A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening. Write a letter to your relative. In your letter: - Explain arrangements you have made for them to have keys and get into the house. - Tell your relative how to get from the train station to your house? - Say when you will be home and suggest what you could do together that evening?
Sample Response
Dear John and Rajan, It has been a long time since we talked. However, yesterday, I received your letter, and I’m elated to read that you’re coming to stay at my home for a week; but, unfortunately, I’ll not be there to receive you.
You need not have worried about it as I’ve arranged all the things. I have given spare keys to Mr Brown, who has been living next door to me and when you arrive, you can take keys from him and open the door.
To be honest, it’s not a Herculean task to reach my place. As it’s very convenient for you to hire a private cab from the bus station, if you have got a lot of luggage; otherwise public transport is the best option as it’ll save your money. My house is 3km away from the bus station, and you’ll reach it within 15 minutes.
I’ll be able to meet you in the late evening. Albeit, I’ll not be late for dinner. I’ve arranged a special dinner for us. I’ve booked our place in a reputed restaurant, and when I’ll be at home, we all will dine out after getting fresh. As I know, you have got a sweet tooth, so after dining out, we’ll go to Ice cream parlour and relish our favourite ice cream.
Hoping to see you soon!
Yours Loving,
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. More natural phrase Original: I’m elated to read Suggested revision: I’m delighted to learn Why it matters: This collocation sounds more natural when reacting to news in a personal letter.
- 2. Fix conjunction punctuation Original: for a week; but Suggested revision: for a week, but Why it matters: A comma, rather than a semicolon, should precede the coordinating conjunction here.
- 3. Natural negative form Original: I’ll not be there Suggested revision: I won’t be there Why it matters: The contracted negative form is more natural in this informal letter.
- 4. Correct time reference Original: You need not have worried Suggested revision: You need not worry Why it matters: The relative has not yet arrived, so the present construction fits the situation.
- 5. Use precise collocation Original: arranged all the things Suggested revision: made all the arrangements Why it matters: This is the standard collocation for preparations made before a visit.
- 6. Add definite article Original: I have given spare keys Suggested revision: I have given the spare keys Why it matters: The specific keys prepared for the visitors require the definite article.
- 7. Use simple present Original: who has been living next door to me Suggested revision: who lives next door to me Why it matters: The simple present clearly describes the neighbour’s current permanent residence.
- 8. Use natural phrasing Original: you can take keys from him Suggested revision: you can collect the keys from him Why it matters: Collect is the natural verb for obtaining keys from another person.
- 9. Avoid inflated wording Original: a Herculean task Suggested revision: difficult Why it matters: This simpler word better suits an informal letter to relatives.
- 10. Match the task location Original: bus Suggested revision: train Why it matters: The task states that the relatives will arrive by train.
- 11. Correct object pattern Original: your Suggested revision: you Why it matters: Save takes the person followed by the thing saved in this construction.
- 12. Use valid connector Original: Albeit Suggested revision: However Why it matters: Albeit cannot stand alone as a sentence connector in this way.
Suggested Rewrites
- I’m elated to read I’m delighted to learn
- for a week; but for a week, but
- I’ll not be there I won’t be there
- You need not have worried You need not worry
- arranged all the things made all the arrangements
- I have given spare keys I have given the spare keys
Why this response received Band 6.0
The letter has a clear, friendly purpose and gives workable key arrangements and appealing evening plans, with ideas organised in an easy-to-follow sequence. Its main weakness is that it refers to a bus station instead of the stated train station and offers transport options rather than clear directions. Prioritise accurate task details and practical route instructions, then simplify awkward expressions and sentence structures.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose and all three bullet points are recognisable, but the journey advice uses the wrong station and lacks actual directions.
Give a clear route from the train station, including the relevant transport, stop, and final steps to the house.
Coherence and Cohesion
The letter progresses logically through arrival, transport, and evening plans, although several linking expressions are awkward or excessive.
Use simpler connections between complete sentences and avoid combining several contrasting linkers in one thought.
Lexical Resource
There is enough range to discuss arrangements and plans, but several choices sound unnatural, including references to a reputed restaurant and getting fresh.
Prefer natural everyday phrases appropriate to a family letter and check collocations rather than selecting overly elaborate vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex structures conveys the message, but fragments and recurring clause, article, and tense errors reduce control.
Form complete sentences around linkers such as albeit and review future time clauses, articles, and punctuation in longer sentences.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
A family member is coming to stay with you. He/she will be arriving by train in the morning, but you won’t be home until the evening. Write a letter to your relative. In your letter:
- Explain arrangements you have made for them to have keys and get into the house.
- Tell your relative how to get from the train station to your house?
- Say when you will be home and suggest what you could do together that evening?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.