You have enrolled in an evening course, but you have found that you are too busy to continue and would like to take the course next term instead. Write a letter to you, teacher. In your letter: - Explain the situation and why you cannot continue the course - Say what you would like to do about your studies? - Ask for a device about what you can do about the situation?
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam,
I have been pursuing an evening language course in your Trinity College for 3 months; but, now I feel incapable of continuing it due to my hectic schedule, and I would like to continue it in the next term in autumn, and for this, I am seeking your permission.
Let me explain the reason for discontinuing the course. Recently, I have been appointed as a teacher in a school. Though my job is not rounding the clock as I get free at three in the afternoon; however, I have assignments for pupils to check and other administration work. It is my new job so I cannot be irresponsible. Due to the above-mentioned reasons, I find it a hard nut to crack to have spare time for continuing this course now.
To be honest, I would like to continue the rest of the course in the month of autumn as I would be on autumn vacations and at that time I would be able to understand my work responsibilities well. In addition, if it would be difficult to attend in person; then, I would join this course online.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct the preposition Original: in your Trinity College Suggested revision: at Trinity College Why it matters: Use 'at' for enrolment at an institution and omit the possessive before its name.
- 2. Fix conjunction punctuation Original: for 3 months; but, Suggested revision: for three months, but Why it matters: A comma belongs before 'but', while a comma immediately after it is incorrect here.
- 3. Use natural phrasing Original: feel incapable of continuing it Suggested revision: am unable to continue it Why it matters: This wording expresses the temporary scheduling problem more naturally.
- 4. Clarify the timing Original: continue it in the next term in autumn Suggested revision: resume it next term in the autumn Why it matters: 'Resume' and one clear time phrase make the intended arrangement more precise.
- 5. State the request clearly Original: and for this, I am seeking your permission Suggested revision: so I am seeking your permission to defer my studies Why it matters: Naming the requested action makes the letter's purpose more explicit.
- 6. Use the right preposition Original: in Suggested revision: at Why it matters: 'At a school' is the natural prepositional phrase for a place of employment.
- 7. Correct the expression Original: rounding Suggested revision: around Why it matters: The fixed expression is 'around the clock'.
- 8. Use natural work language Original: as I get free Suggested revision: because I finish work Why it matters: 'Finish work' clearly describes when the writer's scheduled duties end.
- 9. Correct who checks Original: assignments for pupils to check Suggested revision: pupils' assignments to check Why it matters: The possessive form shows that the assignments belong to the pupils and are checked by the writer.
- 10. Use the adjective form Original: administration Suggested revision: administrative Why it matters: The adjective 'administrative' correctly modifies 'work'.
- 11. Use suitable register Original: a hard nut to crack Suggested revision: very difficult Why it matters: The idiom is overly informal and awkward for this request to a teacher.
- 12. Fix the verb pattern Original: to have spare time for continuing this course now Suggested revision: to find enough time to continue this course now Why it matters: The revised infinitive pattern is grammatical and conveys the time constraint directly.
Suggested Rewrites
- in your Trinity College at Trinity College
- for 3 months; but, for three months, but
- feel incapable of continuing it am unable to continue it
- continue it in the next term in autumn resume it next term in the autumn
- and for this, I am seeking your permission so I am seeking your permission to defer my studies
- in at
Why this response received Band 6.0
The letter clearly explains the writer's new workload and gives a workable plan for resuming the course, with ideas arranged in a logical sequence. Its main limitation is that it never asks the teacher for advice, leaving one required bullet point unanswered. The highest priority is to add a direct request for guidance and then refine awkward collocations and conditional forms.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear and the reasons and future study plan are developed, but the required request for advice is omitted.
Add a direct question asking the teacher what action to take and finish with an appropriate closing.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses logically through the situation, reasons, and proposed solution, although some linking and sentence connections feel mechanical.
Use simpler transitions and separate overextended sentences so each stage of the request is easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary shows adequate range for work and study, but several expressions such as 'rounding the clock' and 'month of autumn' are unnatural.
Choose more precise, conventional phrases such as 'working around the clock' and 'during the autumn term'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the message clearly, despite recurring problems with punctuation, clause control, and conditional forms.
Improve control of complex sentences, especially by avoiding unnecessary semicolons and using 'if it is difficult' rather than 'if it would be difficult'.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have enrolled in an evening course, but you have found that you are too busy to continue and would like to take the course next term instead. Write a letter to you, teacher. In your letter:
- Explain the situation and why you cannot continue the course
- Say what you would like to do about your studies?
- Ask for a device about what you can do about the situation?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.