You have recently heard that a friend of yours has had some problems as a result of some unusual weather. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - express concern (i.e. - say you are sorry to hear what has happened) - tell them about a similar experience that you once had - give some advice or - offer help
Sample Response
Dear Anna and Leo,
We were shocked to hear from Lara about the storm that hit your city recently and the damage done to your house. How awful to come home from your holiday to find the roof blown off the house!
I understand how you must feel, as we had a similar experience a few years ago when there was a sudden electrical storm here in Sydney. I came home from work to find that a tree had fallen on top of the house and all the windows were broken. Fortunately the insurance covered the cost of the repairs, but it was still very upsetting.
I suppose you have to think positively in situations like this and look at the opportunity you have to improve your house – give it a new look. If we can do anything for you in the holidays, we’d be happy to help.
Drop us a line and let us know.
Best wishes
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. More precise collocation Original: done Suggested revision: caused Why it matters: 'Damage caused' links the destruction more precisely to the storm.
- 2. Natural weather term Original: electrical storm Suggested revision: thunderstorm Why it matters: 'Thunderstorm' is the more usual term for this type of severe weather.
- 3. Introductory comma Original: Fortunately the insurance Suggested revision: Fortunately, the insurance Why it matters: A comma should follow the introductory adverb 'Fortunately'.
- 4. Gentler advice Original: I suppose you have to think positively Suggested revision: I hope you can stay positive Why it matters: This wording gives the requested advice in a more sympathetic tone.
- 5. Concise expression Original: look at the opportunity you have to improve your house – give it a new look Suggested revision: see this as an opportunity to improve your house and give it a new look Why it matters: The revision removes the awkward repetition of 'look' while preserving the advice.
- 6. Natural time phrase Original: in Suggested revision: during Why it matters: 'During the holidays' gives the time reference more directly.
- 7. Sign-off comma Original: Best wishes Suggested revision: Best wishes, Why it matters: A comma conventionally follows this closing phrase in a letter.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: Drop us a line and let us know. Suggested revision: Drop us a line and let us know how things are going. Why it matters: Specifying what the friends should report makes the closing request complete and cohesive.
Suggested Rewrites
- done caused
- electrical storm thunderstorm
- Fortunately the insurance Fortunately, the insurance
- I suppose you have to think positively I hope you can stay positive
- look at the opportunity you have to improve your house – give it a new look see this as an opportunity to improve your house and give it a new look
- in during
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response fully achieves its purpose through warm concern, a relevant personal experience, and useful advice and assistance, all expressed in a natural informal register. Its main limitation is only that the advice could be developed slightly beyond a general positive outlook and offer of help. The best refinement would be to make the practical assistance more specific while preserving the concise, fluent organisation and accurate language.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All required points are covered directly and appropriately, with well-developed concern, a relevant parallel experience, and a suitable offer of help.
Make the offer even more concrete by naming one practical form of help that could be provided during the holidays.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas are sequenced naturally in focused paragraphs, and cohesive links guide the reader without drawing attention to themselves.
Retain this clear progression while making the final offer connect even more specifically to the damage described.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied, natural, and precise for discussing storm damage, emotional reactions, insurance, and assistance.
For further refinement, vary the repeated use of "house" where a natural alternative fits without sacrificing precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence forms is used accurately and flexibly, with only negligible punctuation imperfections.
Maintain this level of control and check optional punctuation, such as a comma after an introductory adverb, during proofreading.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have recently heard that a friend of yours has had some problems as a result of some unusual weather. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- express concern (i.e.
- say you are sorry to hear what has happened)
- tell them about a similar experience that you once had
- give some advice or
- offer help
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.