You are going to visit New Zealand for an 'English and Homestay' program. You have just received details of your homestay host family. Write your first letter to the family. In your letter: - introduce yourself - ask the family some questions to get information that is important to you - tell the family about your arrival date and time
Sample Response
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith, I'm Milad Rahimi from India, have recently registered for a two-week English Homestay programme at your house in New Zealand. I am fascinated to have you as my mentor during the programme. I really appreciate your letter that I received yesterday and writing for some information and to notify you of my arrival date. I am really delighted that you have agreed to host me for the programme. This will definitely enable me to fully immerse myself in the English Culture and further enhance my understanding of your tradition and way of life. As I am coming to New Zealand for the first time, I am not familiar with the weather and I don’t know what kind of clothes I should bring with me. Would you please advise me about that? I would also like to inform you that I am a vegetarian. Moreover, I need your suggestion about the things I should bring with me to your house. Finally, I would appreciate your advice on the type of books I should read about New Zealand that might help me understand your culture. I will arrive in Auckland on 20th September at around 7:30 pm if my flight makes no delay. I look forward to meeting you soon. Yours Sincerely, Milad Rahimi
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct host role Original: fascinated to have you as my mentor Suggested revision: delighted to have you as my hosts Why it matters: The family members are hosts rather than a single mentor, and the plural pronoun requires hosts.
- 2. Remove informal intensifier Original: really delighted Suggested revision: delighted Why it matters: Delighted already expresses strong pleasure, so really is unnecessary.
- 3. Reduce stacked intensifiers Original: definitely enable me to fully immerse myself Suggested revision: enable me to immerse myself Why it matters: Removing definitely and fully makes the sentence more concise without changing its meaning.
- 4. Lowercase common noun Original: Culture Suggested revision: culture Why it matters: Culture is a common noun and should not be capitalized here.
- 5. Use plural traditions Original: tradition Suggested revision: traditions Why it matters: Traditions is more natural when referring broadly to a culture's customs.
- 6. Use future visit form Original: As I am coming Suggested revision: As I will be visiting Why it matters: The future form clearly refers to the upcoming first visit.
- 7. Use plural category phrase Original: what kind of clothes Suggested revision: what kinds of clothing Why it matters: The question concerns multiple suitable clothing types, so the plural category is clearer.
- 8. Make request specific Original: advise me about that Suggested revision: advise me on what to pack Why it matters: The revision gives that a clear reference and states the practical information requested.
- 9. Use natural disclosure Original: I would also like to inform you Suggested revision: I should also mention Why it matters: The replacement sounds natural in a friendly first letter to a host family.
- 10. Use plural request phrase Original: I need your suggestion Suggested revision: I would appreciate your suggestions Why it matters: Suggestions is normally plural when asking generally what items to bring, and the conditional form is politer.
- 11. Use concise question form Original: about the things Suggested revision: on what Why it matters: On what is the natural construction after asking for suggestions.
- 12. Refer to planned stay Original: with me to your house Suggested revision: for my stay Why it matters: The replacement is more concise and focuses on the purpose of the requested items.
Suggested Rewrites
- fascinated to have you as my mentor delighted to have you as my hosts
- really delighted delighted
- definitely enable me to fully immerse myself enable me to immerse myself
- Culture culture
- tradition traditions
- As I am coming As I will be visiting
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter fulfils all three requirements with a friendly introduction, several relevant practical questions, and a precise arrival date and time. Its strongest feature is the useful range of information requested about clothing, household needs, and cultural preparation. The main limitation is awkward phrasing and an overly formal style in places; the priority is to use warmer, more natural language suited to a first letter to a host family.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The writer introduces himself, asks several relevant questions, and gives clear arrival details in a generally suitable friendly tone.
Add one or two personal details about interests or daily habits and ask directly whether the family can accommodate a vegetarian diet.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas progress logically from introduction to questions and arrival, but the single-paragraph format and multiple linking phrases make the letter dense.
Divide the letter into short paragraphs for introduction, practical questions, cultural preparation, and arrival arrangements.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary shows good range for travel, culture, and the homestay, although several choices sound overly formal or imprecise.
Replace phrases such as 'fascinated to have you as my mentor' and 'need your suggestion' with warmer, idiomatic wording.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A variety of structures communicates the message clearly, but errors in the opening sentence, coordination, articles, and conditionals recur.
Write a complete opening clause and use natural forms such as 'I am writing to ask', 'some suggestions', and 'if my flight is not delayed'.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are going to visit New Zealand for an 'English and Homestay' program. You have just received details of your homestay host family. Write your first letter to the family. In your letter:
- introduce yourself
- ask the family some questions to get information that is important to you
- tell the family about your arrival date and time
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.