You successfully passed a job interview. You are expected to start on November 15, but you will not be available on that date. Write a letter to your new boss. In your letter: - explain your situation, - express your concern - suggest solutions.
This response is estimated at Band 7.0. Can you write a better one?
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Sample Response
Dear Mr. Smith,
I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, I will not be available to start workavailable at work on the appointed date of November 15.
This is due to an urgent family situation. I have just received an email about my sister who has fallen ill and is inat hospital at the moment. As you willcan understand, I need to be there for her to offer some financial aid and moral support. That is why I kindly request you to postpone my start datethe date of my joining.
I understand that this issue may cause you some inconveniencea certain inconvenience to you. For this reason, I would like to apologize and assure you that after visiting my sister, I will come back as soon as possible but no later than November 18though not later than on November 18.
To compensate for my absencecompensate my absence, I suggest that I could fulfill my duties ahead of time, if that would suit youif it is suitable for you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter’s clearest strength is its professional tone and direct explanation of the family emergency, with the concern about inconvenience also acknowledged. Its main limitation is that the proposed compensation of completing duties ahead of time is impractical for someone who has not yet started; prioritise offering a feasible revised start date and a concrete way to complete any onboarding preparations remotely.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are addressed, and the formal tone suits communication with a new employer.
Make the proposed solution fully credible by explaining how remote preparation or a revised start date would minimise disruption.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the problem and reason to the apology, revised date, and proposed compensation.
Connect the final proposal more explicitly to the revised start date so the solution develops as one coherent plan.
Lexical Resource
The letter uses a suitably formal range of vocabulary, although several collocations are slightly awkward or imprecise.
Use more natural phrases such as being in hospital, delaying my start date, and making up for the delay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A varied mix of simple and complex sentences is handled accurately, with only occasional non-impeding errors.
Refine preposition choices and phrasing around dates to improve accuracy in expressions such as no later than November 18.