You successfully passed a job interview. You have to join by 15th November but you will not be able to do so. Write a letter to your new boss. In your letter: - explain your situation - express your concerns - suggest solutions
Sample Response
Dear Sir/Madam, My name is John Lego. I have cleared a job interview last week and selected as a branch head of the company. I was intended to join by November 15th. But due to some unforeseen reasons, I am unable to present myself at the expected time. The reason behind my delay from joining the work is that I met with an accident last week only. I have got severe injuries to my shoulder and leg. My doctor has advised me 15 days of rest. I will be able to commence my role as a branch head by 20th November. I comprehend the seriousness of the situation at work and the complications my absence will pose for you. But I assure you that I will wrap up this first project, that you have given me, within the stipulated time, by working overtime and on Sundays also. Moreover, I have the provision of working from home and can coordinate with my team through video conferencing option, in case of any impediment. I have enclosed my medical reports along with this letter, with the hope that my request to join on 20th November in spite of 15th, will be considered. I will look forward to your response. Yours sincerely, John Lego
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Address your manager Original: Dear Sir/Madam Suggested revision: Dear [Manager's Name] Why it matters: Addressing the new manager by name would make the letter more appropriately personal and professional.
- 2. Use simple past Original: have cleared Suggested revision: passed Why it matters: Use the simple past with the finished time expression "last week".
- 3. Add passive auxiliary Original: and selected Suggested revision: and was selected Why it matters: The passive verb needs "was" to form a complete clause.
- 4. Correct intended form Original: intended Suggested revision: due Why it matters: "Was due to join" correctly expresses the scheduled start date.
- 5. Use natural wording Original: present myself Suggested revision: start work Why it matters: "Start work" states the intended meaning more naturally in this context.
- 6. Correct collocation Original: delay from joining the work Suggested revision: delay in starting work Why it matters: The natural construction is "delay in" followed by a gerund.
- 7. Remove awkward emphasis Original: last week only Suggested revision: last week Why it matters: The final "only" is unnecessary and sounds unnatural in this formal letter.
- 8. Use formal phrasing Original: have got severe injuries Suggested revision: sustained serious injuries Why it matters: This phrasing is more precise and appropriately formal when describing the accident.
- 9. Use possessive duration Original: 15 days of rest Suggested revision: 15 days' rest Why it matters: A duration modifying "rest" takes the possessive form "days'".
- 10. Clarify start date Original: by Suggested revision: on Why it matters: Use "on" to identify the exact revised joining date.
- 11. Use formal transition Original: But I assure you Suggested revision: However, I assure you Why it matters: "However" creates a more formal contrast with the concern stated previously.
- 12. Use formal wording Original: wrap up this first project Suggested revision: complete the first project Why it matters: "Complete" is more appropriate than the informal phrasal verb "wrap up" here.
Suggested Rewrites
- Dear Sir/Madam Dear [Manager's Name]
- have cleared passed
- and selected and was selected
- intended due
- present myself start work
- delay from joining the work delay in starting work
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter covers the circumstances, the likely disruption, and several practical responses in a consistently formal and reassuring manner. Its main limitation is the frequency of awkward or inaccurate grammatical and lexical choices, while the lack of paragraph breaks weakens the presentation of otherwise clear ideas. The priority is to organise the situation, concern, and solutions into distinct paragraphs and edit verb forms and collocations carefully.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are developed, and the formal, apologetic tone suits communication with a new employer.
Make the proposed arrangements fully credible by clarifying how the stated recovery period aligns with the requested new starting date.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information progresses logically from the delayed start to its cause, consequences, proposed solutions, and closing request.
Divide the letter into clear functional paragraphs and reduce reliance on sentence-initial linking words such as But and Moreover.
Lexical Resource
A good range of formal vocabulary conveys the circumstances and proposed arrangements, though several collocations are unnatural or imprecise.
Use more natural combinations such as passed an interview, delay in starting work, and instead of the 15th.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied sentence structures, but recurring errors in verb forms, articles, prepositions, and punctuation reduce accuracy.
Proofread each sentence for complete passive constructions, consistent tense choice, and unnecessary commas around defining information.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You successfully passed a job interview. You have to join by 15th November but you will not be able to do so. Write a letter to your new boss. In your letter:
- explain your situation
- express your concerns
- suggest solutions
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.