A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. He/She has asked for your advice about studying this subject. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - give details of the course you took at the university - explain why you recommend the university - give some advice about how to apply
Sample Response
Dear Ruhan,
I hope you’re doing great! I am excited to learn that you’re considering applying for the same course that I studied at university. I’d be happy to share my experience and offer some advice to help you with your decision.
I completed a "Media and Communications" degree at Goldsmiths, University of London, and it was an incredible experience. The course covered a wide range of topics, including Media Theory and Analysis, Journalism and News Reporting, Media Law and Ethics, Global Media and Communication and so on. The professors were knowledgeable and supportive, and the university had excellent facilities, including a well-stocked library and modern labs.
I highly recommend Goldsmiths, University of London because of its strong academic reputation, great campus environment, and excellent career support services. The networking opportunities and industry connections also helped many of my classmates secure jobs right after graduation.
To apply, I suggest you start by checking the university’s official website for entry requirements and deadlines. Be sure to prepare a strong personal statement explaining why you’re passionate about this field, and gather any required documents, such as transcripts and recommendation letters.
If you have any questions or need help with your application, just let me know. I’d be happy to help!
Best wishes,
David
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural course phrase Original: studied Suggested revision: took Why it matters: Students normally take a course, while they study a subject.
- 2. Avoid vague list ending Original: and so on Suggested revision: among other areas Why it matters: The replacement closes the illustrative list more precisely.
- 3. Use more precise adjective Original: great Suggested revision: welcoming Why it matters: “Welcoming” communicates a specific quality more clearly than “great.”
- 4. Use neutral time phrase Original: right Suggested revision: soon Why it matters: The replacement is slightly more precise and less conversational.
- 5. Make advice concise Original: start by checking Suggested revision: first check Why it matters: The shorter phrase gives the application step directly.
- 6. Use specific motivation phrase Original: passionate about this field Suggested revision: motivated to study this subject Why it matters: The replacement links the applicant’s motivation directly to the course.
- 7. Use UK application term Original: recommendation letters Suggested revision: academic references Why it matters: “Academic references” is the conventional term in a UK university application context.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: I completed a "Media and Communications" degree at Goldsmiths, University of London, and it was an incredible experience. Suggested revision: I completed a degree in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London, and found the programme highly rewarding. Why it matters: The rewrite uses the natural degree construction and replaces the vague evaluation with a more informative one.
- 9. Add practical course details Suggested revision: Include the course length and one detail about its teaching or assessment format. Why it matters: The subject list is useful, but practical course details would better answer the friend’s request for advice.
Suggested Rewrites
- studied took
- and so on among other areas
- great welcoming
- right soon
- start by checking first check
- passionate about this field motivated to study this subject
Why this response received Band 8.5
The letter fulfils every requirement with specific course content, persuasive reasons for recommending the university, and clear, practical application advice, all in a natural and supportive tone. Organisation and language control are consistently strong; the only meaningful refinement is to replace the vague phrase "and so on" with one final precise example and, if known, mention a specific application route or deadline.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The communicative purpose is fully achieved, and each bullet point is comprehensively developed with relevant, specific, and useful details.
As a refinement, add the application platform or a likely deadline if that information is known and reliable.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing aligns cleanly with the task points, and ideas progress smoothly from course experience to recommendation, application advice, and a friendly offer of help.
Tighten the course list slightly so the strongest examples receive emphasis without the vague ending "and so on."
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is precise, varied, and natural across academic subjects, facilities, career support, and application requirements, with only a minor vague expression.
Replace "and so on" with a specific final module or omit it to maintain the otherwise exact lexical style.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of complex structures is used accurately and naturally, with punctuation and sentence control consistently strong.
For maximum polish, maintain parallel punctuation throughout the module list and avoid any unnecessary quotation marks around the degree title.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
A friend of yours is thinking about applying for the same course that you did at university. He/She has asked for your advice about studying this subject. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- give details of the course you took at the university
- explain why you recommend the university
- give some advice about how to apply
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.