You are organising an executive event for the company you work for. Write a letter to the person in charge of a venue that you are considering for the event. In your letter: - ask about available dates - ask what services the venue provides - ask about the costs
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am pleased to inform you that we have chosen your resort as the venue for our company's prestigious annual conference. I am responsible for the event's planning and execution and hence writing for some details. I am hoping that you would answer my queries so that I can book it well in advance. We are planning to host the conference at the end of July and need the venue for the whole evening. Please notify its availability either on 24th or on 26th July. We are expecting 40 guests on the programme and need the menu for dinner and drinks. Some of our guests are coming from overseas so we will require some continental dishes. We also need a projector and electricity backup so that we can show some presentations to our overseas partners without any interruption. Kindly inform me of the breakdown costs of your service, venue, food and drinks in the return mail. Please be noted that the event is profoundly important for us and any sort of flaws will detriment our company's image as well as yours so I hope you will be rigorous in providing your service. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, John Augustin
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Keep the enquiry accurate Original: have chosen Suggested revision: are considering Why it matters: The task says the venue is still under consideration, so chosen states the decision too definitively.
- 2. Correct the request form Original: I am hoping that you would answer Suggested revision: I hope you can answer Why it matters: The revised verb forms express the present request clearly.
- 3. Use natural enquiry wording Original: queries Suggested revision: questions Why it matters: Questions is the more natural word for the practical information requested here.
- 4. Name the venue clearly Original: book it Suggested revision: book the venue Why it matters: The explicit noun avoids a vague pronoun reference.
- 5. Correct the request phrase Original: notify its availability Suggested revision: confirm whether it is available Why it matters: Confirm whether is the correct structure for asking about availability.
- 6. Streamline the date options Original: either on 24th or on 26th July Suggested revision: on either 24 or 26 July Why it matters: This places either correctly and uses a concise formal date format.
- 7. Use the event collocation Original: guests on the programme Suggested revision: guests at the event Why it matters: Guests attend an event rather than being on a programme in this context.
- 8. Request menu details clearly Original: need the menu for dinner and drinks Suggested revision: would like details of the dinner and drinks menu Why it matters: The revision makes the service enquiry precise and suitably polite.
- 9. Add the clause comma Original: overseas so Suggested revision: overseas, so Why it matters: A comma is needed before so when it joins these independent clauses.
- 10. Use the standard term Original: electricity backup Suggested revision: a backup power supply Why it matters: Backup power supply is the natural term for this venue requirement.
- 11. Use the presentation collocation Original: show some presentations Suggested revision: give presentations Why it matters: Give a presentation is the standard collocation.
- 12. Make the phrase concise Original: without any interruption Suggested revision: without interruption Why it matters: Any is unnecessary in this fixed expression.
Suggested Rewrites
- have chosen are considering
- I am hoping that you would answer I hope you can answer
- queries questions
- book it book the venue
- notify its availability confirm whether it is available
- either on 24th or on 26th July on either 24 or 26 July
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter thoroughly covers date options, guest numbers, catering, audiovisual needs, power backup, and an itemised cost request, making the practical requirements very clear. Its main limitation is the closing warning about flaws damaging both organisations' images, which sounds confrontational and undermines the professional enquiry. The priority is to replace that warning with a polite request for confirmation that the venue can meet the service standards before booking.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All three bullet points are fully developed with useful operational detail, but the letter assumes the venue is chosen and ends with an unnecessarily threatening tone.
Present the resort as one option under consideration and ask courteously whether it can guarantee the requested catering, equipment, and backup services.
Coherence and Cohesion
The requests follow a practical sequence from dates to services and costs, though the single paragraph and abrupt final warning weaken the flow.
Use focused paragraphs for event context and dates, guest and service requirements, costs, and a courteous request for confirmation.
Lexical Resource
There is adequate range for event planning and services, but phrases such as 'breakdown costs', 'return mail', 'detriment our image', and 'rigorous in providing' are inaccurate.
Use precise expressions such as 'itemised cost breakdown', 'by return email', 'damage our reputation', and 'deliver the requested services reliably'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied structures communicate the requirements, but missing words, agreement, article use, and the overloaded warning sentence create recurring errors.
Correct forms such as 'I am therefore writing to request details', 'confirm availability on either date', and 'any shortcomings could damage our reputation'.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are organising an executive event for the company you work for. Write a letter to the person in charge of a venue that you are considering for the event. In your letter:
- ask about available dates
- ask what services the venue provides
- ask about the costs
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.