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 am Rona Lyn Olivar, an ICU Nurse at the Urdaneta Heart Hospital, located in the province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. I have learned from a colleague that you will conduct an Electrocardiogram Training in Singapore, and I am writing to ask for some information regarding the seminar, and hoping that you would kindly provide it to me.
Firstly, with regards to the schedule, kindly inform me about the seminar schedule and what time would it begin and end each day. Secondly, please notify me of the topics and speakers of the program. I am also wondering if there is any special consideration for the registered nurses who will be attending the seminar. And finally, I would like to know about the accommodation and the cost. Would the accommodation be arranged by you or should an individual be responsible for that? What would be the approximate cost to attend and successfully finish the seminar?
I am enthusiastic about attending the seminar, and your reply will help me plan for it in advance. So, I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours faithfully,
Rona Olivar
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural course name Original: an Electrocardiogram Training Suggested revision: an electrocardiogram training course Why it matters: Training is normally paired with course here, and the generic subject does not need capitals.
- 2. Fix verb coordination Original: regarding the seminar, and hoping Suggested revision: regarding the seminar and hope Why it matters: Hope must be finite to coordinate correctly with I am writing.
- 3. Correct fixed phrase Original: regards Suggested revision: regard Why it matters: The standard expression is with regard to.
- 4. Fix indirect question Original: what time would it begin and end each day Suggested revision: what time it would begin and end each day Why it matters: An indirect question uses statement word order.
- 5. Make request specific Original: consideration Suggested revision: arrangements Why it matters: Arrangements more clearly refers to provisions for attending nurses.
- 6. Refine transition Original: And finally Suggested revision: Finally Why it matters: Finally provides a cleaner formal transition to the last requests.
- 7. Clarify the subject Original: should an individual be responsible for that? Suggested revision: should attendees arrange it themselves? Why it matters: The revised wording clearly identifies who would arrange accommodation.
- 8. Use natural phrasing Original: cost to attend and successfully finish the seminar Suggested revision: cost of attending the seminar Why it matters: Attending is the appropriate expression because a seminar is not normally described as something to finish successfully.
- 9. Use lowercase job title Original: Nurse Suggested revision: nurse Why it matters: A job title used descriptively after an article is not normally capitalised.
- 10. Use natural event verb Original: conduct Suggested revision: hold Why it matters: Hold is the more natural verb for presenting a seminar or training course.
- 11. Request programme details Original: notify me of Suggested revision: provide details of Why it matters: This phrase makes the request more specific and appropriately formal.
- 12. Use formal transition Original: So, I look forward Suggested revision: I therefore look forward Why it matters: Therefore links the anticipated reply to the closing more smoothly.
Suggested Rewrites
- an Electrocardiogram Training an electrocardiogram training course
- regarding the seminar, and hoping regarding the seminar and hope
- regards regard
- what time would it begin and end each day what time it would begin and end each day
- consideration arrangements
- And finally Finally
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter is purposeful, appropriately formal, and fully develops every requested area through specific questions about timing, programme content, accommodation, and fees. Its main weakness is occasional awkwardness in sentence construction and phrasing, which slightly reduces precision despite consistently clear meaning. The highest-priority improvement is to refine embedded questions and eliminate loosely attached clauses so the language sounds more natural and controlled.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The response clearly explains its purpose and fully addresses all four bullet points with relevant, specific requests in an appropriate register.
Keep the same comprehensive coverage while trimming the less essential question about special consideration so the enquiry remains tightly focused.
Coherence and Cohesion
Clear paragraphing and an orderly sequence of requests make the letter easy to follow, although some linking is slightly mechanical.
Use smoother thematic transitions in place of the repeated Firstly, Secondly, and finally sequence.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is varied and suitable for a formal enquiry, with only occasional imprecise combinations such as special consideration and successfully finish the seminar.
Choose more idiomatic expressions such as concessions for registered nurses and complete the seminar to improve lexical precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied complex sentences with generally good control, though a few faulty embedded questions and loosely coordinated clauses occur.
Correct indirect question order and clause attachment, for example changing what time would it begin to what time it would begin.
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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.