You have recently started work in a new company. Write a letter to an English-speaking friend. In your letter: - explain why you changed jobs - describe your new job - tell him/her your other news
Sample Response
Dear Richard,
I hope you're doing great. I wanted to share some exciting news with you - I have recently started a new job, and I'm really enjoying the change.
The main reason I decided to switch my last job was for better career growth and work-life balance. My previous role was becoming quite monotonous, and the long hours left me with little personal time. When I came across this opportunity, I knew it was the right step forward.
In relation to my new job, I have joined "Hanson's IT Ltd." as a Project Manager. My responsibilities include managing projects, working with clients, and developing software. The work environment is fantastic, and my colleagues are very supportive. What I particularly love is the flexibility and opportunities for professional development.
Beyond work, I've also moved to a new apartment closer to the office, making my daily commute much easier. Let’s catch up soon. I’d love to hear your news as well!
Warm wishes,
Ashique
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Correct dash punctuation Original: you - I have Suggested revision: you—I have Why it matters: An em dash correctly marks the interruption without surrounding spaces.
- 2. Correct job collocation Original: switch Suggested revision: leave Why it matters: A person leaves a particular job but switches jobs or changes jobs.
- 3. Complete reason structure Original: for better career growth and work-life balance Suggested revision: to pursue greater career growth and a better work-life balance Why it matters: The infinitive phrase completes the reason structure more naturally and supplies the needed article.
- 4. Use natural transition Original: In relation to my new job Suggested revision: As for my new job Why it matters: This shorter transition is more natural in a friendly letter.
- 5. Remove unnecessary quotes Original: "Hanson's IT Ltd." Suggested revision: Hanson's IT Ltd. Why it matters: A company name does not need quotation marks in this context.
- 6. Lowercase job title Original: Project Manager Suggested revision: project manager Why it matters: A job title used descriptively after as is normally lowercase.
- 7. Sentence rewrite Original: What I particularly love is the flexibility and opportunities for professional development. Suggested revision: I particularly appreciate the flexibility and opportunities for professional development. Why it matters: The direct structure avoids awkward agreement between a singular framing clause and a compound complement.
- 8. Make description specific Suggested revision: Link the positive work environment directly to the supportive colleagues and flexibility already mentioned. Why it matters: Connecting these details would make the description of the new job more concrete.
- 9. Separate the closing Suggested revision: Keep the apartment update as the final news paragraph, then move the invitation and request for news into a separate closing paragraph. Why it matters: Separating the news from the closing would sharpen the letter's progression.
Suggested Rewrites
- you - I have you—I have
- switch leave
- for better career growth and work-life balance to pursue greater career growth and a better work-life balance
- In relation to my new job As for my new job
- "Hanson's IT Ltd." Hanson's IT Ltd.
- Project Manager project manager
Why this response received Band 8.0
The letter communicates its news efficiently, maintains a natural friendly tone, and covers the job change, new role, and apartment move in a clear sequence. Its main limitation is occasional imprecision in phrasing, especially switch my last job and the description of professional development. Refine these collocations and add one concrete detail about the apartment move to make the response more vivid and natural.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All three bullet points are clearly covered with relevant detail, and the friendly purpose and tone remain consistent throughout.
Expand the other news by briefly describing the new apartment or how the move has changed daily life.
Coherence and Cohesion
The letter is logically organised into focused paragraphs, with smooth progression and generally unobtrusive linking.
Replace the slightly formal transition In relation to my new job with a more conversational link suited to a friend.
Lexical Resource
The response shows a good range of work-related vocabulary, though a few collocations such as switch my last job are not fully natural.
Use more idiomatic combinations, for example leave my previous job, greater career progression, and opportunities for professional development.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex and simple sentence forms are varied and controlled, with punctuation and agreement accurate across almost the entire letter.
Refine the structure the main reason was for so that the reason is expressed more naturally and directly.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have recently started work in a new company. Write a letter to an English-speaking friend. In your letter:
- explain why you changed jobs
- describe your new job
- tell him/her your other news
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.