You have received an important document that needs to be translated. Write a letter to your friend and ask him/her to translate this important document for you. In your letter explain: - why it is important for you - how fast you need it back - why you need his/her expertise
Sample Response
Dear Lee, Hope you and your parents are doing excellent. I am sorry that I have not been in touch with you for the last couple of weeks. Even if I have not written to you for a while, you are always in my thoughts and prayer. I am writing to you today because I need your expertise to translate some important documents for me. You would be glad to know that my application has been accepted by the Wuhan University in China and if things go as planned, I will join the university next summer for my Master's degree. They have sent me some documents which are in the Chinese language and I need your help with that. You are the best person to assist me and this is really crucial for me to get admitted to this University. Without the proper translation of the documents, I will not be able to respond precisely to them. I am sending xerox copies of these documents, three documents with 7 pages in total, and would really appreciate it if you can send them before 10th December. I could use Google Translate to interpret the texts but you know there are always glitches in this technology as some meanings are lost in translation! Your excellent skills in English and Chinese makes you the most suitable person to translate those documents for me. I owe you a big one. Take care and write me back whenever possible. Warm wishes, Kyle
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use correct concession Original: Even if I have not written Suggested revision: Although I have not written Why it matters: 'Although' expresses the intended contrast, whereas 'even if' presents a hypothetical condition.
- 2. Use plural noun Original: prayer Suggested revision: prayers Why it matters: The conventional coordinated expression uses both nouns in the plural.
- 3. Remove unnecessary article Original: the Wuhan University Suggested revision: Wuhan University Why it matters: This university name does not normally take the definite article.
- 4. Improve verb collocation Original: respond precisely to them Suggested revision: respond to them accurately Why it matters: 'Accurately' collocates more naturally with responding to translated documents.
- 5. Clarify document length Original: three documents with 7 pages in total Suggested revision: three documents comprising seven pages in total Why it matters: This phrasing connects the total page count to the documents more clearly.
- 6. Clarify return request Original: if you can send them before 10th December Suggested revision: if you could return the translations before 10 December Why it matters: The conditional form suits a polite request and makes clear what should be returned.
- 7. Use precise task verb Original: interpret the texts Suggested revision: translate the documents Why it matters: 'Translate' precisely describes converting the written documents into another language.
- 8. Fix subject agreement Original: makes Suggested revision: make Why it matters: The plural subject 'skills' requires the plural verb 'make'.
- 9. Refine time expression Original: last Suggested revision: past Why it matters: 'The past couple of weeks' is the more natural retrospective time expression here.
- 10. Use lower-case degree Original: Master's Suggested revision: master's Why it matters: A general degree name is lower-case when no formal course title is given.
- 11. Make wording concise Original: some documents which are in the Chinese language Suggested revision: some documents written in Chinese Why it matters: The revision states the documents' language more directly.
- 12. Clarify the reference Original: I need your help with that Suggested revision: I need your help translating them Why it matters: The revision replaces the vague reference 'that' with the specific action required.
Suggested Rewrites
- Even if I have not written Although I have not written
- prayer prayers
- the Wuhan University Wuhan University
- respond precisely to them respond to them accurately
- three documents with 7 pages in total three documents comprising seven pages in total
- if you can send them before 10th December if you could return the translations before 10 December
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter has a clear request, develops every required point with convincing detail, and sustains an appropriately warm, informal relationship with the friend. The main weakness is presentation as one dense paragraph, accompanied by several agreement and word-choice slips; dividing the message into purposeful paragraphs and proofreading grammatical endings would make the response easier to follow and more polished.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response fully explains the document’s importance, gives a precise deadline, and establishes why the friend’s language expertise is needed.
Clarify briefly why further documents need translation even though the university application has already been accepted.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas follow a logical sequence and linking is generally natural, but the entire letter is presented as one dense paragraph.
Separate the greeting, background, request and deadline, reason for choosing the friend, and closing into clear paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and well suited to the situation, with effective phrases about translation, expertise, and admission, despite occasional imprecision.
Refine choices such as ‘doing excellent’, ‘interpret the texts’, and ‘xerox copies’ to more natural expressions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The letter uses a good variety of complex structures with generally secure control, though several agreement and form errors remain.
Proofread subject-verb agreement and fixed structures, especially ‘skills ... make’ and ‘would appreciate it if you could’.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have received an important document that needs to be translated. Write a letter to your friend and ask him/her to translate this important document for you. In your letter explain:
- why it is important for you
- how fast you need it back
- why you need his/her expertise
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.