You share a room in a college with another student. You find it difficult to study and work there because your roommate has friends and parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking. Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer. In your letter: - explain the problems with your current room - ask for a new room next term - say that you would prefer a single room and explain why
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inform you that I wish to move into a new accommodation next term, preferably in a single room, as I find my current sharing arrangement quite inconvenient. My roommate has made it harder for me to concentrate on my studies and I am hoping you would help me sort it out. Due to my roommate’s inconsiderate behaviour, I find it troublesome to live in my room, let alone study properly. For one thing, he has friends visiting him every single day, for another, he regularly holds parties and listens to music loudly. In addition, he often borrows my belongings without my permission. A few days ago he took a book from my desk and lost it which I borrowed from the college library. Due to his irrational behaviours, I find it challenging to concentrate on my studies and live peacefully. I am expecting your help to move into a room of my own, where I will be free from such distractions. I would be grateful if you could find a single room for me near the college campus from the beginning of next term. I will be always indebted to you. Yours faithfully, Richard Heer
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Remove incorrect article Original: a new accommodation Suggested revision: new accommodation Why it matters: Accommodation is uncountable when it refers generally to a place to live.
- 2. Use natural phrasing Original: troublesome to live in my room Suggested revision: difficult to live in the room Why it matters: This wording expresses the practical difficulty more naturally.
- 3. Use precise wording Original: irrational behaviours Suggested revision: inconsiderate behaviour Why it matters: Inconsiderate behaviour accurately describes the roommate's actions and is uncountable here.
- 4. Use polite request Original: I am expecting your help Suggested revision: I would appreciate your help Why it matters: This phrasing is more appropriately polite in a formal request.
- 5. Correct adverb position Original: will be always Suggested revision: will always be Why it matters: The frequency adverb normally follows the modal verb.
- 6. Moderate the tone Original: indebted Suggested revision: grateful Why it matters: Grateful conveys thanks without sounding disproportionate to this routine request.
- 7. Soften the request Original: I wish to move into Suggested revision: I would like to move to Why it matters: Would like keeps the request formal while sounding less abrupt.
- 8. Specify the arrangement Original: current sharing arrangement Suggested revision: current room-sharing arrangement Why it matters: Room-sharing identifies the relevant arrangement more precisely.
- 9. Clarify the location Original: friends visiting him Suggested revision: friends visiting the room Why it matters: The revision makes clear that the visits occur in the shared space and cause the disturbance.
- 10. Use accurate verb Original: borrows my belongings without my permission Suggested revision: takes my belongings without asking Why it matters: Borrow implies consent and an intention to return the item, which conflicts with the stated lack of permission.
- 11. Improve complement pattern Original: to move into a room of my own Suggested revision: with moving to a room of my own Why it matters: Help with followed by a gerund fits the noun phrase your help more naturally.
- 12. Make request direct Original: I would be grateful if you could Suggested revision: Could you please Why it matters: This remains polite while stating the requested action more directly.
Suggested Rewrites
- a new accommodation new accommodation
- troublesome to live in my room difficult to live in the room
- irrational behaviours inconsiderate behaviour
- I am expecting your help I would appreciate your help
- will be always will always be
- indebted grateful
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter clearly explains the disruptive living situation, requests a move for the next term, and justifies the preference for a single room with relevant supporting detail. Its main limitation is presentation: the response is effectively one long paragraph, while several phrases sound awkward or overly emphatic for an accommodation request. Divide the content into purposeful paragraphs and refine collocations and sentence boundaries.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, all three bullet points are fully addressed, and the formal tone is generally suitable.
Use a more measured closing request and avoid the exaggerated promise of being forever indebted.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas progress logically from the complaint to its effects and the requested solution, but the lack of paragraphing weakens organisation.
Separate the opening, detailed problems, and requested accommodation into distinct paragraphs and repair the comma splice linking the two examples.
Lexical Resource
A good range of vocabulary conveys the problems precisely, though some choices such as irrational behaviours and new accommodation are unnatural.
Choose more idiomatic formal collocations, such as inconsiderate behaviour and different accommodation or a new room.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex structures are mostly accurate and meaning remains clear despite a few awkward constructions and punctuation errors.
Improve clause control in sentences such as the library-book example and place adverbs more naturally.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You share a room in a college with another student. You find it difficult to study and work there because your roommate has friends and parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking. Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer. In your letter:
- explain the problems with your current room
- ask for a new room next term
- say that you would prefer a single room and explain why
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.