A friend of yours is thinking of going on a camping holiday for the first time this summer. He/She has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - explain why you think your friend would enjoy a camping holiday - describe some possible disadvantages - say whether you would like to go camping with your friend this summer
Same question Compare all 2 answers See different approaches and band scores for this IELTS task.Sample Response
Dear Anmol,
I can't express how thrilled I truly am to hear that you’re considering going on a camping holiday this summer! It’s an experience like no other!
Camping allows us to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of our daily life and immerse ourselves in nature, especially for us who live in a busy city. Waking up to the sound of birds, enjoying a campfire under the stars, and exploring scenic landscapes can be incredibly refreshing and rewarding and I believe you will enjoy it all.
However, there are some potential downsides to consider. The weather can be unpredictable, so you’ll need to be prepared for rain or chilly nights. Also, sleeping in a tent might not be as comfortable as a hotel room, especially if you’re not used to it. And let’s not forget about insects - you’ll definitely want to pack some bug spray!
That being said, I'd absolutely love to join you on this adventure! It would be great fun to explore the outdoors together, and I could help you with some of the basics since I’ve been camping before.
Let me know your plans, and we can start organizing the trip!
Warm wishes,
Erin
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct dash Original: insects - Suggested revision: insects— Why it matters: An em dash, not a spaced hyphen, should introduce this emphatic aside.
- 2. Tighten the transition Original: That being said Suggested revision: That said Why it matters: The shorter transition links the disadvantage paragraph to the invitation more efficiently.
- 3. Make reference specific Original: on this adventure Suggested revision: on this camping trip Why it matters: The specific reference is clearer than the broad word “adventure.”
- 4. Specify the basics Original: some of the basics Suggested revision: some camping basics Why it matters: Naming the context makes this reference more precise.
- 5. Use natural collocation Original: organizing Suggested revision: planning Why it matters: “Planning a trip” is the more natural collocation in this context.
- 6. Sentence rewrite Original: I can't express how thrilled I truly am to hear that you’re considering going on a camping holiday this summer! It’s an experience like no other! Suggested revision: I’m thrilled to hear that you’re considering a camping holiday this summer; it should be a memorable experience! Why it matters: This keeps the warm tone while reducing exaggerated and formulaic phrasing.
- 7. Sentence rewrite Original: Camping allows us to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of our daily life and immerse ourselves in nature, especially for us who live in a busy city. Suggested revision: Camping allows us, especially as city dwellers, to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and immerse ourselves in nature. Why it matters: This revision fixes the number mismatch and attaches the city-life qualification clearly.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: Waking up to the sound of birds, enjoying a campfire under the stars, and exploring scenic landscapes can be incredibly refreshing and rewarding and I believe you will enjoy it all. Suggested revision: Waking up to birdsong, enjoying a campfire under the stars, and exploring scenic landscapes can all be incredibly refreshing, and I believe you will enjoy these activities. Why it matters: The revision separates the linked clauses clearly and replaces the vague reference “it all.”
Suggested Rewrites
- insects - insects—
- That being said That said
- on this adventure on this camping trip
- some of the basics some camping basics
- organizing planning
- I can't express how thrilled I truly am to hear that you’re considering going on a camping holiday this summer! It’s an experience like no other! I’m thrilled to hear that you’re considering a camping holiday this summer; it should be a memorable experience!
Why this response received Band 8.0
This is a warm, engaging letter that fully answers the request, develops both benefits and disadvantages, and maintains a convincing informal relationship with the reader. Its only notable limitation is occasional over-emphasis and a few slightly loose sentence connections; tightening punctuation and moderating repeated exclamation marks would make the already fluent response more polished and controlled.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter fully covers all three bullet points with well-developed, personal, and consistently relevant detail.
Refine the advice by briefly naming one essential item beyond bug spray for even greater practical specificity.
Coherence and Cohesion
Purposeful paragraphs and clear transitions create a smooth progression through enthusiasm, drawbacks, and the offer to join.
Tighten the long benefits sentence so each supporting image has slightly clearer emphasis.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is flexible, natural, and well suited to an enthusiastic informal letter, with only minor imprecision.
Prefer daily lives when referring collectively to both writer and reader, and avoid relying on familiar stock phrases.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of structures is handled accurately, with only minor punctuation and coordination lapses that do not impede meaning.
Use firmer punctuation in long coordinated sentences and avoid joining too many clauses with and.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
A friend of yours is thinking of going on a camping holiday for the first time this summer. He/She has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- explain why you think your friend would enjoy a camping holiday
- describe some possible disadvantages
- say whether you would like to go camping with your friend this summer
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.