A friend has agreed to look after your house and pet while you are on holiday. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - give contact details for when you are away - give instructions on how to care for your pet - describe other household duties
Sample Response
Dear Sam, I feel so relieved as you've stepped up to take care of my place and my dog when I plan to go on a vacation. I can't thank you enough. To be honest, I was really hoping that you'd respond to my request when I posted it on Facebook. I understand that taking care of new stuff can be overwhelming. If you need to reach me for anything while I'm away, just send a message either on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. I was told by the resort in which I shall be staying, uninterrupted internet access is available there. My mobile phone, however, will remain switched off. If not, I'll keep on receiving calls from work which will ultimately defeat the purpose of this getaway. As for Tommy, the dog, he doesn't really need much care. Just ensure that he gets three meals a day at 6-8 hour intervals. Also, let him be outside in the evening whenever possible so that he can play with the ball. Also, don't forget to bathe him preferably every other day so that he doesn't stink. I know that you'll not stay at my house full time so there aren't many chores that you need to do. Some small things like emptying the trash can, cleaning the parking area and watering the plants need to be done regularly. Once again, I really appreciate the help you are extending to me and hope to return this favour sometime. Best regards, Rouhullah
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct time clause Original: when I plan to go on a vacation Suggested revision: while I am on vacation Why it matters: The present plan wording does not fit the future period during which your friend will provide care.
- 2. Clarify the reference Original: new stuff Suggested revision: an unfamiliar house and pet Why it matters: The vague word “stuff” does not clearly identify the responsibilities you are discussing.
- 3. Clarify the link Original: If not, Suggested revision: Otherwise, Why it matters: “Otherwise” clearly links the consequence to leaving your phone switched on.
- 4. Use concise wording Original: keep on receiving Suggested revision: keep receiving Why it matters: The shorter verb phrase expresses the repeated calls more naturally.
- 5. Hyphenate the modifier Original: 6-8 hour intervals Suggested revision: six- to eight-hour intervals Why it matters: A compound range modifying “intervals” needs the appropriate hyphenation.
- 6. Use natural phrasing Original: let him be outside Suggested revision: let him outside Why it matters: “Let him outside” is the natural expression for allowing a pet to go outdoors.
- 7. Set off the adverbial Original: bathe him preferably every other day Suggested revision: bathe him, preferably every other day, Why it matters: Commas make the parenthetical frequency instruction easier to read.
- 8. Improve future phrasing Original: you'll not stay at my house full time Suggested revision: you won't be staying at my house full-time Why it matters: The progressive form is more natural for the temporary arrangement, and “full-time” is hyphenated here.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: I was told by the resort in which I shall be staying, uninterrupted internet access is available there. Suggested revision: The resort where I will be staying has told me that uninterrupted internet access is available. Why it matters: The original incorrectly joins a reporting clause and a complete statement with a comma.
- 10. Specify duty frequency Suggested revision: State how often the bin, parking area, and plants need attention while you are away. Why it matters: “Regularly” leaves your friend without a clear schedule for the requested household duties.
Suggested Rewrites
- when I plan to go on a vacation while I am on vacation
- new stuff an unfamiliar house and pet
- If not, Otherwise,
- keep on receiving keep receiving
- 6-8 hour intervals six- to eight-hour intervals
- let him be outside let him outside
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter fully addresses the practical arrangements and maintains a warm, natural tone, with especially useful detail about contacting the writer and caring for the dog. Its main weakness is presentation as one continuous block, alongside a few awkward sentence constructions. The highest-priority improvement is to organise the contact, pet-care, and household instructions into distinct paragraphs while polishing the less natural phrasing.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is fully achieved through an appropriate friendly tone and clear, well-developed coverage of all three bullet points.
Make the contact arrangements even more practical by specifying the preferred account or response expectations for urgent messages.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information progresses logically from contact details to pet care and household duties, but the lack of paragraph breaks weakens the organisation.
Use separate paragraphs for the opening, contact arrangements, pet instructions, household duties, and closing.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is varied and generally natural, with effective phrases such as "stepped up," "overwhelming," and "defeat the purpose of this getaway."
Replace vague or slightly awkward expressions such as "new stuff" and "the help you are extending to me" with more precise natural wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence forms is used with strong control, although a few clauses are awkwardly joined or phrased.
Revise constructions such as the sentence beginning "I was told by the resort" so that reporting clauses and dependent clauses are linked accurately.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
A friend has agreed to look after your house and pet while you are on holiday. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- give contact details for when you are away
- give instructions on how to care for your pet
- describe other household duties
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.