You have been doing some voluntary work to help your local community. However, now you are unable to continue doing this work. Write a letter to the manager of the organisation where you have been working. In your letter: - describe the work you have been doing - explain why you can no longer do this work recommend another person - who is interested in the work
Sample Response
Dear Mr Patrick, I am a volunteercadet in your community-based rehabilitation team and I have been with this group since 2017. I regret to inform you that I will not be able to continue with your organisation fromeffective from 1st December 2025 as I am leaving for my home country permanentlyonce and for all. It has been a wonderful journey for me so far. I have primarily workedI was predominantly working with the rehabilitation team, assisting the medical teammedical panel of experts as a volunteer doctor. My duties mainly consistedcomprised of the initial assessment of patients frompatients, who are from the indigent part of our local community. The assessment mainly included monitoring their physical, social and emotional well-beingwellness. As you may remember, I was pursuing my postgraduate studiespostgraduation at Boston University. Now that my study permit has expired, I am preparing to leave for my home country in a couple of weeks. Therefore, I canHenceforth, can no longer work for the team I have been part ofhad been a part of. However, it would be my pleasure topleasure, to introduce one of my juniors in college, who is willing to take over my position onin the team. Now, the remaining recruitment formalitiesthe whole charade of recruitment of a new employee, the prerequisites and all, as intended, I leave it upon you. His name is Jackson Dave and he will be in contact with you soon. Once again, I would take this opportunity to thank everyone who stood beside me during my tenure with the group. I wish every success of the organisation. Sincerely yours, Jane Smith
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter clearly explains the volunteer role, reason for leaving, and proposed replacement while maintaining a generally appropriate formal purpose. Its impact is reduced by one-block organisation and several awkward or unsuitable expressions, especially ‘whole charade’ and ‘henceforth’, alongside a few grammatical omissions. Prioritise clear paragraphing and natural formal phrasing so the information reads more professionally and smoothly.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is clear and all three content points are covered with relevant detail, although the proposed replacement is only briefly developed and one phrase sounds inappropriately dismissive.
Add a little evidence of Jackson's suitability and keep the recommendation consistently respectful.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information follows a sensible sequence, but presenting the entire letter as one block weakens paragraphing and some transitions are mechanical.
Separate the opening, duties, reason, recommendation, and closing into clear functional paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
The letter shows useful range in formal and medical vocabulary, but several choices such as ‘cadet’, ‘postgraduation’, and ‘whole charade’ are imprecise or unnatural.
Replace conspicuous or misused terms with conventional formal expressions that fit a volunteer resignation letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A range of complex sentences is attempted and meaning remains clear, though missing subjects, misplaced commas, and awkward clause construction recur.
Proofread each complex sentence for a complete subject-verb structure and remove unnecessary commas.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have been doing some voluntary work to help your local community. However, now you are unable to continue doing this work. Write a letter to the manager of the organisation where you have been working. In your letter:
- describe the work you have been doing
- explain why you can no longer do this work recommend another person
- who is interested in the work
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.