You have a full-time job and are also doing a part-time evening course. You now find that you cannot continue the course. Write a letter to the course tutor. In your letter: - describe the situation - explain why you cannot continue at this time - say what action you would like to take
Sample Response
Dear Mr Kaine, I am a student of the Microsoft Office Training (MST20) course in your institution. I am writing this letter to inform you that I would not be able to attend classes from 20th June onwards. I am hoping that you would allow me to continue the course with the next intake from October 2026. I work with a telecom company as an assistant researcher and due to some recently assigned projects, my office demands more of my time. Besides, I have some strict deadlines ahead and to meet them, I will need to work a few extra hours each day. Also, I will travel to Australia at the beginning of July for some official tasks. All these new responsibilities in my office force me to pause my course for the time being. However, I am willing to complete my course as it would be highly beneficial for my career. Therefore I humbly request you to allow me to attend the next available batch. This would be helpful for me to manage my office work on the one hand and continue my course on the other hand. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, Namrata Jain
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Natural course wording Original: in your institution Suggested revision: at your institution Why it matters: 'At' is the natural preposition for studying at an institution.
- 2. Direct future form Original: I would not be able to attend Suggested revision: I will not be able to attend Why it matters: Use 'will' for a definite future inability.
- 3. Request modal Original: I am hoping that you would allow me Suggested revision: I hope you will allow me Why it matters: This is clearer and more direct.
- 4. Natural collocation Original: some recently assigned projects Suggested revision: some newly assigned projects Why it matters: 'Newly assigned' is the more common phrase.
- 5. Subject choice Original: my office demands more of my time Suggested revision: my work demands more of my time Why it matters: The work, not the office, demands time.
- 6. Formal transition Original: Besides, I have some strict deadlines ahead Suggested revision: In addition, I have some strict deadlines ahead Why it matters: This sounds slightly more formal for a tutor.
- 7. Cause wording Original: All these new responsibilities in my office force me Suggested revision: All these new responsibilities at work have forced me Why it matters: This better reflects the current situation.
- 8. Formal academic term Original: pause my course Suggested revision: defer my course Why it matters: 'Defer' is more precise in an academic context.
- 9. Comma after transition Original: Therefore I humbly request Suggested revision: Therefore, I humbly request Why it matters: A comma after 'Therefore' improves punctuation.
- 10. Avoid formulaic pair Original: on the one hand and continue my course on the other hand Suggested revision: while still continuing my course later Why it matters: The paired expression is wordy and not needed.
- 11. Course intake term Original: next available batch Suggested revision: next available intake Why it matters: 'Intake' is more natural for course enrolment.
- 12. Confirm timing Original: from October 2026 Suggested revision: with the next intake from October 2026 Why it matters: This is clear, but it could be paired with a request about current enrolment status.
Suggested Rewrites
- in your institution at your institution
- I would not be able to attend I will not be able to attend
- I am hoping that you would allow me I hope you will allow me
- some recently assigned projects some newly assigned projects
- my office demands more of my time my work demands more of my time
- Besides, I have some strict deadlines ahead In addition, I have some strict deadlines ahead
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter clearly describes the course and job situation, explains why the writer cannot continue, and requests transfer to the next intake. The purpose is fully achieved.
Add one sentence about whether current fees or assignments should be deferred to make the requested action even more precise.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information is logically ordered and easy to follow, but the response is one paragraph and would benefit from clearer visual organisation.
Use separate paragraphs for course identification, reasons for pausing, and the requested next intake.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is appropriate and precise for a formal letter, with effective phrases such as 'strict deadlines', 'official tasks', and 'beneficial for my career'. A few collocations are slightly unnatural.
Use smoother phrases such as 'newly assigned projects', 'require more of my time', and 'defer my enrolment'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is generally accurate, with only minor issues in modal choice, word order, and missing punctuation after a transition.
Check modal verbs in formal requests and add commas after linking words such as 'Therefore'.