You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference from someone who knew you when you were at college. Write a letter to one of your old teachers asking for a reference. In your letter: - say what job you have applied for - explain why you want this job - suggest what information the teacher should include
Sample Response
Dear Mr Hampson, I am Muller Fortner, one of your research assistants and formerlucky students, on whom you bestowed your guidancewhom you have bestowed your blessing, wisdom and guidance during my academic years at MIU University. I am writingToday, I am writing to ask a favour of you:ask a favour from you- to write a reference letter for me that I needthat I would require to submit to a prospective employer. I have been one of your most dedicatedardent students and we have finished several projects together including the "Impact of Western attitude to developing countries" which was published in "The Social Affair" magazine. After I completedAfter I have completed my postgraduate degreepost-graduation in Social Science from MIU University in December 2024, I have been trying to start my careerstart a job and recently I have been invited to an interview as a researcher at Social Hub, an international company that works for social welfare in many countries. I applied for the job because it would enable me to work closelyclosely work with other talented researchers and let me contribute to great social causes. I hope you would be pleased if I gotwould be happy if I get the job and continue doing the things you always encouraged me to pursuewanted me to do. I hope you would be kind enough to write a reference letter for me mentioning how you know me, my strengthsstrength, academic performance and how I might be suitable for a research-based job. Thank you in advance. I look forward to hearing from you soongetting your reply soon. Respectfully yours, Muller Fortner
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter achieves its purpose well by identifying the role, explaining the applicant’s motivation, and specifying useful content for the requested reference in a polite tone. Its main weakness is an over-elaborate, single-block presentation with some ornate phrasing and unstable grammar; prioritise clear letter paragraphs, concise professional wording, and simpler sentences with consistent tense.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter clearly asks for a reference, identifies the job, explains why the applicant wants it, and suggests relevant information for the teacher to include. The purpose is fully achieved, though some detail is over-elaborate.
Keep the strong bullet-point coverage but make the request slightly more concise and professionally framed.
Coherence and Cohesion
The sequence is easy to follow, moving from relationship to request, job details, reasons, and requested reference content. However, the whole letter is presented as one block, which weakens readability.
Use clear letter paragraphs: greeting and reminder, request, job and motivation, requested reference details, and closing.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is generally flexible and polite, with some effective formal language. A few choices are over-formal or unnatural, such as 'bestowed your blessing' and 'ardent students'.
Use warm but professional wording rather than ornate phrases when addressing a former teacher.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Most sentences are understandable and there is some complex grammar, but tense, relative-clause, and word-form errors appear in longer sentences.
Check tense consistency and simplify long sentences that combine background, request, and job details.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference from someone who knew you when you were at college. Write a letter to one of your old teachers asking for a reference. In your letter:
- say what job you have applied for
- explain why you want this job
- suggest what information the teacher should include
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.