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 Aguinaldo Silva, working as a researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil for over a decade. I have read in a newspaper that you are going to organise a seminar on 'Automated Neural Networks' and I think it would be helpful for my current research. As I could not find much information online, I would request further details. I learned that the seminar will be held next November in San Francisco, California, USA. Now, I need to know the exact date and schedule of the seminar. Another important piece of information that I need in order to plan my trip is the exact location of the event. Since such seminars are usually very intensive, I want to know if there will be any special conditions for reservations in the nearby hotels. Has Kevin Boban really confirmed his participation as a guest speaker? If it is true, that would be great news for me since my research is being driven mainly by one of his recent discoveries. Will we have a specific day to network and exchange knowledge with other participants of the event? Last year I went to the Artificial Intelligence seminar in Genebra and I felt really comfortable having an exclusive day for networking with other professionals instead of having short sessions throughout the whole event. Last but not least, I need some information about the cost and methods of payment to participate in the seminar. Hope to hear from you soon. Yours faithfully, Aguinaldo Silva
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use a polite request Original: Now, I need to know Suggested revision: I would therefore like to know Why it matters: The replacement is more appropriately formal for a request to the organiser.
- 2. Clarify accommodation request Original: special conditions for reservations Suggested revision: special rates or booking arrangements Why it matters: This wording specifies the practical accommodation information being requested.
- 3. Fix hotel preposition Original: in the nearby hotels Suggested revision: at nearby hotels Why it matters: Reservations are made “at” hotels, and no definite article is needed here.
- 4. Remove informal intensifier Original: really confirmed Suggested revision: confirmed Why it matters: “Really” adds an unnecessarily conversational tone to the formal question.
- 5. Use concise reference Original: If it is true Suggested revision: If so Why it matters: “If so” refers concisely to the guest speaker's confirmed participation.
- 6. Fix participant preposition Original: of Suggested revision: at Why it matters: People participate “at” or “in” an event rather than being participants “of” it.
- 7. Correct place name Original: Genebra Suggested revision: Geneva Why it matters: The English spelling of the city is “Geneva.”
- 8. Use natural phrasing Original: methods of payment to participate Suggested revision: payment methods for participating Why it matters: The revised phrase links the payment request to participation more naturally.
- 9. Add sentence subject Original: Hope to hear Suggested revision: I hope to hear Why it matters: A formal complete sentence needs the subject “I.”
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: I am Aguinaldo Silva, working as a researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil for over a decade. Suggested revision: My name is Aguinaldo Silva, and I have worked as a researcher at the University of São Paulo in Brazil for over a decade. Why it matters: The rewrite uses a finite present-perfect verb for an employment period continuing to the present.
Suggested Rewrites
- Now, I need to know I would therefore like to know
- special conditions for reservations special rates or booking arrangements
- in the nearby hotels at nearby hotels
- really confirmed confirmed
- If it is true If so
- of at
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter clearly establishes the writer’s professional interest and asks relevant, well-developed questions about dates, programme content, accommodation and cost in an appropriately formal tone. Its main limitation is organisation, because the entire body appears as one paragraph and some supporting detail about the previous seminar is longer than necessary. Prioritise separate paragraphs for logistics, programme questions and fees while keeping each request direct.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All four requested areas are covered clearly and purposefully, with relevant questions that show why the programme matters to the writer.
Make the accommodation request more specific by asking about recommended hotels, seminar rates, or organiser-arranged lodging.
Coherence and Cohesion
The sequence of requests is logical and cohesive, but placing the full body in one paragraph and expanding the previous-seminar example reduce efficiency.
Group dates and location, programme details, accommodation, and payment into short focused paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The response uses a broad and generally precise professional vocabulary, with only occasional awkward wording or a proper-name spelling lapse.
Use concise formal phrases such as “I would appreciate confirmation” and write “Geneva” accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex questions and subordinate clauses are handled with good control, while only a few minor tense and sentence-fragment issues occur.
Use the present perfect continuous in “I have been working” and write the closing request as the complete sentence “I hope to hear from you soon.”
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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.