You would like to enrol in a qualification course. Write a letter to the person in charge of the course. In your letter: - ask for details about the course - ask about the fees - ask about the prerequisites
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am Caroline Norton, writing to request some information about the two-year diploma program in architectural design that your institute offers. I am keen to get registered in this course and that is why require further information regarding it. In relation to the course, I learned about the course from an advertisement published in a local newspaper, but sadly, I did not find all the details. Firstly, I would like to ask if this is a full-time or a part-time course and which subjects of architecture are included in it? Furthermore, does it provide practical training to the participants? And, can you please inform me of the total cost of the course? Lastly, is there any previous qualification related to the architecture required for eligibility? I will be very grateful to you if you kindly send me these details as I am really hoping to get enrolled in it. I hope to hear from you soon. Yours faithfully, Caroline Norton
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use enrol collocation Original: get registered in this course Suggested revision: enrol in this course Why it matters: A prospective student enrols in a course rather than gets registered in it.
- 2. Restore sentence grammar Original: that is why require Suggested revision: therefore require Why it matters: This replacement creates a grammatical coordinated predicate with the existing subject 'I'.
- 3. Use concise topic link Original: In relation to the course Suggested revision: Regarding the programme Why it matters: This avoids repeating 'course' and introduces the source of information concisely.
- 4. Use formal tone Original: sadly Suggested revision: unfortunately Why it matters: 'Unfortunately' is more suitable than the emotive 'sadly' in a formal enquiry.
- 5. Use correct preposition Original: to the participants Suggested revision: for participants Why it matters: Training is provided for participants rather than to them in this context.
- 6. Fix request transition Original: And Suggested revision: Additionally Why it matters: 'Additionally' introduces the next request without the incorrect comma after 'And'.
- 7. Remove unnecessary object Original: very grateful to you Suggested revision: very grateful Why it matters: The recipient is already clear, so 'to you' is unnecessary before the conditional clause.
- 8. Use concise enrol phrase Original: get enrolled in it Suggested revision: enrol in the programme Why it matters: This uses the natural active collocation and replaces the vague pronoun 'it'.
- 9. Use consistent programme spelling Original: program Suggested revision: programme Why it matters: 'Programme' matches the formal British English used elsewhere in the letter.
- 10. Replace vague pronoun Original: further information regarding it Suggested revision: further information about the programme Why it matters: Naming the programme keeps the formal request clear.
- 11. Use whether for alternatives Original: if this is a full-time or a part-time course Suggested revision: whether this is a full-time or part-time course Why it matters: 'Whether' correctly introduces two alternatives in an indirect question.
- 12. Use natural subject phrase Original: which subjects of architecture Suggested revision: which architecture subjects Why it matters: This is the natural noun phrase for subjects within the architecture programme.
Suggested Rewrites
- get registered in this course enrol in this course
- that is why require therefore require
- In relation to the course Regarding the programme
- sadly unfortunately
- to the participants for participants
- And Additionally
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter fully addresses the requested course details, fees, and prerequisites in a consistently appropriate formal tone, and its purpose is immediately clear. Its main limitation is presentation: the entire response is compressed into one paragraph and several linking expressions and phrases sound mechanical or awkward; dividing the requests into purposeful paragraphs and refining collocations would make the message more polished and easier to follow.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear, all three bullet points are fully covered, and the formal tone is appropriate throughout.
Briefly explain how each requested detail would affect your enrolment decision to deepen the development further.
Coherence and Cohesion
The requests progress logically, but the single-block presentation and mechanical sequencing limit organisational clarity.
Use separate paragraphs for course details, fees, and prerequisites, with less reliance on sequencing words.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is sufficiently varied and precise for the purpose, although a few phrases such as ‘get registered’ sound unnatural.
Refine collocations by choosing natural formal phrases such as ‘enrol on the course’ and ‘relevant qualifications’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A useful range of complex structures is mostly accurate, but the missing subject in ‘that is why require’ and awkward question structures reduce control.
Proofread every clause for complete subject-verb structure and frame embedded questions consistently.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You would like to enrol in a qualification course. Write a letter to the person in charge of the course. In your letter:
- ask for details about the course
- ask about the fees
- ask about the prerequisites
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.