You recently took a part-time job working for a local company. After a few weeks, you realised there were some problems with the job. Write a letter to the manager of the company. In your letter: - explain why you took the job - describe the problems that you experienced - suggest what could be done about them
Sample Response
Dear Mr Johnson, I am writing to you regarding a few issues related to the job I have taken within your company. I decided to take the job in order to gain some practical experience as a law student but I am afraid some problems prevent me from working properlydeter me to work properly, which is affecting me personally. I understand the job requires me to complete at least three affidavitsfill in a minimum of 3 affidavits each day in accordance using the files provided by our solicitorswith the files given by our solicitors. The problem is that the solicitors cannot hand in the files on time. I was told that I should get the files before 10.00 am each morningbefore 10 each morning, but in reality, I never have them before lunch, which is around 1.00 pmbefore lunch, that is, 1.00 pm. As a consequence, I have to stay at work until 10.00 pmstay up until 10.00 pm almost every day to finish my daily work. Since, in theory,Since in theory, our solicitors are supposed to complete their files the day before, I am wondering if it is possible for you to ask them to hand in the files earlier in the morninga little bit earlier. I live far away from our firm and have classes from 6.30 in the morning, so working until 10.00 pmworking up to 10.00 pm is troublesome for me. I hope you willwould understand the issue and take steps to solve it. Thank you for your attention to this matter.Once again, thank you for your attention. Yours sincerely,
Vanessa Quan
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter clearly explains the writer's motivation, the late-file problem, and its impact, with appropriate workplace vocabulary and a logical cause-and-effect sequence. Its main limitation is presentation: the response is one dense block, the requested remedy is not framed as a sufficiently direct managerial action, and several verb-pattern and preposition errors reduce accuracy. Prioritise a specific request for an earlier submission deadline and organise the problem, impact, and solution into separate paragraphs.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter clearly explains why the job was taken, describes the late files problem, and suggests that solicitors should provide files earlier. The formal purpose is achieved, although the requested remedy could be framed as a clearer managerial action.
Ask the manager directly to set an earlier file-submission deadline or adjust the daily target when files arrive late.
Coherence and Cohesion
The progression is logical and the cause-effect relationship is easy to follow. The response would read better with paragraph breaks and fewer long sentences carrying several ideas at once.
Divide the letter into reason for taking the job, problem, effect on schedule, and proposed solution.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary is work-related and mostly accurate, including "affidavits", "solicitors", and "daily work". Some collocations are unnatural, such as "deter me to work" and "stay up until" for staying at the office.
Use precise workplace collocations like "prevent me from working" and "stay at the office until".
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences are attempted and meaning remains clear. Errors with prepositions, verb patterns, and modal choice reduce accuracy but do not seriously impede communication.
Check verb patterns after causative verbs and polite requests, especially "prevent someone from doing" and "I hope you will".
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You recently took a part-time job working for a local company. After a few weeks, you realised there were some problems with the job. Write a letter to the manager of the company. In your letter:
- explain why you took the job
- describe the problems that you experienced
- suggest what could be done about them
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.