Your friend had made a plan for you to see a movie together but you can now not join him. You’ve found another friend who can go instead of you. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - Explain why you cannot go anymore - Say who can go instead of you - Say why this person is a good person to go with
Sample Response
Dear John,
How are you? It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Do you remember buying the movie ticketsthe time of purchasing tickets to a theatre? The day has arrivedThe time has come; however, I am unable to go with you as promisedas I promised. Rohit is ready to accompany you, and I hope he will keep you entertainedwon’t let you get bored.
Let me tell you why I will be busy that daythe reason for being busy on that day. You know that recently, I have recently started working inhave got my niche in the teaching profession. I work round the clock, and I can’t take leavetake a leave. Besides, I’ll be responsible for organising cultural activities at the annual functionon the annual function day; therefore, taking leave will put my job at risk. I don’t want to see all my hopes dasheddashed to the ground.
Furthermore, you need not be disappointeddon’t need to be depressed as I’ve found someonearranged a partner for you. You know him well. Our old friend Rohit is free on Saturday and is willing to go with you on the planned dayan intended day. I know you’ve made a plan with me, but I cannot make itcould not make it due to a hectic schedule. That’s why I have arranged a friend for you.
Besides, he has a great sense of humour and with his silly remarks and being a spontaneous person, he will make your day memorable. Also, he has his own car, so you do not need to catch a bus. He will pick you up from the bus station and drop you off theredrop you there. In this way, you’ll arrive on timereach in time.
I am hoping to see you soon.
Best wishes,Yours Loving,
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter fully addresses the situation, explains the work commitment clearly, identifies Rohit, and gives several convincing reasons why he would be good company. The main limitation is that repetitive development and some unnatural wording make an informal message sound heavier than necessary; the highest-priority improvement is to use more concise, conversational phrasing while correcting awkward collocations.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All three bullet points are clearly covered with relevant supporting details, although parts of the tone are overly dramatic for a friendly letter.
Add a direct apology and express the reason more simply to create a warmer, more natural message to a friend.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraphing and overall progression are clear, but the explanation that Rohit will substitute is repeated and linking words are somewhat mechanical.
Combine the repeated arrangement details and use fewer overt connectors so each paragraph advances the message more efficiently.
Lexical Resource
The response shows a good range of vocabulary, but collocations such as 'got my niche,' 'take a leave,' and 'on an intended day' are unnatural.
Use precise everyday alternatives such as 'started my teaching career,' 'take leave,' and 'on the planned day.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A variety of complex structures is used with generally clear meaning, though several faulty combinations and preposition choices remain.
Edit complex sentences for parallel structure and natural phrasing, especially the sentence describing Rohit's humour and spontaneity.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
Your friend had made a plan for you to see a movie together but you can now not join him. You’ve found another friend who can go instead of you. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:
- Explain why you cannot go anymore
- Say who can go instead of you
- Say why this person is a good person to go with
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.