You are due to start a new job next week but you will not be able to because you have some problems. Write a letter to your new employer. In your letter: - Explain your situation - Describe your problems - Tell him/her when you think you can start.
Sample Response
Dear Ms Barnes,
I am writing concerning the position of Assistant Office Manager that I am due to begin next Monday. However, a problem has arisen.
As you know, I currently work for my uncle’s food-packing business, and you will remember from my interview that I have gained valuable experience there. Unfortunately, he has had to go into hospital for an operation, leaving my aunt in charge of both the home and the business. She has asked me, as this is a particularly busy time of year, to stay on and help her with the running of the office.
I realise this will be inconvenient to you, but very much hope that, given the circumstances, you would be prepared to allow me to take up my position with you two weeks later than planned.
I would like to emphasise that I remain very keen to work with you, and that I will be gaining further useful experience during this time.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
John Forbes
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct role phrase Original: position of Assistant Office Manager that I am due to begin Suggested revision: role of Assistant Office Manager that I am due to take up Why it matters: You take up a role or position rather than begin the position itself.
- 2. Soften the assumption Original: As you know Suggested revision: As you may recall Why it matters: This phrasing more tactfully refers to information discussed at the interview.
- 3. Clarify the household reference Original: both the home and the business Suggested revision: both her household and the business Why it matters: Her household is more precise than the home in this context.
- 4. Correct the preposition Original: to Suggested revision: for Why it matters: Inconvenient normally takes for when identifying the affected person.
- 5. Restore the subject Original: but very much hope Suggested revision: but I very much hope Why it matters: Repeating the subject makes the contrast easier to parse in this long sentence.
- 6. Name the intended relationship Original: very keen to work with you Suggested revision: very keen to join your team Why it matters: Join your team expresses the intended employment relationship more precisely.
- 7. Specify the time reference Original: during this time Suggested revision: during those two weeks Why it matters: The explicit time reference links this point clearly to the requested postponement.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: However, a problem has arisen. Suggested revision: However, I will be unable to start then because a family problem has arisen. Why it matters: State the immediate effect on the start date before explaining the family circumstances.
Suggested Rewrites
- position of Assistant Office Manager that I am due to begin role of Assistant Office Manager that I am due to take up
- As you know As you may recall
- both the home and the business both her household and the business
- to for
- but very much hope but I very much hope
- very keen to work with you very keen to join your team
Why this response received Band 8.5
The letter communicates its purpose immediately, covers the circumstances and revised start date fully, and maintains an assured professional tone throughout. Its development, progression, and language control are exceptionally strong, with only slight scope to make the practical impact on the employer more explicit. The highest-priority refinement is to acknowledge that impact briefly before requesting the two-week postponement.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose, family and business circumstances, and proposed two-week delay are all presented clearly in an entirely suitable formal register.
Add one brief acknowledgement of how the delay may affect the employer to make the request even more considerate.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses naturally from the purpose through the explanation and request to a concise, positive close, with unobtrusive linking.
The organisation is already highly effective; retain this same focused paragraph structure in future letters.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is precise, natural, and flexible, particularly in phrases such as “take up my position” and “given the circumstances.”
Continue refining small phrasing choices so every expression is as direct as the otherwise polished language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and confidently, with well-controlled punctuation throughout.
Maintain this level of control while checking that every clause states its subject explicitly for maximum polish.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are due to start a new job next week but you will not be able to because you have some problems. Write a letter to your new employer. In your letter:
- Explain your situation
- Describe your problems
- Tell him/her when you think you can start.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.