Last month you had a holiday overseas where you stayed with some friends. They have just sent you some photos of your holiday. Write a letter to your friends. In your letter: - thank them for the photos and for the holiday - explain why you didn't - write earlier - invite them to come and stay with you
Sample Response
Dear Thomas and Eva, Thank you so much for sending me the photos of the holidays that I spent with you guys over the last month. Believe it or not, it was one of the best holidays of my life with so many happy and joyful moments to cherish for a long time to come. I especially remember our time at the famous beach restaurant where we enjoyed eating some of the biggest lobsters with garlic sauce and butter on the side. And, talking about the photos, I think the photos we took while riding on the horses at a horse ranch were some of the most natural-looking pictures I've ever taken. By the way, I must say sorry to you because I didn’t write to you early enough after receiving the photos from you. It is just that I got really busy dealing with some new assignments at work as well as moving to a new home. Anyway, it is my turn to invite you to my place and spend some time with me because I think that you would like my new place. Warm wishes, Sophia
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use singular event Original: photos of the holidays Suggested revision: photos from the holiday Why it matters: The task refers to one holiday, and photos are naturally described as being from it.
- 2. Clarify past time Original: over the last month Suggested revision: last month Why it matters: Last month states when the completed holiday occurred, whereas over the last month suggests a continuing period.
- 3. Use natural meal phrase Original: enjoyed eating some of the biggest lobsters Suggested revision: enjoyed some enormous lobsters Why it matters: The shorter phrase is more natural while preserving the enthusiastic description.
- 4. Remove extra preposition Original: riding on the horses Suggested revision: riding horses Why it matters: Ride takes the animal directly without on in this construction.
- 5. Use concise apology Original: say sorry to you Suggested revision: apologise to you Why it matters: Apologise is a more concise and natural verb here.
- 6. Use natural timing Original: write to you early enough Suggested revision: write to you sooner Why it matters: Sooner is the natural comparative for an overdue letter.
- 7. Clarify delayed letter Original: after receiving the photos from you Suggested revision: sooner after returning home Why it matters: The delay concerns writing after the holiday, not only after the photos arrived.
- 8. Fix invitation structure Original: invite you to my place and spend Suggested revision: invite you to my new home to spend Why it matters: The infinitive structure correctly links the invitation with spending time together.
- 9. Use direct address Original: guys Suggested revision: both Why it matters: You both addresses the two named friends more directly and naturally.
- 10. Avoid repetition Original: at a horse ranch Suggested revision: at a ranch Why it matters: Ranch already conveys the setting, so horse is repetitive after riding horses.
- 11. Make invitation warmer Original: I think that you would like my new place Suggested revision: I am sure you would enjoy staying in my new home Why it matters: The revision makes the invitation more welcoming and explicitly refers to staying there.
- 12. Streamline food detail Original: with garlic sauce and butter on the side Suggested revision: with garlic butter on the side Why it matters: This removes the awkward coordination while preserving the meal detail.
Suggested Rewrites
- photos of the holidays photos from the holiday
- over the last month last month
- enjoyed eating some of the biggest lobsters enjoyed some enormous lobsters
- riding on the horses riding horses
- say sorry to you apologise to you
- write to you early enough write to you sooner
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter is warm, engaging, and fully purposeful, with clear thanks, a credible explanation for the delayed reply, and an appropriate invitation. Its main limitation is that the invitation is only briefly developed, while a few repetitive or awkward phrases slightly reduce polish. Prioritise adding practical details to the proposed visit and tightening wording so each part of the message feels equally complete.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose and friendly tone are clear, and all required points are covered with relevant personal detail, although the invitation is only briefly extended.
Add a suggested time, activity, or practical arrangement to make the invitation as fully developed as the thanks.
Coherence and Cohesion
The message progresses naturally from thanks and memories to the apology and invitation, with generally effective linking despite limited paragraphing.
Use short paragraphs to separate the holiday appreciation, delayed-reply explanation, and invitation.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, natural, and well suited to a friendly letter, with only occasional repetition and slightly awkward phrasing.
Reduce repetition of 'photos' and replace wordy phrases with concise, idiomatic alternatives.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is handled accurately, and the few awkward constructions do not impede communication.
Polish minor expressions such as 'write to you early enough' and check punctuation around introductory phrases.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
Last month you had a holiday overseas where you stayed with some friends. They have just sent you some photos of your holiday. Write a letter to your friends. In your letter:
- thank them for the photos and for the holiday
- explain why you didn't
- write earlier
- invite them to come and stay with you
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.