For the past seven days, you were late for work due to some unavoidable issues at home. Write a letter to your manager explaining why you were late for work for several days. In your letter: - explain why you were late for the last seven days - apologise for the delay assure your manager that you will be on time from now on
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to explain why I was late to the office for the last week. But first, I would like to apologize to you for failing to show up at work on time during these past few days. During the last week, I needed to take my elderly mother to a clinic in the morning time in order to offer her physical therapy to treat her chronic arthritis pain which has become worse in recent days. To further compound the situation, my wife has been out of the town for almost the whole last week for some professional training, arranged by her office, which means I alone had to take care of all kinds of household works, including cooking and cleaning, at home for my whole family. So, as you can see from the explanation above, my whole last week has been very hectic which caused me to arrive late at my work. But, please rest assured that I will be at work on time from now on. I hope you will accept my apology and explanation for the unintentional delay. Yours faithfully, Greg Timothy
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Manager salutation Original: Dear Sir or Madam, Suggested revision: Dear Mr Smith, Why it matters: If you know your manager, a named greeting is more appropriate.
- 2. Natural phrase Original: to the office for the last week Suggested revision: to the office during the last week Why it matters: This is clearer for a repeated period.
- 3. Formal transition Original: But first, Suggested revision: First, Why it matters: Avoid starting a formal sentence with "But" here.
- 4. Natural phrase Original: morning time Suggested revision: morning Why it matters: "Morning time" is unnatural.
- 5. Therapy phrase Original: offer her physical therapy Suggested revision: take her for physical therapy Why it matters: This is the correct action for accompanying someone to treatment.
- 6. Clear reference Original: which has become worse Suggested revision: as her pain has become worse Why it matters: This makes the cause clearer.
- 7. Article error Original: out of the town Suggested revision: out of town Why it matters: The fixed phrase does not use "the".
- 8. Natural timing Original: almost the whole last week Suggested revision: almost all of last week Why it matters: This is more idiomatic.
- 9. Countable noun Original: household works Suggested revision: household chores Why it matters: "Work" is not used this way in plural for chores.
- 10. Natural phrase Original: my whole last week has been very hectic Suggested revision: last week was very hectic Why it matters: This is simpler and more natural.
- 11. Work collocation Original: arrive late at my work Suggested revision: arrive late for work Why it matters: Use "late for work".
- 12. Comma choice Original: But, please rest assured Suggested revision: Please rest assured Why it matters: Remove the unnecessary opening "But," for a smoother assurance.
Suggested Rewrites
- Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Mr Smith,
- to the office for the last week to the office during the last week
- But first, First,
- morning time morning
- offer her physical therapy take her for physical therapy
- which has become worse as her pain has become worse
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter explains the seven days of lateness, apologises, and assures the manager that the problem will not continue. The purpose is clear and relevant, though the salutation could be more personalised for a manager.
Add a brief practical assurance, such as alternative care arrangements, to make the promise to be punctual more convincing.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response is coherent and the explanation develops logically. However, several sentences are long and the one-block format after the greeting reduces readability.
Use separate paragraphs for apology, explanation, and assurance.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is adequate and mostly formal, but some phrases are unnatural, including "morning time", "household works", and "arrive late at my work".
Use standard workplace and household phrases such as "in the morning", "household chores", and "arrive late for work".
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is clear, and complex sentences are attempted. Accuracy is affected by article errors, prepositions, and overly long clauses.
Shorten the longest explanation sentence and check articles in phrases such as "out of town" and "household chores".