You share a room in a college with another student. You find it difficult to study and work there because your roommate has friends and parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking. Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer. In your letter: - explain the problems with your current room - ask for a new room next term - say that you would prefer a single room and explain why
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inform you that I would like to move toI wish to move into new accommodationa new accommodation next term, preferably in a single room, as I find my current room-sharing arrangementcurrent sharing arrangement quite inconvenient. My roommate has made it harder for me to concentrate on my studies and I am hoping you would help me sort it out. Due to my roommate’s inconsiderate behaviour, I find it difficult to live in the roomtroublesome to live in my room, let alone study properly. For one thing, he has friends visiting the roomfriends visiting him every single day, for another, he regularly holds parties and listens to music loudly. In addition, he often takes my belongings without askingborrows my belongings without my permission. A few days ago he took a book from my desk and lost it which I borrowed from the college library. Due to his inconsiderate behaviourirrational behaviours, I find it challenging to concentrate on my studies and live peacefully. I would appreciate your helpI am expecting your help with moving to a room of my ownto move into a room of my own, where I will be free from such distractions. Could you pleaseI would be grateful if you could allocate me a single roomfind a single room for me onnear the college campus from the startbeginning of next term. I will always bewill be always gratefulindebted to you. Yours faithfully, Richard Heer
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter clearly explains the disruptive living situation, requests a move for the next term, and justifies the preference for a single room with relevant supporting detail. Its main limitation is presentation: the response is effectively one long paragraph, while several phrases sound awkward or overly emphatic for an accommodation request. Divide the content into purposeful paragraphs and refine collocations and sentence boundaries.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, all three bullet points are fully addressed, and the formal tone is generally suitable.
Use a more measured closing request and avoid the exaggerated promise of being forever indebted.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas progress logically from the complaint to its effects and the requested solution, but the lack of paragraphing weakens organisation.
Separate the opening, detailed problems, and requested accommodation into distinct paragraphs and repair the comma splice linking the two examples.
Lexical Resource
A good range of vocabulary conveys the problems precisely, though some choices such as irrational behaviours and new accommodation are unnatural.
Choose more idiomatic formal collocations, such as inconsiderate behaviour and different accommodation or a new room.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex structures are mostly accurate and meaning remains clear despite a few awkward constructions and punctuation errors.
Improve clause control in sentences such as the library-book example and place adverbs more naturally.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You share a room in a college with another student. You find it difficult to study and work there because your roommate has friends and parties in the room and sometimes borrows your things without asking. Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer. In your letter:
- explain the problems with your current room
- ask for a new room next term
- say that you would prefer a single room and explain why
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.