You work for an international company. You have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: - describe the training course you want to do - explain what the company could do to help you - say how the course will be useful for your job
Sample Response
Dear Mr Thompson,
I am writing to seek your kind approval to enrol in a Project Management Certification Course, which I recently came across in an advertisement. Given its relevance to my role, I believe it would significantly enhance my efficiency at work.
In relation to the specifics of the course, it is a four-week online programme offered by the Canadian Institute of Project Management. The course covers key aspects such as risk management, budgeting, and team coordination, all of which are crucial for my current position.
To support my participation, I would appreciate it if the company could partially or fully sponsor the course fee, as it directly aligns with our business objectives. Additionally, I may need some flexibility with my schedule to attend a few live sessions during work hours.
The training will be highly beneficial to my role, as it will equip me with advanced project management techniques, allowing me to handle tasks more efficiently and contribute to smoother project execution. I believe this will lead to improved productivity for our team.
I look forward to your response and hope for a positive consideration of my request.
Yours sincerely,
Nathan Campbell
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Make the request direct Original: seek your kind approval Suggested revision: request your approval Why it matters: This wording is concise while remaining appropriately polite.
- 2. Identify the advertised course Original: a Project Management Certification Course Suggested revision: the advertised Project Management Certification Course Why it matters: The definite reference links the request more explicitly to the advertised course.
- 3. Remove repeated information Original: which I recently came across in an advertisement Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: The added word advertised already conveys this information, making the relative clause unnecessary.
- 4. Use a concise transition Original: In relation to the specifics of the course Suggested revision: Regarding the course Why it matters: The shorter transition introduces the course description without unnecessary wording.
- 5. Name the subject clearly Original: it is a four-week online programme Suggested revision: the programme runs online for four weeks Why it matters: Naming the programme directly avoids a loose pronoun reference after the introductory phrase.
- 6. Use precise category wording Original: key aspects such as Suggested revision: key areas, including Why it matters: Areas is a natural label for the listed fields of course content.
- 7. Link content to duties Original: all of which are crucial for my current position Suggested revision: all of which are directly relevant to my current responsibilities Why it matters: Responsibilities connects the listed subjects more precisely to the writer's work.
- 8. Clarify the purpose link Original: To support my participation Suggested revision: To enable my participation Why it matters: Enable makes the relationship between company support and attendance more explicit.
- 9. Add one scheduling detail Suggested revision: If known, add the course start date or expected weekly time commitment. Why it matters: One scheduling detail would make the course description more useful to the manager.
- 10. Specify the flexibility needed Suggested revision: State which live sessions are likely to overlap with working hours. Why it matters: A more precise scheduling request would help the manager assess the support required.
Suggested Rewrites
- seek your kind approval request your approval
- a Project Management Certification Course the advertised Project Management Certification Course
- which I recently came across in an advertisement Delete
- In relation to the specifics of the course Regarding the course
- it is a four-week online programme the programme runs online for four weeks
- key aspects such as key areas, including
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter is purposeful, appropriately formal, and exceptionally easy to follow, with each request supported by precise, job-relevant detail. The main scope for improvement is minor: a few phrases, especially the closing request for 'a positive consideration', sound slightly formulaic or unnatural. Prioritise refining these isolated collocations while preserving the concise paragraph structure and strong development.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, all three bullet points are fully covered, and the requests are appropriately developed for a manager.
For even greater specificity, add the course dates or fee amount if those details are available.
Coherence and Cohesion
Focused paragraphs, clear sequencing, and well-managed linking make the letter effortless to follow.
Trim formulaic topic openers where the paragraph relationship is already obvious to make the flow still more natural.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is wide, precise, and well suited to professional training and project management, with only an isolated awkward phrase.
Replace 'a positive consideration' with the more natural 'a favourable response' or 'favourable consideration'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex sentence forms is used accurately and flexibly throughout the letter.
Vary the opening structures of adjacent sentences to demonstrate still greater syntactic flexibility without adding length.
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