You have a friend who lives in a city abroad. You would like to apply to do a course at one of the colleges in this city. Write to your friend. In your letter: - explain what you would like to do - describe the work or studies you have been doing for the past few years - ask for help contacting an appropriate institution
Sample Response
Dear Mimi, Hope you are doing excellent. I regret that I haven't been in touch with you for a couple of months. I am really busy these days and I hardly have time to wind down. I am writing to let you know that I am planning to apply to Oxford University, which means we'll be living in the same city soon. I am expecting your assistance in getting some information regarding the course I am planning to pursue. As you know, ever since I have finished my Bachelor in Psychology, I have been working full time in the human resources department. I'm currently working as an HR consultant, but I am interested in organisational development. That's why I have decided to do a master's degree in ‘Organisational Psychology’. I am planning to submit my application to the university soon. However, I was recently assigned to work on a three-month project in Hongkong, so I don't know when I'll have the opportunity to contact the admission office. Do you mind contacting them to ask about their specific entry requirements? That would be a great help if you do. Take care and write me back sometime. Talk to you soon. Warm regards, Helen
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use adverb after doing Original: excellent Suggested revision: well Why it matters: Doing requires the adverb well rather than the adjective excellent.
- 2. Use friendly apology Original: I regret that I haven't been in touch Suggested revision: I'm sorry I haven't been in touch Why it matters: The simpler apology better matches a personal letter to a friend.
- 3. Avoid assuming admission Original: which means we'll be living in the same city soon Suggested revision: which could mean we'll be living in the same city soon Why it matters: Could keeps the friendly anticipation without assuming the application has already succeeded.
- 4. Soften friend request Original: I am expecting your assistance Suggested revision: I was hoping you could help me Why it matters: The replacement makes the request appropriately warm rather than demanding.
- 5. Fix since tense Original: ever since I have finished Suggested revision: since I finished Why it matters: A completed starting event after since takes the simple past.
- 6. Name degree naturally Original: my Bachelor in Psychology Suggested revision: my bachelor's degree in psychology Why it matters: This is the standard noun phrase for the qualification and field.
- 7. Correct place name Original: Hongkong Suggested revision: Hong Kong Why it matters: Hong Kong is written as two words.
- 8. Use institutional term Original: admission Suggested revision: admissions Why it matters: Admissions office is the standard term for the university department handling applications.
- 9. Match polite conditional Original: do Suggested revision: could Why it matters: Could correctly completes the polite hypothetical request.
- 10. Use natural recent-time phrasing Original: I am really busy these days Suggested revision: I've been really busy lately Why it matters: The present perfect and lately describe an ongoing recent situation more naturally.
- 11. Align tense and expression Original: hardly have time to wind down Suggested revision: have hardly had time to relax Why it matters: This form links the lack of free time to the recent period already introduced.
- 12. Identify the intended study Original: planning to apply to Oxford University Suggested revision: planning to apply for a course at Oxford University Why it matters: The replacement makes clear that the application is for study rather than merely to the institution.
Suggested Rewrites
- excellent well
- I regret that I haven't been in touch I'm sorry I haven't been in touch
- which means we'll be living in the same city soon which could mean we'll be living in the same city soon
- I am expecting your assistance I was hoping you could help me
- ever since I have finished since I finished
- my Bachelor in Psychology my bachelor's degree in psychology
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter fully covers the intended course, recent work history and specific request for help, and its friendly tone is generally well suited to a close friend. The main limitation is presentation: the content is delivered as one long block, while a few phrases are overly formal or grammatically awkward. Divide the letter into purposeful paragraphs and refine expressions such as "doing well," "since I finished," and "That would be a great help if you did."
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are developed with specific details, and the friendly register is largely appropriate.
Make the request sound slightly more natural and personal by asking your friend directly for help with the admissions office and entry requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas move logically from the course plan to work experience and the request, but the lack of paragraph breaks makes the letter visually dense.
Use separate paragraphs for the course, recent professional background, and the practical help being requested.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and suitably specific, particularly for the degree and employment context, though a few expressions are overly formal for a friend.
Replace phrases such as "I am expecting your assistance" with warmer, natural wording such as "I was hoping you could help me."
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good range of complex structures is used accurately overall, with a few local errors in tense and conditional forms.
Use "since I finished my bachelor's degree" and "That would be a great help if you did" to improve grammatical precision.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have a friend who lives in a city abroad. You would like to apply to do a course at one of the colleges in this city. Write to your friend. In your letter:
- explain what you would like to do
- describe the work or studies you have been doing for the past few years
- ask for help contacting an appropriate institution
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.