You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference from someone who knew you when you were at school. Write a letter to one of your old teachers asking for a reference. In your letter: - say what job you have applied for - explain why you want this job - suggest what information the teacher should include
Sample Response
Dear Mrs Sweeney
How are you? I hope everything is fine at the school and that you have been well. I still remember the dynamic way in which you taught grammar to me and all of the teacher trainees in your English class. Thanks again for those important lessons.
I am writing in connection with a letter of reference that I need for a job that I have applied for recently. As I am due to graduate next month, I have applied for a position as an ESL teacher at a private language school in Tokyo, Japan. You might remember my telling you how very much I looked forward to teaching and traveling around the world. Now I have the chance. I am confident that I can make a difference in the lives of students who need to learn English.
In the letter of reference, I would appreciate it if you could include information related to my trustworthiness, my enthusiasm and my cross-cultural awareness while in teacher training college. As the job is in Japan, they do not have the chance to interview me and will base their decision largely on my letters of reference. I would need to have the letter in two weeks, by July 1st.
Thank you kindly in advance,
Yours sincerely,
Grace Smith
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Punctuate the salutation Original: Dear Mrs Sweeney Suggested revision: Dear Mrs Sweeney, Why it matters: A comma conventionally closes the salutation in this letter format.
- 2. Clarify the group Original: all of the teacher trainees Suggested revision: the other teacher trainees Why it matters: This wording makes clear that the writer was one member of the group being taught.
- 3. Make the purpose concise Original: a letter of reference that I need for a job that I have applied for recently Suggested revision: a reference for a job I recently applied for Why it matters: The shorter phrase removes repeated relative clauses without changing the purpose.
- 4. Clarify the past aim Original: how very much I looked forward to teaching and traveling around the world Suggested revision: how much I wanted to teach and travel around the world Why it matters: This revision expresses the previously shared ambition with a clear past-time reference.
- 5. Use concise phrasing Original: information related to Suggested revision: information about Why it matters: The simpler preposition conveys the same meaning more naturally.
- 6. State the deadline directly Original: I would need to have Suggested revision: I need to receive Why it matters: The direct present form is clearer for a current requirement.
- 7. Give one clear deadline Original: in two weeks, by July 1st Suggested revision: by July 1st Why it matters: A single precise date avoids potentially redundant or inconsistent timing information.
- 8. Use natural closing Original: Thank you kindly in advance, Suggested revision: Thank you in advance for your help. Why it matters: This is a more natural expression of appreciation before the complimentary close.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: Now I have the chance. Suggested revision: Now I have the chance to pursue that goal. Why it matters: The revised sentence makes the reference to the teaching ambition explicit.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: As the job is in Japan, they do not have the chance to interview me and will base their decision largely on my letters of reference. Suggested revision: Since the employer cannot interview me in person, they will base their decision largely on my letters of reference. Why it matters: This rewrite replaces the unclear pronoun and expresses the reason more precisely.
Suggested Rewrites
- Dear Mrs Sweeney Dear Mrs Sweeney,
- all of the teacher trainees the other teacher trainees
- a letter of reference that I need for a job that I have applied for recently a reference for a job I recently applied for
- how very much I looked forward to teaching and traveling around the world how much I wanted to teach and travel around the world
- information related to information about
- I would need to have I need to receive
Why this response received Band 8.0
This is a polished, purposeful request whose strongest feature is its full and specific coverage of the job, the applicant's motivation, and the qualities the referee should mention. The only real limitation is occasional wordiness and a few slightly indirect formulations. The best refinement would be to make the central request and deadline even more concise while preserving the warm, respectful tone and convincing supporting detail.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter fully achieves its purpose, addresses every bullet with well-developed detail, and maintains an appropriately warm and respectful tone for a former teacher.
Make the practical request marginally sharper by asking directly whether Mrs Sweeney can provide the reference by July 1st.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses naturally from reconnecting with the teacher to explaining the application, motivation, requested content, and deadline.
Trim the opening slightly so the main request arrives sooner without losing the effective personal connection.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is flexible and precise, with natural topic-specific choices such as 'ESL teacher', 'trustworthiness', and 'cross-cultural awareness'.
Replace wordier phrases such as 'information related to' with more direct wording such as 'comments on' for greater concision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, and the few minor punctuation or phrasing lapses do not impede communication.
Polish formal letter conventions by adding a comma after the salutation and using 'I need the letter by July 1st' for a firmer deadline.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference from someone who knew you when you were at school. Write a letter to one of your old teachers asking for a reference. In your letter:
- say what job you have applied for
- explain why you want this job
- suggest what information the teacher should include
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.