You have a full time job and are also doing a part time evening course. You now find that you can not continue the course. Write a letter to your tutor. In your letter: - describe the situation - explain why you cannot continue at this time - say what action you would like to take
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, My name is Muhamad Abdul. I am taking a part-time evening course. I am having a hard time keeping up with this course. I am afraid I cannot continue the course. My problem is, I have a full-time job, from 9am – 5pm. Sometimes, I am asked to stay extra hours, to finish up the rest of the work. That is because the holidays are coming up soon. Also I have to do some work preparations for the next day. At night when I get home, I am too tired to even prepare a dinner for myself. Also I have no time to study for this course. I would like drop this course this quarter. Then take it again the next quarter. So, please accept my situation. Thank you for your cooperation Sincerely M. Abdul
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Clarify enrolment Original: am taking Suggested revision: am currently enrolled in Why it matters: This is a more precise formal expression for participation in a course.
- 2. Use formal wording Original: I am having a hard time Suggested revision: I am finding it difficult Why it matters: This wording is more appropriate for a formal letter to a tutor.
- 3. Fix clause connection Original: My problem is, Suggested revision: The problem is that Why it matters: That is needed to connect the introductory clause correctly to the explanation.
- 4. Format the times Original: 9am – 5pm Suggested revision: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Why it matters: Standard time punctuation gives the working hours a more formal presentation.
- 5. Correct work collocation Original: stay Suggested revision: work Why it matters: English normally uses work rather than stay with extra hours.
- 6. Remove redundancy Original: to finish up the rest of the work Suggested revision: to finish the remaining work Why it matters: Remaining work expresses the idea more concisely.
- 7. Use natural noun phrase Original: some work preparations Suggested revision: some preparation Why it matters: Preparation is normally uncountable in this context and does not need work as a modifier.
- 8. Improve phrase order Original: At night when I get home Suggested revision: When I get home at night Why it matters: This order links the time and situation more smoothly.
- 9. Remove unnecessary article Original: prepare a dinner Suggested revision: prepare dinner Why it matters: Dinner does not normally take an article when referring to the routine meal.
- 10. Vary the transition Original: Also I have no time Suggested revision: Furthermore, I have no time Why it matters: This transition connects the additional consequence more formally and avoids repeated sentence openings.
- 11. Add infinitive marker Original: would like drop Suggested revision: would like to drop Why it matters: Would like must be followed by a to-infinitive.
- 12. Avoid repetition Original: this Suggested revision: the Why it matters: Using the avoids repeating this twice in the same phrase.
Suggested Rewrites
- am taking am currently enrolled in
- I am having a hard time I am finding it difficult
- My problem is, The problem is that
- 9am – 5pm 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- stay work
- to finish up the rest of the work to finish the remaining work
Why this response received Band 6.0
The letter communicates the withdrawal request clearly and explains the work pressures in a suitably polite tone. However, it falls slightly below the expected length, develops the requested action only briefly, and relies on repetitive linking and several incomplete or inaccurate sentence structures. The priority is to add a concise request for formal withdrawal and re-enrolment arrangements, then combine related ideas into accurate, well-punctuated paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear and all three bullet points are addressed, but the action request and supporting detail are brief in an under-length response.
Specify the desired withdrawal and re-enrolment process and ask the tutor to confirm the necessary next steps.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a sensible problem-reason-action sequence, but repeated use of Also and weak paragraphing make the flow mechanical.
Group the situation, reasons, and requested action into separate paragraphs and vary the links between ideas.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is adequate for describing work pressure and course withdrawal, though several expressions are repetitive or imprecise.
Use more precise phrases such as overtime, next-day preparation, and defer my enrolment to express the circumstances concisely.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Simple sentences are mostly clear, but missing infinitives, fragments, and punctuation errors recur across the letter.
Practise complete verb patterns and sentence boundaries, especially would like to drop and Then I would take it again.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have a full time job and are also doing a part time evening course. You now find that you can not continue the course. Write a letter to your tutor. In your letter:
- describe the situation
- explain why you cannot continue at this time
- say what action you would like to take
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.