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
Same question Compare all 3 answers See different approaches and band scores for this IELTS task.Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express my gratitude for the opportunity you have given me to work as a Sales Executive in your company. However, I regret to inform you that my mother has been hospitalised and I will be travelling to my hometown tomorrow. Considering this, I would request you to delay my joining for two weeks. I have to rush to my hometown as my mother has broken her ribs in an accident and is being treated in a hospital now. My father passed away a few years ago, and I need to be at my mother's side for a few days. I would, however, get back to Delhi as soon as she recovers, which I guess would take two weeks. I would request you to empathise with my situation and kindly postpone my date of joining for two weeks. I am very much keen to join your company and would love to work under your supervision. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Geetika Bakshi
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use a formal transition Original: Considering this Suggested revision: In light of this Why it matters: This transition links the family emergency to the request more naturally.
- 2. Use precise job wording Original: delay my joining for two weeks Suggested revision: postpone my start date by two weeks Why it matters: “Postpone a start date by” is the natural formal collocation for this request.
- 3. Clarify the urgent travel Original: have to rush to my hometown Suggested revision: need to travel urgently to my hometown Why it matters: This wording is clearer because the writer has not yet made the journey.
- 4. Use concise formal wording Original: in a hospital now Suggested revision: currently in hospital Why it matters: This phrasing states the mother’s present situation more concisely.
- 5. Make the request natural Original: empathise with my situation Suggested revision: understand my situation Why it matters: Asking the employer to “understand” the circumstances is more natural in a formal request.
- 6. Sentence rewrite Original: I would, however, get back to Delhi as soon as she recovers, which I guess would take two weeks. Suggested revision: I expect to return to Delhi in about two weeks, as soon as my mother has recovered sufficiently. Why it matters: The rewrite removes uncertain conditional forms and expresses the expected timing clearly.
- 7. Give an exact start date Suggested revision: State the specific date on which you expect to start work, rather than only requesting a two-week delay. Why it matters: The task explicitly asks when the writer thinks they can start.
- 8. Organise the letter clearly Suggested revision: Separate the purpose and request, the explanation of the emergency, and the proposed start arrangements into distinct paragraphs. Why it matters: Paragraphing would make the formal letter’s progression easier to follow.
Suggested Rewrites
- Considering this In light of this
- delay my joining for two weeks postpone my start date by two weeks
- have to rush to my hometown need to travel urgently to my hometown
- in a hospital now currently in hospital
- empathise with my situation understand my situation
- I would, however, get back to Delhi as soon as she recovers, which I guess would take two weeks. I expect to return to Delhi in about two weeks, as soon as my mother has recovered sufficiently.
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter clearly communicates the emergency, explains why the writer must travel, and requests a specific two-week postponement in a suitably formal and courteous tone. Its main limitation is that ideas are presented as one block and the request is repeated, while a few expressions sound slightly unnatural. Prioritise paragraphing the situation, explanation, and proposed start time separately while tightening repeated wording.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter fulfils its purpose by clearly describing the family emergency, explaining the resulting delay, and stating a workable two-week postponement.
State the revised joining date as an exact date, if possible, to make the proposed arrangement even more precise.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas follow a clear and logical sequence, but the single-block presentation and repeated postponement request limit organisational polish.
Use separate paragraphs for the initial request, the supporting explanation, and the proposed revised start time.
Lexical Resource
A strong range of formal vocabulary expresses the situation precisely, with only occasional awkward combinations such as delay my joining and very much keen.
Prefer more natural formal collocations such as postpone my start date and very keen to join.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied complex structures with generally strong accuracy, and minor awkwardness does not affect clarity.
Tighten the clause linking the mother's recovery to the two-week estimate so that the reference is completely unambiguous.
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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.