You saw an advertisement for a tennis course in England but you have some problems and can’t stay for the whole course. Write a letter to the course director. In your letter: - explain your interest in the course - describe your problems - find out whether a refund is possible if you leave early
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing this letter in response to an advertisement, which was published online a few days ago, where it shows that your tennis academy in Nottinghamshire is offering a short tennis course for beginners. Given how much interested I really am in becoming a good tennis player, I had naturally become very interested after seeing the word “short”. But, then my excitement died down a little after noticing that the short was not really that short after all. In fact, I would need to spend at least 4 weeks in England to finish the whole course, which could be a bit problematic since I would need to return to my country after three weeks. I have got three weeks vacation from my job which I am planning to use in learning tennis. Therefore, I was just wondering if I would be allowed to join the course with some sort of guarantee that I would get a partial refund for my course should I go back to my country before finishing the entire course or maybe you can make a special arrangement so that I can finish it in three weeks. I will wait for your response. Yours faithfully, Martin Freeman
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use formal transition Original: But, then Suggested revision: However Why it matters: However provides a grammatical and appropriately formal transition without the unnecessary comma after But.
- 2. Correct course reference Original: the short was not really that short Suggested revision: the course was not as short as I had expected Why it matters: Short is an adjective, so the noun course is required.
- 3. Use formal wording Original: a bit problematic Suggested revision: problematic Why it matters: A bit is unnecessarily conversational in a formal enquiry.
- 4. Add possessive form Original: three weeks vacation Suggested revision: three weeks' vacation Why it matters: A duration modifying vacation requires the plural possessive form.
- 5. Fix verb pattern Original: which I am planning to use in learning tennis Suggested revision: which I plan to use to learn tennis Why it matters: Use is followed naturally by an infinitive expressing purpose.
- 6. Use polite closing Original: I will wait for your response Suggested revision: I look forward to your response Why it matters: This is the conventional polite closing for a formal enquiry.
- 7. Use formal reaction Original: my excitement died down a little Suggested revision: my initial enthusiasm faded somewhat Why it matters: The revision is more precise and suitable for a formal enquiry.
- 8. Spell short number Original: 4 Suggested revision: four Why it matters: Spelling out a short number is more consistent with formal prose.
- 9. Use concise verb Original: finish the whole course Suggested revision: complete the course Why it matters: Complete expresses the same meaning more concisely.
- 10. Use formal possession Original: I have got Suggested revision: I have Why it matters: I have is more concise and formal than have got in this enquiry.
- 11. Use workplace phrase Original: from my job Suggested revision: from work Why it matters: Vacation from work is the more natural collocation.
- 12. Remove conversational filler Original: after all Suggested revision: Delete Why it matters: After all adds unnecessary conversational emphasis to a formal enquiry.
Suggested Rewrites
- But, then However
- the short was not really that short the course was not as short as I had expected
- a bit problematic problematic
- three weeks vacation three weeks' vacation
- which I am planning to use in learning tennis which I plan to use to learn tennis
- I will wait for your response I look forward to your response
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter communicates its purpose clearly and covers the writer's interest, the three-week availability problem, and the request for a partial refund. Its main limitation is uneven formality and precision, with repeated wording and a very long final request making the message less polished. Prioritise a concise, formally worded request that separates the refund question from the alternative three-week arrangement.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All three required points are addressed and supported with relevant explanation, though the humorous comments about the course length are slightly informal for the recipient.
State the interest and scheduling conflict more directly, then ask separately about refund eligibility and possible course flexibility.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas follow a sensible sequence, but the single dense paragraph and overlong final sentence weaken clarity and progression.
Organise the interest, availability problem, and requests into separate paragraphs with one main purpose each.
Lexical Resource
There is enough range to explain the situation clearly, although repetition of 'short,' 'interested,' and 'course' and some imprecise choices limit flexibility.
Use concise formal alternatives such as 'intensive programme,' 'keen to enrol,' and 'partial reimbursement.'
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response uses varied complex structures, but tense choices, awkward relative clauses, and an overloaded final sentence reduce control.
Break the final conditional request into two sentences and revise forms such as 'how much interested' and 'three weeks vacation.'
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You saw an advertisement for a tennis course in England but you have some problems and can’t stay for the whole course. Write a letter to the course director. In your letter:
- explain your interest in the course
- describe your problems
- find out whether a refund is possible if you leave early
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.