You live in a flat and you have a tenancy agreement which states that you must give three months' notice when you wish to leave. You have paid a deposit of two months' rent. Now a member of your family has a problem and you need to give up your flat and return home as soon as possible. Write a letter to your landlord /landlady. In your letter: - explain your circumstances - tell him/her what you intend to do - ask him/her for special consideration
Sample Response
Dear Mr Lucas, I hope that you are in good health and spirit. I am writing this letter because I am in a precarious situation, and I would need your favour. Very recently, I came to know from my father that my younger brother, who suffers from some mental problems from time to time, has suddenly disappeared from home. In fact, he has disappeared for almost a week, but my family and the police have found no trace of him anywhere yet. Not to mention, this incident has made my whole family, including me, very worried, and so I need to stay by their side in these tough times and leave my flat immediately. Now, I understand that I signed a tenancy agreement that says that I would need to give there months’ notice before leaving your flat, but I don’t think that I can actually wait that long. So, please feel free to keep the deposit of one month and return another month's deposit to me. And please also consider my situation and do me the favour of not maintaining the proper notice period. However, if you get a tenant in the meantime, I would expect that you would inform me and return my deposit amount. Yours sincerely, Henry Lionel
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use the idiomatic phrase Original: health and spirit Suggested revision: health and good spirits Why it matters: Good spirits is the standard expression for a person's positive state.
- 2. State the request directly Original: I would need your favour Suggested revision: I need to ask you a favour Why it matters: The revised clause uses the natural verb pattern ask someone a favour.
- 3. Use concise wording Original: came to know from my father Suggested revision: learned from my father Why it matters: Learned conveys receiving this information more directly and naturally.
- 4. Use respectful wording Original: some mental problems Suggested revision: mental health problems Why it matters: Mental health problems is a clearer and more appropriate expression.
- 5. Use the correct state Original: he has disappeared for almost a week Suggested revision: he has been missing for almost a week Why it matters: Been missing describes a continuing state over a period of time.
- 6. Correct the typo Original: there Suggested revision: three Why it matters: Three is the required number in the notice period.
- 7. Use tenancy wording Original: not maintaining the proper notice period Suggested revision: waiving the full notice period Why it matters: Waiving the notice period expresses the requested special consideration precisely.
- 8. Use a precise verb Original: if you get a tenant Suggested revision: if you find a new tenant Why it matters: Find a new tenant is the natural expression for securing a replacement renter.
- 9. Write more concisely Original: I am writing this letter Suggested revision: I am writing Why it matters: The word letter is redundant because the form of communication is already clear.
- 10. Make the situation specific Original: a precarious situation Suggested revision: a difficult family situation Why it matters: This wording identifies the nature of the problem more clearly for the landlord.
- 11. Remove unnecessary emphasis Original: Very recently Suggested revision: Recently Why it matters: Recently conveys the timing without the unnecessary intensifier.
- 12. Avoid redundant wording Original: anywhere yet Suggested revision: yet Why it matters: No trace already expresses the lack of a location, so anywhere is redundant.
Suggested Rewrites
- health and spirit health and good spirits
- I would need your favour I need to ask you a favour
- came to know from my father learned from my father
- some mental problems mental health problems
- he has disappeared for almost a week he has been missing for almost a week
- there three
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter presents a compelling circumstance, clearly explains the need to leave immediately, and proposes a practical concession about the deposit in a suitably respectful tone. Its main weakness is presentation as one dense paragraph, compounded by a few awkward expressions and slight ambiguity about when the remaining deposit should be returned. Clear paragraphing and a more precise final proposal should be prioritised.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response covers all three bullet points thoroughly and sustains a clear, respectful request supported by relevant circumstances.
Make the deposit proposal fully consistent by specifying exactly what may be retained and what should be returned if a replacement tenant is found.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas follow a logical sequence and linking is generally effective, but the single dense paragraph weakens readability and organisation.
Divide the letter into clear paragraphs for the circumstances, intended departure, and requested consideration.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a good range of vocabulary to convey urgency and negotiate the request, though several collocations sound awkward.
Replace strained expressions such as do me the favour of not maintaining the proper notice period with more natural formal wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex structures are used with generally good control, although a few slips and overextended sentences remain.
Proofread for small errors such as there months and simplify long sentences where several clauses compete for attention.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You live in a flat and you have a tenancy agreement which states that you must give three months' notice when you wish to leave. You have paid a deposit of two months' rent. Now a member of your family has a problem and you need to give up your flat and return home as soon as possible. Write a letter to your landlord /landlady. In your letter:
- explain your circumstances
- tell him/her what you intend to do
- ask him/her for special consideration
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.