You have received an important document that needs to be translated. Write a letter to your friend and ask him/her to translate this important document for you. In your letter explain: - why it is important for you - how fast you need it back - why you need his/her expertise
Sample Response
Dear Lee, Hope you and your parents are doing excellent. I am sorry that I have not been in touch with you for the last couple of weeks. Even if I have not written to you for a while, you are always in my thoughts and prayer. I am writing to you today because I need your expertise to translate some important documents for me. You would be glad to know that my application has been accepted by the Wuhan University in China and if things go as planned, I will join the university next summer for my Master's degree. They have sent me some documents which are in the Chinese language and I need your help with that. You are the best person to assist me and this is really crucial for me to get admitted to this University. Without the proper translation of the documents, I will not be able to respond precisely to them. I am sending xerox copies of these documents, three documents with 7 pages in total, and would really appreciate it if you can send them before 10th December. I could use Google Translate to interpret the texts but you know there are always glitches in this technology as some meanings are lost in translation! Your excellent skills in English and Chinese makes you the most suitable person to translate those documents for me. I owe you a big one. Take care and write me back whenever possible. Warm wishes, Kyle
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concessive linker Original: Even if Suggested revision: Although Why it matters: 'Although' correctly introduces the contrast between not writing and continuing to think of the friend.
- 2. Use plural prayers Original: prayer Suggested revision: prayers Why it matters: The fixed expression uses both nouns in the plural.
- 3. Remove improper article Original: the Wuhan University Suggested revision: Wuhan University Why it matters: This university name does not take the definite article.
- 4. Clarify study purpose Original: for my Master's degree Suggested revision: to pursue my master's degree Why it matters: The infinitive states the purpose of joining the university, and the degree name is not capitalised generically.
- 5. Use concise language phrase Original: which are in the Chinese language Suggested revision: which are written in Chinese Why it matters: This directly states the language of the documents.
- 6. Match plural documents Original: that Suggested revision: them Why it matters: The plural pronoun must refer back to the documents.
- 7. Place adverb naturally Original: respond precisely to them Suggested revision: respond to them accurately Why it matters: 'Accurately' describes a correct response more naturally and sits after its object.
- 8. Use generic copy term Original: xerox copies Suggested revision: photocopies Why it matters: 'Photocopies' is the standard generic term for copied documents.
- 9. State the page count concisely Original: three documents with 7 pages in total Suggested revision: three documents totalling seven pages Why it matters: This removes repetition and presents the quantity clearly.
- 10. Use polite conditional Original: if you can send them Suggested revision: if you could send the translations back Why it matters: 'Could' is appropriate after 'would appreciate', and the requested item is the completed translation.
- 11. State a clear deadline Original: before 10th December Suggested revision: by 10 December Why it matters: 'By' clearly means the translation must be returned no later than that date.
- 12. Use the correct task verb Original: interpret the texts Suggested revision: translate the documents Why it matters: The requested written-language task is translation rather than interpretation.
Suggested Rewrites
- Even if Although
- prayer prayers
- the Wuhan University Wuhan University
- for my Master's degree to pursue my master's degree
- which are in the Chinese language which are written in Chinese
- that them
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter develops every required point with convincing detail and maintains a warm, appropriately informal relationship with the friend. Its strongest feature is the specific explanation of the documents’ importance, deadline, and need for bilingual expertise; the main limitation is the lack of paragraphing, alongside a few grammar and collocation slips. Organising the request into clear paragraphs and proofreading agreement and connector choices would sharpen an already effective response.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The request is clear, every bullet point is thoroughly developed, and the friendly tone suits the relationship.
Trim the extended opening slightly so the translation request becomes the focus even sooner.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas follow a logical sequence, but presenting the whole letter as one paragraph weakens the visible organisation.
Separate the background, deadline, and reason for choosing the friend into distinct purposeful paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
A broad and effective vocabulary conveys the situation precisely, with only occasional less natural choices.
Polish collocations such as ‘doing excellent’ and ‘in my thoughts and prayer’ to improve naturalness.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Varied complex sentences are generally well controlled, though connector choice and subject-verb agreement contain a few clear slips.
Correct forms such as ‘Even though’ and ‘your excellent skills make’ during a final grammar check.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have received an important document that needs to be translated. Write a letter to your friend and ask him/her to translate this important document for you. In your letter explain:
- why it is important for you
- how fast you need it back
- why you need his/her expertise
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.