A friend who is about to enter university wants your advice about whether to specialise in history, which interests him/her, or computer science, which offers better job prospects. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - recommend which subject your friend should specialise in - consider your friend's interest in history - consider the job prospects offered by computer science
Sample Response
Dear Diana, Hope this letter finds you in good health and spirit. I feel truly honoured and flattered since you've decided to take my advice into confidence with regard to choosing a subject of study before entering your university. However, this is not an easy decision to make - probably because none of us can be sure what the future would be like. But, again, since you have taken the trouble to ask for my advice, I'd suggest you go ahead with the “History” subject, primarily because you really like to study history. Besides, conventional wisdom suggests that whenever a person likes to do something, the chances are that he or she will become a real expert in that subject or profession, sooner rather than later. Finally, in defence of studying History, the job prospect after studying this subject is no less than studying computer science since many universities would compete among themselves to recruit you as a faculty member to teach history if you have good results. However, I would like you to think more as it is ultimately your future. I hope whatever you decide, would be best for you. Warm wishes, Elina
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add sentence subject Original: Hope this letter finds you Suggested revision: I hope this letter finds you Why it matters: The sentence needs the subject “I” before the verb.
- 2. Use friendly register Original: honoured and flattered Suggested revision: pleased Why it matters: This simpler word sounds more natural in an informal letter to a friend.
- 3. Correct the expression Original: take my advice into confidence Suggested revision: ask for my advice Why it matters: “Ask for my advice” is the appropriate expression for seeking guidance.
- 4. Use natural phrasing Original: the “History” subject Suggested revision: history Why it matters: The subject name can be stated directly without quotation marks or the word “subject.”
- 5. Fix the comparison Original: the job prospect after studying this subject is no less than studying computer science Suggested revision: the job prospects after studying history are no worse than those after studying computer science Why it matters: The revised comparison matches job prospects with job prospects and uses the plural noun naturally.
- 6. Use natural wording Original: think more Suggested revision: give the matter more thought Why it matters: This collocation expresses careful consideration more precisely.
- 7. Use standard expression Original: good health and spirit Suggested revision: good health and high spirits Why it matters: The conventional expression uses the plural phrase “high spirits.”
- 8. Use direct wording Original: with regard to choosing Suggested revision: about choosing Why it matters: The shorter preposition is more natural in a personal letter.
- 9. Remove needless wording Original: a subject of study Suggested revision: a subject Why it matters: “Of study” is redundant because the context already concerns university subjects.
- 10. Use natural collocation Original: entering your university Suggested revision: starting university Why it matters: “Starting university” is the natural expression for beginning university studies.
- 11. Use concise transition Original: But, again, Suggested revision: Nonetheless, Why it matters: This transition signals the return from uncertainty to the recommendation more smoothly.
- 12. State advice directly Original: go ahead with Suggested revision: choose Why it matters: “Choose” gives the recommendation more directly and precisely.
Suggested Rewrites
- Hope this letter finds you I hope this letter finds you
- honoured and flattered pleased
- take my advice into confidence ask for my advice
- the “History” subject history
- the job prospect after studying this subject is no less than studying computer science the job prospects after studying history are no worse than those after studying computer science
- think more give the matter more thought
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter makes a clear recommendation and gives a persuasive explanation of why Diana’s interest in history matters, using a warm and supportive closing. Its main limitation is that the superior job prospects associated with computer science are barely examined, while some phrasing is overly formal or unnatural for a friend. Give a balanced, concrete comparison of career options and organise the advice into clear paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose and recommendation are clear, and the interest in history is developed, but computer science job prospects receive only a passing comparison.
Discuss the employment advantages of computer science explicitly before explaining why personal interest still makes history the better choice.
Coherence and Cohesion
The advice follows a generally logical sequence, but presenting the entire body as one paragraph weakens organisation and readability.
Separate the opening, recommendation, comparison of subjects, and closing advice into purposeful paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The letter uses a fairly broad vocabulary, though several collocations such as ‘take my advice into confidence’ and ‘job prospect’ sound unnatural.
Choose more natural personal-letter phrasing and use precise plural forms such as ‘job prospects’ when comparing careers.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex sentences is handled with generally good control, and the few grammatical lapses do not impede meaning.
Refine clause punctuation and conditional phrasing, especially in the final sentence about whatever Diana decides.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
A friend who is about to enter university wants your advice about whether to specialise in history, which interests him/her, or computer science, which offers better job prospects. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- recommend which subject your friend should specialise in
- consider your friend's interest in history
- consider the job prospects offered by computer science
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.