You have been working in a company for the last two years. Recently, your computer in the office has started giving some problems and it is affecting your work performance. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter: - describe the problem - explain how it is affecting your work - write what you want him to do regarding it
Sample Response
Dear Mr Wayne, I understand that you probably do not want to hear about another issue amid so many other problems, but I just do not have any other option but to inform you of the issue. The problem I am talking aboutThe problem, I am talking about, is with my desktop computerrelated to my desktop computer which I have been usingwhich I have been working with for the last year or sofor the last one year so. In fact, my computer has been giving me trouble intermittently for more than a monthis giving me trouble on and off for more than a month as it keeps freezing intermittentlyfreezing on me momentarily, forcing me to pausestop my work until it starts responding againuntil it comes back again. Sometimes, my computer overheatsmy computer becomes so hot that I become a little afraid to even touch it after working on it for an extended perioda bit longer period of time. Needless to say, it is also running out of memory since many different pieces of software have been installed onin it over the years, which is actually making the machine run even slower. Naturally, because of these reasons, my productivity at workthe productivity at my work is being adversely affectedis getting affected rather negatively. It takes me more time to finish a task that should not take so longshould not have taken such a lengthy time. It demotivates me as well.
Therefore, I would really appreciate it if you could arrange to haveif you take proper steps to arrange to have a technician repairfix my computer at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely, Rob Freeman
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response gives a detailed account of the computer faults, their effect on productivity, and the requested repair, so the manager can act on the problem. However, the opening is unnecessarily apologetic and most content is crowded into one long paragraph, while several awkward expressions reduce precision; a more direct opening, clearer paragraphing, and tighter sentence control would make the letter more professional.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All three bullet points are developed clearly and the requested action is explicit, although the speculative opening about the manager's problems is unnecessary.
Begin directly with the computer problem and retain only information that helps the manager understand or resolve it.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response progresses logically from faults to consequences and a solution, but the long first paragraph and somewhat formulaic linking weaken organisation.
Use separate paragraphs for the equipment faults, their impact on work, and the requested remedy.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary has sufficient range for the situation, but awkward combinations such as 'productivity at my work' and 'a bit longer period of time' limit precision.
Replace wordy or unnatural collocations with concise phrases such as 'my productivity' and 'after prolonged use'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences are attempted successfully, but recurring issues with tense, punctuation, and conditional phrasing reduce overall control.
Review time references and polite conditional forms, especially 'has been giving me trouble' and 'if you could arrange'.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have been working in a company for the last two years. Recently, your computer in the office has started giving some problems and it is affecting your work performance. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter:
- describe the problem
- explain how it is affecting your work
- write what you want him to do regarding it
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.