You are applying for a job and need a letter of reference from someone who knew you when you were at school. 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 George, Hope you and your family are doing well. I am Mark Thomas, one of your past students, writing for your reference for a job I am going to apply to. I am hoping that you would write me a recommendation letter that my prospective employer is expecting. I am delighted to inform you that I am applying for a position at Morgan's Incorporation. This is a dream job for me and working for a reputable company like Morgan's Incorporation will enable me to gain valuable experiences and give wings to my career. One of the requirements for applying to this job is a reference letter from a known person from my school whose words count. Being an international student, I don't know many people here who are worthy of such a recommendation. I will highly appreciate it if you provide me with a reference letter which requires some basic information about me and my studies and how can I be a suitable candidate for the junior executive position in an international company. The company needs this letter before the end of July. I would like to request you to provide me with the letter as early as possible. I will be indebted to you for the favour. Yours sincerely, Mark Thomas
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Add the subject Original: Hope you and your family Suggested revision: I hope you and your family Why it matters: The sentence needs the subject I in this formal letter.
- 2. Use natural wording Original: past Suggested revision: former Why it matters: Former students is the standard expression for people taught previously.
- 3. Clarify the purpose Original: writing for your reference Suggested revision: writing to ask you for a reference Why it matters: The revised wording clearly states the requested action.
- 4. Correct the preposition Original: job I am going to apply to Suggested revision: job I am applying for Why it matters: English uses apply for when referring to a job.
- 5. Improve object placement Original: write me a recommendation letter Suggested revision: write a recommendation letter for me Why it matters: The revised object pattern is more natural in a formal request.
- 6. Use precise wording Original: that my prospective employer is expecting Suggested revision: requested by my prospective employer Why it matters: Requested states the employer's requirement more directly.
- 7. Use uncountable noun Original: experiences Suggested revision: experience Why it matters: Experience is uncountable when it means practical knowledge gained through work.
- 8. Use formal wording Original: give wings to my career Suggested revision: advance my career Why it matters: Advance my career is clearer and more suitable for this letter.
- 9. Correct the preposition Original: to Suggested revision: for Why it matters: Apply for is the correct verb-preposition combination for a job.
- 10. Clarify who is needed Original: a known person from my school Suggested revision: someone who knew me at school Why it matters: The revision accurately describes the person required to provide the reference.
- 11. Use professional wording Original: whose words count Suggested revision: whose opinion is respected Why it matters: The revision expresses the teacher's credibility more appropriately.
- 12. Correct the meaning Original: worthy of such a recommendation Suggested revision: able to provide such a reference Why it matters: The issue is whether someone can provide a suitable reference, not whether that person deserves one.
Suggested Rewrites
- Hope you and your family I hope you and your family
- past former
- writing for your reference writing to ask you for a reference
- job I am going to apply to job I am applying for
- write me a recommendation letter write a recommendation letter for me
- that my prospective employer is expecting requested by my prospective employer
Why this response received Band 6.5
The letter clearly requests a reference, explains the attraction of the job, and suggests relevant academic and suitability information for the teacher to include. Its main weakness is precision and naturalness: the junior executive title appears only late, while several phrases sound exaggerated or grammatically awkward. State the exact role near the beginning and use concise, professional language to specify the qualities and achievements the reference should cover.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All bullet points are addressed and the purpose is clear, though the exact job title and requested reference content could be presented more directly.
Name the junior executive role in the opening and list specific studies, skills, or qualities the teacher could credibly mention.
Coherence and Cohesion
The letter progresses from the request to the job motivation, reference requirements, and deadline, but repeats the request several times.
Use one focused paragraph for each bullet point and combine the deadline and final request into a concise closing.
Lexical Resource
There is sufficient vocabulary for employment and references, but awkward or exaggerated phrases reduce professional precision.
Use natural expressions such as ‘provide a reference’, ‘gain valuable experience’, ‘support my application’, and ‘I would appreciate’.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Meaning is clear through a mix of structures, but errors in verb patterns, embedded questions, articles, and relative clauses recur.
Revise phrases such as ‘a job I am applying for’ and ‘how I would be a suitable candidate’, keeping indirect questions in statement word order.
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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 school. 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.