After being involved in an accident, you were looked after by a person you did not know before. Write a special thank you letter to express your gratitude. In your letter: - introduce yourself and let him/her know why you are writing - express your appreciation and offer him/ her to visit your home with his/her family
Sample Response
Dear George, You were so kind and a godsendGodsend to look after me after I was involved in an accident last Monday. I am writing to express my deep gratitudeimmeasurable admiration for your altruistic and brave action. I am Simon Annand, a math teacher at Cherry Blossom High Schoolthe Cherry Blossom high school, and I live with my family at 24 Abbey Rise Street, London. On my way to schoolOn my way to the school at around 8.30 am last Monday, my motorbike collidedcrashed with a private car near Aberdeen Drive and I lost control. I was severely injured and could not move or pick up my bike. If you had not decided to help me, the situation could have been worse. I am so grateful to you for your kind help and reassuringgenerous words. You even took the troubleburden to take me to a nearby hospital and that was so noble of you. I cannot express enough how thankful I am to you. When my parents and wife heard how courageously you had assisted meWhen my parents and wife heard about how courageously you assisted me, they prayed for you even though they have never met you before. I regret that I could not thank you properly at the time.I regret that I could not thank you enough. Please accept my invitation to visit our home at your convenience and allow my family to thank you properly. I have recovered quickly and I owe much of that to youthe thanks go to you. Please visit us with your family and let our brief encounter becomebecomes an opportunity to know you more. Yours truly, Simon
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter fully communicates its purpose with a warm, appreciative tone, clearly recounting the accident and extending a generous invitation to the helper’s family. Its impact is weakened by repeated thanks, one-paragraph organisation, and several exaggerated or unnatural expressions, so the highest priority is to shape the message into focused paragraphs and use more natural, controlled language while preserving its sincerity.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter fully achieves the purpose: it introduces the writer, explains the accident, expresses gratitude, and invites the helper and family to visit. The tone is warm and suitable, though occasionally over-emotional.
Keep the warmth but make the appreciation slightly more controlled and concrete.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a clear narrative from accident to help to invitation. It is easy to follow, but one long paragraph and some repeated thanks reduce cohesion.
Use short paragraphs for the accident, the appreciation, and the invitation.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is expressive and varied, but several word choices are unnatural, including Godsend, admiration for your action, and took the burden.
Choose natural gratitude phrases that sound heartfelt without being exaggerated.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Most meaning is clear, but there are errors with articles, verb patterns, and clause forms.
Review adjective/noun forms and verb agreement in sentences with let and become.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
After being involved in an accident, you were looked after by a person you did not know before. Write a special thank you letter to express your gratitude. In your letter:
- introduce yourself and let him/her know why you are writing
- express your appreciation and offer him/ her to visit your home with his/her family
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.