You are due to move into a rented apartment next month, but you will not be able to because you have some problems. Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter: - explain your situation - describe your problems - tell him/her when you think you can move in
Sample Response
Dear Mr Smith,
I’ve recently agreed to rent your apartment, and as discussed, I was supposed to move there by August 1st. I’m afraid I cannot do so in August due to personal issues. I hope you will allow me to move into your apartment at the beginning of September.
I signed a rental agreement with you on July 15th, and I’m due to move into your apartment C4, located on Cranberry Street, on August 1st. I have already paid you two months’ rent upfront. However, the sudden news of my mother’s sickness propels me to change the shifting plan. I am travelling to my hometown next week. I am unsure how long I will stay there, but it will not be less than a week.
After returning from my hometown, I will have to complete my pending assignments at the office and work till late hours; hence, shifting would become impossible. I would request you to consider my circumstances and allow me to move into your apartment at the beginning of September.
I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this.
Yours sincerely,
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use future timing Original: was supposed to move there by August 1st Suggested revision: am supposed to move there on August 1st Why it matters: The move is still scheduled for a future date, so the present form and 'on' are appropriate.
- 2. Use natural noun Original: sickness Suggested revision: illness Why it matters: 'Illness' is the more natural formal noun for this situation.
- 3. Choose accurate verb Original: propels me to change Suggested revision: has forced me to change Why it matters: 'Has forced' accurately expresses that the news caused an unavoidable change of plan.
- 4. Use natural phrase Original: shifting plan Suggested revision: moving plans Why it matters: 'Moving plans' is the standard phrase for arrangements to change residence.
- 5. Clarify the subject Original: it will not be less than a week Suggested revision: I expect to stay for at least a week Why it matters: Naming the writer as the subject makes the expected duration direct and natural.
- 6. Use concise wording Original: work till late hours Suggested revision: work late Why it matters: 'Work late' is the natural expression for remaining at work beyond normal hours.
- 7. Improve formal link Original: hence, shifting would become impossible Suggested revision: therefore, moving would be impossible Why it matters: This phrasing links the workload to the consequence more naturally in the formal letter.
- 8. Use polite request Original: I would request you Suggested revision: I would like to ask you Why it matters: This construction makes the request grammatically complete and appropriately polite.
- 9. Use clear reference Original: regarding this Suggested revision: about my request Why it matters: The explicit noun removes the vague reference in the closing sentence.
- 10. Complete the sign-off Original: Yours sincerely, Suggested revision: Yours sincerely, [Your name] Why it matters: A formal letter should include the writer's name after the complimentary close.
Suggested Rewrites
- was supposed to move there by August 1st am supposed to move there on August 1st
- sickness illness
- propels me to change has forced me to change
- shifting plan moving plans
- it will not be less than a week I expect to stay for at least a week
- work till late hours work late
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter clearly explains the delayed move, gives two relevant reasons, proposes a new date, and maintains an appropriately respectful tone. Its main limitation is a cluster of unnatural expressions that reduce precision, so the highest-priority improvement is to use more idiomatic wording and explain the August-to-September timeline more convincingly while retaining the strong, direct structure.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are covered, and the formal request is supported with relevant detail.
Make the connection between the family emergency, the subsequent workload, and the month-long postponement more explicit.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically through the original arrangement, the problems, and the requested new moving date.
Reduce repeated references to the apartment and moving by using concise referencing and smoother links between reasons.
Lexical Resource
The letter uses a good range of relevant vocabulary, but several collocations such as ‘propels me’ and ‘change the shifting plan’ are unnatural.
Choose idiomatic phrases such as ‘has forced me to postpone my move’ and ‘change my moving plans’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A varied mix of simple and complex sentences is handled accurately, with only minor lapses that do not impede meaning.
Refine article use and phrasing in expressions such as ‘work until late’ to make the grammar consistently natural.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are due to move into a rented apartment next month, but you will not be able to because you have some problems. Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter:
- explain your situation
- describe your problems
- tell him/her when you think you can move in
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.