a concise verb for describing a tourist landmark's appeal.
- 6. Remove repeated information Original: provide accurate information and fact-check every piece of information you provide Suggested revision: publish accurate, thoroughly fact-checked information Why it matters: The revision avoids repeating provide and information while preserving the request for accuracy.
- 7. Complete the clause Original: No doubt that Suggested revision: There is no doubt that Why it matters: The expression requires an introductory subject and verb to form a complete clause.
- 8. Name the error directly Original: To rectify this Suggested revision: To correct this error Why it matters: The explicit noun makes the reference clearer for the editor.
- 9. Clarify the intended result Original: ensuring Suggested revision: so Why it matters: So that clearly introduces the purpose of publishing the correction.
- 10. Avoid absolute outcome Original: this will maintain Suggested revision: this will help maintain Why it matters: Help maintain appropriately presents the correction as one action supporting credibility.
Suggested Rewrites
- came across an article read an article
- coverage of this beautiful colonial city coverage of Guanajuato
- mentioned stated
- actually a famous landmark in fact a famous landmark
- draws visitors from all over the world attracts visitors from around the world
- provide accurate information and fact-check every piece of information you provide publish accurate, thoroughly fact-checked information
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter is precise, persuasive, and professionally organised: it clearly corrects the landmark's location, explains the consequences of inaccurate travel information, and proposes practical corrections in print and online. Its strongest feature is the measured formal tone supported by specific local detail. The only notable limitation is a minor sentence fragment and slight repetition; prioritise polishing these small language points while preserving the concise structure.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is fully achieved, all required points are convincingly developed, and the formal tone is consistently appropriate for an editor.
Add the article's issue date or title so the editor can identify and correct the inaccurate item immediately.
Coherence and Cohesion
Focused paragraphs create a seamless progression from identifying the error to explaining its importance and proposing a remedy.
Remove the small repetition of 'accurate information' to make the already strong progression even more economical.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is flexible, precise, and well suited to formal editorial correspondence, with effective terms such as 'factual inaccuracy', 'rectify', and 'credibility'.
Vary the repeated word 'information' with 'details', 'content', or 'reporting' where appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, with only one minor fragment and no loss of clarity.
Change 'No doubt that inaccurate details can lead' to the complete form 'There is no doubt that inaccurate details can lead'.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have just read an article in an international travel magazine which contained some information about your town that is incorrect. Write a letter to the editor of the magazine. In your letter:
- correct the information in the article
- explain why it is important for the magazine to give
- correct information
- suggest what the magazine should do about this situation
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.