You bought a ticket for a music concert, but now you are unable to go. You decide to offer the ticket to a friend. Write a letter to this friend. In your letter: - Give details of the concert. - Explain why you are unable to go. - Suggest how this friend can get the ticket from you. You do NOT need to include addresses. ………………..,
Sample Response
Dear James
Sorry I haven’t been in touch for ages. Life has been so chaotic recently and since starting my new job I’ve hardly had a moment to spare. I hope you’re keeping well.
My reason for contacting you is that I was planning to go and see Drake in concert on the 25th of next month at Wembley Arena and because this is his first concert here you can imagine how thrilled I was to get a ticket. But my boss told me that I have to be in Manchester on the night of the concert to go to a work function. You can guess how devastated I am!
As you are a massive fan of his too, I was wondering if you’d like my ticket. I don’t want any money for it- let’s call it an early birthday present – but you’d need to pick it up from me next week before I leave for London. I know I could just put it in the post, but I’m scared it might never arrive.
Let me know ASAP if you’re interested and if so, when you’re able to pop over. It would be lovely to see you. Hopefully we’ll manage a coffee and a quick catch-up.
Give my regards to your family, and hope to see you soon.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add salutation comma Original: Dear James Suggested revision: Dear James, Why it matters: A comma is required after the recipient's name in the salutation.
- 2. Use friendlier phrasing Original: My reason for contacting you is that Suggested revision: I'm getting in touch because Why it matters: This wording better matches the informal relationship with a friend.
- 3. Separate linked ideas Original: at Wembley Arena and because this is his first concert here you can imagine Suggested revision: at Wembley Arena. Because this is his first concert here, you can imagine Why it matters: Splitting the clauses and adding the comma makes the long sentence easier to follow.
- 4. Use precise verb Original: to go to a work function Suggested revision: to attend a work function Why it matters: Attend is the more natural verb for a work function.
- 5. Correct the dash Original: for it- Suggested revision: for it— Why it matters: An em dash correctly marks the interruption before the explanation.
- 6. Avoid abrupt abbreviation Original: ASAP Suggested revision: as soon as possible Why it matters: Writing the phrase out keeps the friendly request clear and natural.
- 7. Improve the collocation Original: Hopefully we’ll manage a coffee Suggested revision: Hopefully we can have a coffee Why it matters: Have a coffee is the more natural collocation in this context.
- 8. Restore the subject Original: , and hope to see you soon. Suggested revision: , and I hope to see you soon. Why it matters: The second coordinated clause needs an explicit subject.
- 9. Specify collection timing Suggested revision: Add a specific day or time next week when James can collect the ticket. Why it matters: A precise arrangement would develop the requested collection detail more fully.
Suggested Rewrites
- Dear James Dear James,
- My reason for contacting you is that I'm getting in touch because
- at Wembley Arena and because this is his first concert here you can imagine at Wembley Arena. Because this is his first concert here, you can imagine
- to go to a work function to attend a work function
- for it- for it—
- ASAP as soon as possible
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter is engaging and convincingly informal, with all three requested points covered through specific, relevant detail. Its main limitation is occasional sentence-level untidiness, especially the overextended concert explanation and minor punctuation slips; the highest-priority improvement is to use cleaner sentence boundaries and punctuation while preserving the natural, friendly voice.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, every bullet point is fully developed, and the informal tone suits a close friend.
Add a conventional closing and name to complete the letter format more neatly.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through context, explanation, ticket arrangements, and a friendly closing, with effective paragraphing.
Split the long concert paragraph sentence so its reason, excitement, and scheduling conflict are easier to follow.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is flexible, precise, and naturally informal, with effective phrases such as thrilled, devastated, pop over, and catch-up.
Refine small presentation details, such as spacing around dashes, to make the polished word choice look equally controlled.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, and the few errors do not impede communication.
Tighten punctuation in long compound sentences and avoid the subject omission in the final line.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You bought a ticket for a music concert, but now you are unable to go. You decide to offer the ticket to a friend. Write a letter to this friend. In your letter:
- Give details of the concert.
- Explain why you are unable to go.
- Suggest how this friend can get the ticket from you. You do NOT need to include addresses. ………………..,
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.