You would like to participate in a work-related seminar in another country. Write a letter to the person in charge of the seminar. In your letter: - ask for information about the seminar dates - ask for details of the programme - ask about accommodation - ask about the cost
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to participate in the seminar you are going to organise next month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I learned about it from your website and I believe such a seminar will help me perform better in my current job. As the website did not include all the details, I am hoping that you would be kind enough to answer some of my queries. As I am residing in Bangladesh, I would like to know the exact dates, venue and program schedule so that I can plan for the trip. Various actions, including taking time off from the office, applying for a visa and preparing for the trip are related to the seminar schedule. In addition to that, please inform me about the accommodation arrangement - whether it would be managed by the host or do I need to arrange it myself? I would also like to know about the total cost of attending the seminar and other expenditures like accommodation, meals, fares etc. I request you to provide the details of my queries so that I can complete the arrangement well ahead of time.
Thank you in advance. Yours faithfully, Safayet Ullah
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use simple residence verb Original: I am residing in Bangladesh Suggested revision: I live in Bangladesh Why it matters: The simple form is more natural for a continuing place of residence.
- 2. Use British spelling Original: program Suggested revision: programme Why it matters: Programme is the standard British English spelling used in the task prompt.
- 3. Use direct collocation Original: plan for the trip Suggested revision: plan my trip Why it matters: Plan takes the trip directly as its object in this context.
- 4. Use formal examples Original: other expenditures like Suggested revision: other expenses such as Why it matters: Expenses and such as are more natural in a formal request for cost information.
- 5. Specify travel costs Original: fares etc. Suggested revision: travel costs Why it matters: The precise category is clearer and avoids the vague abbreviation etc.
- 6. Request answers clearly Original: details of my queries Suggested revision: answers to my questions Why it matters: A recipient provides answers to questions rather than details of queries.
- 7. Use plural arrangements Original: complete the arrangement Suggested revision: complete my arrangements Why it matters: Multiple preparations for travel and attendance are naturally described in the plural.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: Various actions, including taking time off from the office, applying for a visa and preparing for the trip are related to the seminar schedule. Suggested revision: I need the dates so that I can arrange time off work, apply for a visa and prepare for the trip. Why it matters: The rewrite makes the practical connection to the seminar dates direct and grammatical.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: In addition to that, please inform me about the accommodation arrangement - whether it would be managed by the host or do I need to arrange it myself? Suggested revision: Please also let me know whether the host arranges accommodation or whether I need to organise it myself. Why it matters: The rewrite corrects the parallel structure of the embedded alternative question.
- 10. Request programme details Suggested revision: Ask which sessions, topics, or activities the programme will include, rather than requesting only its schedule. Why it matters: The letter asks when events occur but does not fully request the programme content required by the prompt.
Suggested Rewrites
- I am residing in Bangladesh I live in Bangladesh
- program programme
- plan for the trip plan my trip
- other expenditures like other expenses such as
- fares etc. travel costs
- details of my queries answers to my questions
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter has a clear formal purpose and addresses the dates, programme, accommodation, and costs with relevant supporting reasons. Its main limitation is that several requests are packed into one long body paragraph, with occasional awkward wording and one faulty indirect-question structure. Separate the topics into focused paragraphs and use consistently accurate request forms, especially when asking whether accommodation is provided.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response clearly requests all four required types of information and supports the need for the seminar dates with relevant planning details.
Make the programme request more specific by asking about session topics, speakers, or the daily timetable rather than only the general schedule.
Coherence and Cohesion
The requests are ordered logically and connected clearly, but placing all substantive content in one paragraph weakens the overall structure.
Separate the dates and programme, accommodation, and costs into short focused paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is appropriately formal and sufficiently varied, although some combinations such as accommodation arrangement and details of my queries sound unnatural.
Use more precise phrases such as accommodation arrangements and answers to my questions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Sentence structures show good variety and are mostly accurate, with occasional punctuation and question-structure errors that do not obscure meaning.
Maintain an indirect-question structure throughout, for example whether the host would arrange accommodation or whether the writer must arrange it.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You would like to participate in a work-related seminar in another country. Write a letter to the person in charge of the seminar. In your letter:
- ask for information about the seminar dates
- ask for details of the programme
- ask about accommodation
- ask about the cost
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.