You are renting a flat from an agency. Your contract was for one year but you need to leave the flat two months early. Write a letter to the agency. In your letter: - introduce yourself - ask to leave the flat before the contract finishes - explain why you need to break the contract.
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, My name is John Nordstrom and I have been renting the flat on Parkway Boulevard from you for the past six months. As I'm sure you are aware I have been a good tenant during this period. I always pay my rent on time and look after the flat. My rental agreement with you was for one year and the contract ends in January. Unfortunately, I have just heard that I will need to leave the flat in November, which is, in fact, two months early. The reason for this is that my manager has asked me to go back to Germany earlier than planned and I am afraid this is beyond my control. As I am now unable to stay here until the end of the contract, I would be extremely grateful if you could release me from it early. I'm aware that this is not normally allowed but I hope you can understand my situation and still return my deposit. Yours faithfully, John Nordstrom
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add introductory comma Original: As I'm sure you are aware I have been Suggested revision: As I'm sure you are aware, I have been Why it matters: A comma should separate the introductory clause from the main clause.
- 2. Use more natural phrasing Original: during Suggested revision: throughout Why it matters: This phrasing more naturally describes consistent behaviour over the whole tenancy.
- 3. Use precise formal wording Original: heard that I will need Suggested revision: learned that I need Why it matters: The revised wording is more concise and suitably formal for an agency letter.
- 4. Reduce wordy linking Original: The reason for this is that Suggested revision: This is because Why it matters: A shorter link makes the explanation more direct without changing its meaning.
- 5. Use formal verb Original: go back to Germany Suggested revision: return to Germany Why it matters: Return is more concise and formal than the phrasal verb here.
- 6. Clarify the request Original: release me from it early Suggested revision: release me from the agreement two months early Why it matters: Naming the agreement and requested timing makes the central request more precise.
- 7. Avoid formal contraction Original: I'm aware Suggested revision: I am aware Why it matters: The full form better suits the consistently formal register of this letter.
- 8. Specify deposit request Original: still return my deposit Suggested revision: return my deposit in full Why it matters: This wording states more precisely what the writer wants the agency to do.
- 9. Organise letter paragraphs Suggested revision: Separate the introduction, early-release request, reason, and closing request into clear paragraphs. Why it matters: Distinct functional paragraphs would make the letter easier for the agency to follow.
Suggested Rewrites
- As I'm sure you are aware I have been As I'm sure you are aware, I have been
- during throughout
- heard that I will need learned that I need
- The reason for this is that This is because
- go back to Germany return to Germany
- release me from it early release me from the agreement two months early
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter fully addresses the request, explains the unavoidable early departure clearly, and maintains an appropriately courteous formal tone throughout. Its main limitation is that the ideas are presented as one continuous block, which slightly weakens visual organisation; the highest-priority improvement is to separate the background, request, and closing conditions into distinct paragraphs while preserving the concise, precise language.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, all three bullet points are fully covered, and the formal, persuasive tone suits an agency.
Strengthen the request further by briefly acknowledging any reasonable contractual procedure the agency may require.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from the tenancy background through the reason for leaving to the specific request.
Use distinct paragraphs for the introduction, explanation, and requested resolution to make the structure easier to scan.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, precise, and well matched to a formal request, with natural phrases such as "release me from it early."
Refine the few general expressions by specifying the desired arrangements for the deposit and early termination.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence structures is used accurately, and the few minor punctuation issues do not impede meaning.
Add a comma after the introductory clause in "As I'm sure you are aware" to polish sentence control.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are renting a flat from an agency. Your contract was for one year but you need to leave the flat two months early. Write a letter to the agency. In your letter:
- introduce yourself
- ask to leave the flat before the contract finishes
- explain why you need to break the contract.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.