You were going to start a job next month, but you will not be able to. Write a letter to your future employer. In your letter: - Explain the situation. - Describe your problem(s). - Tell him/her when you can start work.
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam,
I’m Khushbu Mehta, selected for the SAP SD consultant job role in the consulting domain of your organization. I’m very grateful for this opportunity, and I’m supposed to join on January 10th, Monday. I regret to inform you that I will not be able to participate on the mentioned joining date.
I can’t join on the date previously planned because the HR policies in my organization have changed the duration of the serving notice period from 2 months to 3 months. Initially, I thought I was applicable to serve the notice period for two months, but due to the lengthy negotiation process, I received the offer letter much later. Not doing the entire notice period will be considered severe misconduct, followed by legal actions in my organization.
I trust you understand my situation and if possible, kindly consider changing my joining date for next month, and I could start working from February 10th, Wednesday. If it doesn’t work, provide some insights about the policy in your organization to apply for reimbursement if I have to opt for a notice buyout in my current company.
Looking forward to hearing back your suggestion on this matter.
Yours Faithfully,
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use precise phrasing Original: I’m supposed to join on Suggested revision: I’m due to start on Why it matters: This is a more natural way to state an agreed employment start date.
- 2. Order the date naturally Original: January 10th, Monday Suggested revision: Monday, January 10th Why it matters: Placing the weekday before the date is more natural in this formal letter.
- 3. Correct the collocation Original: participate on the mentioned joining date Suggested revision: start work on the agreed date Why it matters: A person starts work on a date rather than participates on a joining date.
- 4. Use singular reference Original: policies Suggested revision: policy Why it matters: The sentence describes one specific change to the notice period.
- 5. Use natural terminology Original: duration of the serving notice period Suggested revision: length of the required notice period Why it matters: The proposed phrase expresses the employment requirement clearly and idiomatically.
- 6. Use formal number style Original: from 2 months to 3 months Suggested revision: from two months to three months Why it matters: Spelling out these small numbers suits the formal register of the letter.
- 7. Correct word choice Original: applicable Suggested revision: required Why it matters: Applicable does not describe an employee’s obligation to complete a notice period.
- 8. Use the correct phrase Original: Not doing the entire notice period Suggested revision: Not serving the full notice period Why it matters: Employees serve a notice period, and full is the natural modifier here.
- 9. Keep the conditional form Original: will be considered severe misconduct Suggested revision: would be considered serious misconduct Why it matters: Would matches the hypothetical consequence, while serious misconduct is the standard collocation.
- 10. Clarify the consequence Original: followed by legal actions Suggested revision: and could lead to legal action Why it matters: The revision connects the possible legal consequence logically to the misconduct.
- 11. Clarify the reference Original: If it doesn’t work Suggested revision: If postponing the date is not possible Why it matters: The revision makes clear what the conditional pronoun refers to.
- 12. Make the request direct Original: provide some insights about the policy in your organization Suggested revision: please explain your organization’s policy Why it matters: The proposed wording is concise and appropriate for a request to an employer.
Suggested Rewrites
- I’m supposed to join on I’m due to start on
- January 10th, Monday Monday, January 10th
- participate on the mentioned joining date start work on the agreed date
- policies policy
- duration of the serving notice period length of the required notice period
- from 2 months to 3 months from two months to three months
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter clearly explains the delayed start, gives a specific revised date, and maintains an appropriately formal, cooperative tone. Its main weakness is the recurring use of unnatural or imprecise phrases, especially around the notice period and reimbursement request, which occasionally makes the message sound less professional. Prioritize clearer, more idiomatic wording and simplify the final request so the employer can understand the preferred solution immediately.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are addressed with relevant detail, and the formal tone suits a future employer.
State February 10 as the preferred solution more decisively before presenting the notice-buyout option as a contingency.
Coherence and Cohesion
The letter is logically divided by purpose and progresses clearly from the situation to the explanation and proposed solution.
Separate and streamline the two requests in the final body paragraph so each action is immediately clear.
Lexical Resource
Relevant workplace vocabulary shows some range, but recurring collocational problems make several phrases sound unnatural.
Replace expressions such as 'serving notice period,' 'applicable to serve,' and 'apply for reimbursement' with standard workplace phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures communicates the message, although errors in articles, prepositions, and clause construction recur.
Edit the longer conditional and request sentences to ensure clear clause boundaries, accurate prepositions, and consistent verb patterns.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You were going to start a job next month, but you will not be able to. Write a letter to your future employer. In your letter:
- Explain the situation.
- Describe your problem(s).
- Tell him/her when you can start work.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.