You have been doing some voluntary work to help your local community. However, now you are unable to continue doing this work. Write a letter to the manager of the organisation where you have been working. In your letter: - describe the work you have been doing - explain why you can no longer do this work recommend another person - who is interested in the work
Sample Response
Dear Mr Patrick, I am a cadet in your community-based rehabilitation team and I have been with this group since 2017. I regret to inform you that I will not be able to continue with your organisation effective from 1st December 2025 as I am leaving for my home country once and for all. It has been a wonderful journey for me so far. I was predominantly working with the rehabilitation team, assisting the medical panel of experts as a volunteer doctor. My duties mainly comprised of the initial assessment of patients, who are from the indigent part of our local community. The assessment mainly included monitoring their physical, social and emotional wellness. As you may remember, I was pursuing my postgraduation at Boston University. Now that my study permit has expired, I am preparing to leave for my home country in a couple of weeks. Henceforth, can no longer work for the team I had been a part of. However, it would be my pleasure, to introduce one of my juniors in college, who is willing to take over my position in the team. Now, the whole charade of recruitment of a new employee, the prerequisites and all, as intended, I leave it upon you. His name is Jackson Dave and he will be in contact with you soon. Once again, I would take this opportunity to thank everyone who stood beside me during my tenure with the group. I wish every success of the organisation. Sincerely yours, Jane Smith
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Clarify volunteer role Original: cadet Suggested revision: volunteer Why it matters: Cadet conflicts with the later description of working as a volunteer doctor.
- 2. Use simple date phrase Original: effective from Suggested revision: from Why it matters: From directly introduces the date when the change begins.
- 3. Keep formal tone Original: once and for all Suggested revision: permanently Why it matters: This is more appropriate for a professional letter than the dramatic idiom.
- 4. Use continuing timeframe Original: I was predominantly working Suggested revision: I have primarily worked Why it matters: The present perfect fits work continuing from 2017 until the current departure.
- 5. Use concise role term Original: medical panel of experts Suggested revision: medical team Why it matters: The original phrase is unnecessarily elaborate for this workplace context.
- 6. Use clear composition phrase Original: comprised of Suggested revision: consisted of Why it matters: Consisted of is the unambiguous standard construction here.
- 7. Remove faulty relative clause Original: patients, who are from Suggested revision: patients from Why it matters: The comma makes the defining information about the patients incorrectly non-restrictive.
- 8. Use clinical collocation Original: wellness Suggested revision: well-being Why it matters: Physical, social, and emotional well-being is the more natural collocation.
- 9. Correct study term Original: postgraduation Suggested revision: postgraduate studies Why it matters: Postgraduation is not the standard noun phrase for a university programme.
- 10. Restore subject and link Original: Henceforth, can Suggested revision: Therefore, I can Why it matters: The sentence needs the subject I, and therefore expresses cause more accurately than henceforth.
- 11. Correct time relationship Original: had been a part of Suggested revision: have been part of Why it matters: The team membership continued until the present decision, so present perfect is appropriate.
- 12. Remove intrusive comma Original: pleasure, to Suggested revision: pleasure to Why it matters: A comma must not separate the noun pleasure from its infinitive complement.
Suggested Rewrites
- cadet volunteer
- effective from from
- once and for all permanently
- I was predominantly working I have primarily worked
- medical panel of experts medical team
- comprised of consisted of
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter clearly explains the volunteer role, reason for leaving, and proposed replacement while maintaining a generally appropriate formal purpose. Its impact is reduced by one-block organisation and several awkward or unsuitable expressions, especially ‘whole charade’ and ‘henceforth’, alongside a few grammatical omissions. Prioritise clear paragraphing and natural formal phrasing so the information reads more professionally and smoothly.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear and all three content points are covered with relevant detail, although the proposed replacement is only briefly developed and one phrase sounds inappropriately dismissive.
Add a little evidence of Jackson's suitability and keep the recommendation consistently respectful.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information follows a sensible sequence, but presenting the entire letter as one block weakens paragraphing and some transitions are mechanical.
Separate the opening, duties, reason, recommendation, and closing into clear functional paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The letter shows useful range in formal and medical vocabulary, but several choices such as ‘cadet’, ‘postgraduation’, and ‘whole charade’ are imprecise or unnatural.
Replace conspicuous or misused terms with conventional formal expressions that fit a volunteer resignation letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex sentences is attempted and meaning remains clear, though missing subjects, misplaced commas, and awkward clause construction recur.
Proofread each complex sentence for a complete subject-verb structure and remove unnecessary commas.
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