You are going on a short training course at a college in Greenmount, Northern Ireland. You need somewhere to live while you are there. Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In your letter: - explain your situation - describe the accommodation you require - say when you will need it
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing this letter to request you for arranging suitable accommodation for me during my training course at the City College, Greenmount, Northern Ireland. I am looking for a place to live in and I hope you would help me with this. I am searching for a shared room with a kitchen and attached bathroom. It would be great if someone is interested in sharing the room but she has to be a female who would take the same training course as mine. I would really appreciate a room with a hot water facility, and I am looking for a furnished room. My course is going to commence on 10th September and I shall reach there a week earlier. Please arrange a living place for me in Greenmount as soon as possible so that I can successfully complete the course. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. Yours faithfully, Namrata Jain
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct request structure Original: request you for arranging Suggested revision: ask you to arrange Why it matters: Ask someone to arrange is the correct verb pattern for this request.
- 2. Remove unnecessary preposition Original: a place to live in Suggested revision: a place to live Why it matters: Live needs no final preposition when place is already its location complement.
- 3. Use suitable modal Original: would Suggested revision: can Why it matters: Can is appropriate for a present request addressed directly to the officer.
- 4. Use conditional form Original: if someone is interested in sharing Suggested revision: if another student were interested in sharing Why it matters: The hypothetical preference requires were, and another student identifies the prospective roommate.
- 5. State preference politely Original: but she has to be a female Suggested revision: provided that she is female Why it matters: The revised condition expresses the accommodation preference more appropriately.
- 6. Correct course comparison Original: who would take the same training course as mine Suggested revision: who is taking the same training course as I am Why it matters: The comparison must be between what the two students are taking, not between a person and a course.
- 7. Use natural amenity term Original: a hot water facility Suggested revision: hot water Why it matters: Hot water is the standard way to name this accommodation amenity.
- 8. Use concise start verb Original: is going to commence Suggested revision: starts Why it matters: Starts states the course date directly and naturally.
- 9. Give exact arrival date Original: shall reach there a week earlier Suggested revision: will arrive one week earlier, on 3 September Why it matters: The exact date makes clear when the accommodation will be needed.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: Please arrange a living place for me in Greenmount as soon as possible so that I can successfully complete the course. Suggested revision: Please arrange suitable accommodation in Greenmount for me from 3 September until the end of my course. Why it matters: The rewrite makes the requested accommodation period clear and removes the unsupported link to course success.
Suggested Rewrites
- request you for arranging ask you to arrange
- a place to live in a place to live
- would can
- if someone is interested in sharing if another student were interested in sharing
- but she has to be a female provided that she is female
- who would take the same training course as mine who is taking the same training course as I am
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter clearly explains the training course, specifies a furnished shared room with a kitchen, bathroom, hot water, and a female student roommate, and indicates arrival one week before the course. Its main limitation is incomplete timing because it never states how long the accommodation is required, while frequent awkward request patterns reduce professionalism. The highest priority is to give exact occupancy dates and use concise, natural formal phrasing.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The situation and accommodation requirements are clear and relevant, but the requested end date or duration is missing.
Provide exact move-in and move-out dates, linked to the full duration of the short course.
Coherence and Cohesion
The request follows a logical order, but one-block presentation and repeated statements about finding accommodation weaken cohesion.
Separate the course situation, room requirements, and dates into three focused paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is sufficient for the request, though repetition and unnatural phrases reduce precision.
Use arrange accommodation, en-suite bathroom, hot water, furnished room, prospective roommate, and attend the same course.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is clear and several complex forms are attempted, but errors in verb patterns, pronouns, articles, and comparison recur.
Use request that you arrange, a course like mine, and arrive there, while avoiding unnecessary future forms.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are going on a short training course at a college in Greenmount, Northern Ireland. You need somewhere to live while you are there. Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In your letter:
- explain your situation
- describe the accommodation you require
- say when you will need it
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.