You borrowed an important textbook from a classmate last term. You now realise your classmate has returned home overseas and you still have the book. Write a letter to him/her. In your letter: - apologise fro the mistake - find out how important the book is to him/her - say what you will do
Sample Response
Dear Yuki, I hope you had a safe journey back to Japan, and that your family are all well. I am writing to say that I'm sorry for not giving you back the book 'English Grammar in Use' which I borrowed from you last term. You lent it to me just before the exams to help me prepare for them, and yesterday I found it under my bed. Please let me know straight away if you need this book for your studies right now, or whether you can manage without it. If you really need it, I can post it for you by airmail immediately. If not, do you mind if I send it by ordinary mail as it quite heavy? Or, if you prefer, I can send seme money insead. Please let me know what you want me to do. I hope you enjoy the holiday.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise verb Original: giving you back the book Suggested revision: returning the book to you Why it matters: Returning is a more concise and natural way to describe giving back a borrowed item.
- 2. Correct posting preposition Original: for Suggested revision: to Why it matters: To identifies the recipient of an item sent by post.
- 3. Clarify mailing method Original: ordinary Suggested revision: surface Why it matters: Surface mail more precisely contrasts a slower overseas service with airmail.
- 4. Add missing verb Original: as it quite heavy Suggested revision: as it is quite heavy Why it matters: The clause requires the linking verb is before the adjective heavy.
- 5. Avoid unsupported assumption Original: the holiday Suggested revision: your time at home Why it matters: The task says Yuki returned home but does not establish that the visit is a holiday.
- 6. Sentence rewrite Original: Or, if you prefer, I can send seme money insead. Suggested revision: Or, if you prefer, I can send you money for a replacement instead. Why it matters: This rewrite corrects both spelling errors and clarifies the purpose of the money.
- 7. Confirm delivery details Suggested revision: Ask Yuki to confirm the preferred mailing address and delivery option. Why it matters: This practical detail would make the proposed action easier to carry out.
- 8. Add a closing Suggested revision: Finish with an appropriate informal sign-off and the writer's name. Why it matters: The letter currently ends without the conventional closing expected in a personal letter.
- 9. Organise into paragraphs Suggested revision: Separate the apology, question about urgency, proposed solutions, and closing into distinct paragraphs. Why it matters: Functional paragraphing would make the sequence of the letter easier to follow.
Suggested Rewrites
- giving you back the book returning the book to you
- for to
- ordinary surface
- as it quite heavy as it is quite heavy
- the holiday your time at home
- Or, if you prefer, I can send seme money insead. Or, if you prefer, I can send you money for a replacement instead.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter responds directly to all three points, explains the mistake naturally, and offers several practical solutions in a warm, appropriate tone. Its main limitation is a small cluster of spelling and grammatical slips, compounded by finishing slightly below the expected length without a conventional sign-off; the highest-priority improvement is to proofread the final lines and complete the letter with a clear closing and name.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The apology, inquiry about the book's importance, and alternative return arrangements are all developed clearly in an appropriate personal tone.
Add a conventional closing and name, and expand slightly so the response comfortably meets the expected minimum length.
Coherence and Cohesion
The message progresses naturally from apology and explanation to checking urgency, proposing options, and requesting a decision.
Separate the apology, return options, and closing into short paragraphs to make the progression more visible.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is flexible and well suited to the situation, despite two conspicuous spelling errors near the end.
Proofread words such as "some" and "instead" so avoidable spelling slips do not distract from otherwise natural phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A good variety of complex sentences is handled accurately, with only occasional errors that leave meaning clear.
Check omitted verbs and small structural details, particularly changing "as it quite heavy" to "as it is quite heavy."
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You borrowed an important textbook from a classmate last term. You now realise your classmate has returned home overseas and you still have the book. Write a letter to him/her. In your letter:
- apologise fro the mistake
- find out how important the book is to him/her
- say what you will do
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.