You are going away to travel for the summer. A friend will be looking after your house while you are away. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - say where you are going - describe how to look after your pet - explain some of the things your friend should do to look after your house
Sample Response
Dear Donna, I trust you are doing splendidly and enjoying the season. Thank you very much for agreeing to house-sit for me while I will be in Ireland to see my sister this summer. If you need to reach me for any reason, please ring my mobile phone. I trust you already have my number. Alternatively, you can find it on a sticky note placed on the land phone table. I will stay with my sister in Limerick city in Ireland and would return on 24th October. It was a relief when you agreed to house-sit for me. I owe you a big one! My dog needs to be fed thrice a day - morning, noon and evening. Please put dog food in his dish at the proper time. You will find the food containers in the kitchen pantry. Also, please check throughout the day to make sure he has fresh water. You can take him outside in the evening if you like. He is very friendly and does not bark at night. I would like you to close the doors and windows in the evening and check the mailbox every other day. If someone asks about me, please inform them that I am away and could be reached on my mobile phone. Finally, water my plant every evening. The indoor cactus plants need water only when the soil is dry. Keep the outside lights on at night. I look forward to seeing you on my return. Warm wishes, Elsa
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Future time clause Original: while I will be in Ireland Suggested revision: while I am in Ireland Why it matters: Use present tense after 'while' for a future period.
- 2. Natural contact phrase Original: please ring my mobile phone Suggested revision: please call me on my mobile Why it matters: This is more natural in an informal letter.
- 3. Wrong term Original: land phone table Suggested revision: landline table Why it matters: 'Land phone' is not the usual term.
- 4. Future tense Original: would return on 24th October Suggested revision: will return on 24 October Why it matters: Use 'will' for this planned return date.
- 5. Natural frequency Original: fed thrice a day Suggested revision: fed three times a day Why it matters: 'Thrice' is correct but uncommon in natural informal writing.
- 6. List comma Original: morning, noon and evening Suggested revision: morning, noon, and evening Why it matters: The serial comma can make the list clearer.
- 7. Pet instruction detail Original: You can take him outside in the evening if you like Suggested revision: Please take him outside in the evening if you have time Why it matters: A clearer instruction would help the friend know whether this is optional or expected.
- 8. Active wording Original: could be reached on my mobile phone Suggested revision: can reach me on my mobile phone Why it matters: Active voice is simpler and warmer.
- 9. Plural consistency Original: water my plant every evening Suggested revision: water my plants every evening Why it matters: The next sentence mentions cactus plants, so plural is clearer.
- 10. Add article Original: Keep the outside lights on at night Suggested revision: Keep the outside lights on at night Why it matters: The phrase is acceptable, but it would be clearer if linked to security in the same sentence.
- 11. Fix time clause Original: Thank you very much for agreeing to house-sit for me while I will be in Ireland to see my sister this summer. Suggested revision: Thank you very much for agreeing to house-sit for me while I am in Ireland visiting my sister this summer. Why it matters: The present tense is more natural after 'while' in this future-time clause.
- 12. Fix household term Original: Alternatively, you can find it on a sticky note placed on the land phone table. Suggested revision: Alternatively, you can find it on a sticky note on the landline table. Why it matters: This uses the correct noun and removes unnecessary wording.
Suggested Rewrites
- while I will be in Ireland while I am in Ireland
- please ring my mobile phone please call me on my mobile
- land phone table landline table
- would return on 24th October will return on 24 October
- fed thrice a day fed three times a day
- morning, noon and evening morning, noon, and evening
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter covers the destination, pet care, and house-care duties in useful detail. It gives practical information such as food location, mailbox checks, plants, and lights.
Add the exact departure date and separate emergency contact details from the main instructions for even clearer task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion
The sequence is logical, but the response is presented as one long paragraph after the greeting, which makes the instructions less easy to follow.
Use short paragraphs or bullet-like instruction paragraphs for travel details, dog care, and house care.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is natural and friendly, with good household and pet-care language. A few phrases are slightly unnatural or too general.
Use standard household wording such as 'landline table', 'three times a day', and 'contact me on my mobile'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is well controlled overall, though some tense choices and small phrase errors remain.
Check future time clauses and prepositions in phrases such as 'while I am away' and 'on the landline table'.