IELTS General Writing Task sample

IELTS General Writing Task

Sample 8

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

An English-speaking friend wants to spend a two-week holiday in your region andhas written asking for information and advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:offer to find somewhere to stay give advice about what to do give information about what clothes to bring Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. , Complete the sample letter

The sample letter contains eleven gaps. Complete it by putting a word or phrase fromthe box below in each space. althoughand as because but if sinceso so that that whenwhere which who

Dear Albert,

I’m delighted .................... you are coming to Singapore next month. I think it would begreat .................... you could stay with me and my family, .................... send youtheirbest wishes. Otherwise, if you prefer, I can easily book you a cheap but comfortablehotel near the beach.................... you can be more independent. There are lots of things to do in my city. If Iwere you, I’d spend some days on the beach relaxing .................... one or two dayssightseeing in the city. There are several interesting museums and temples.................... I’m sure you will enjoy. One place you really should visit is an excellent theme park called Sentosa,.................... you’ll want to spend the whole day. Also, you ought to go to our excellent night safari, .................... is about an hour away by bus. You don’t need to bring a lot of clothes................... the weather is normally warm and sunny, and of course, rainy. However, inthe evening it’s a bit cooler,................... you may need a jersey and a jacket. Please let me know exactly .................... you're coming .................... I can meet youat the airport. It’ll be great to see you again so we can get up-to-date with all our news!

Love

Monica

Dear Albert,

I’m delighted that you are coming to Singapore next month. I think it would begreat if you could stay with me and my family, who send you their best wishes. Otherwise, if you prefer, I can easily book you a cheap but comfortable hotel near thebeach so/so that/where you can be more independent. There are lots of things to do in my city. If I were you, I’d spend some days on the beachrelaxing and/before one or two days sightseeing in the city. There are several interesting museums and temples which/that I’m sure you will enjoy. One place youreally should visit is an excellent theme park called Sentosa, where you’ll want to spend the whole day. Also, you ought to go to our excellent night safari, which is about an hour away by bus. You don’t need to bring a lot of clothes as/because/since the weather is normallywarm and sunny, and of course, rainy. However, in the evening it’s a bit cooler, so you may need a jersey and a jacket. Please let me know exactly when you'recoming so/so that I can meet you at the airport. It’ll be great to see you againso we can get up-to-date with all our news!

Love

Monica

Sample 9

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You eat at your college cafeteria every lunchtime. However, you think it needssome improvements. Write a letter to the college magazine. In you letter explain what you like about the cafeteria say what is wrong with it suggest how it could be improved

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. , Complete the sample letter

The sample letter contains eight gaps. Complete it by putting a word or phrase fromthebox below in each space. annoyingput right could should enough unfortunately good idea too hot

Dear Sir/Madam,

I normally eat lunch at the college cafeteria because it is reasonable priced,convenient and it has a friendly atmosphere. There are, however, a number of deficiencies which I think should be.................... Firstly, although the staff try to keep the tables clean, there are not.................... workers at peak times to clear their tables themselves then they havefinished eating....................., some students do not bother to do this. Also, there are a number ofstudents who do not wait in the queue to be served, which is very .................... forthe majority of us. Finally, I think the cafeteria could have better ventilation as it g et s...................., especially in the summer.

I think it would be a .................... if more signs were put around the cafeteria askingstudents to put their dirty plates and cutlery on the trolleys provided and tothrow away their leftovers and rubbish. Also, I think we .................... tell students whenthey are being anti-social and jumping the queue. Finally, .................... we pleasehavea few windows open when things get too hot?

Yours faithfully

Dear Sir/Madam,

I normally eat lunch at the college cafeteria because it is reasonable priced,convenient and it has a friendly atmosphere. There are, however, a number of deficiencies which I think should be put right Firstly, although the staff try to keepthe tables clean, there are not enough workers at peak times to clear their tablesthemselves then they have finished eating. Unfortunately, some students do not bother to do this. Also, there are a number of students who do not wait in the queue to be served, which is very annoying for themajority of us. Finally, I think the cafeteria could have better ventilation as it getstoo hot, especially in the summer.

I think it would be a good idea if more signs were put around the cafeteria askingstudents to put their dirty plates and cutlery on the trolleys provided and to throwaway their leftovers and rubbish. Also, I think we should tell students when they are being anti-social and jumping the queue. Finally, could we please have a fewwindows open when things get too hot?

Yours faithfully

Sample 10

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have a full time job and are also doing a part time evening course. You nowfind that you can not continue the course. Write a letter to your tutor. In your letter describe the situation explain why you cannot continue at this time say what action you would like to take

Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. , model answer:

Dear Sir or Madam, My name is Muhamad Abdul. I am taking a part-time evening course. I am havingahard time keeping up with this course. I am afraid I cannot continue the course. My problem is, I have a full-time job, from 9am – 5pm. Sometimes, I amaskedtostay extra hours, to finish up the rest of the work. That is because the holidays are coming up soon. Also I have to do some work preparations for the next day.At night when I get home, I am too tired to even prepare a dinner for myself. Also I haveno time to study for this course.

I would like drop this course this quarter. Then take it again the next quarter. So, pleaseaccept my situation.

Thank you for your cooperation

Sincerely

M. Abdul

(135 words)

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 5 score. Here is theexaminer's comment:

The reason for writing is very clear in this letter but it is not clear who the letter is to. Thewriter gives information to cover all three bullet points, but only one is well extended,and the whole response is underlenght at 135 words, so it loses marks for this. The information is organised and it is easy to follow the message. A range of linkersisused across the answer and they are generally accurate, but in some places, especiallythe first paragraph, sentences are not well-linked.The range of vocabulary is sufficient for the task and there are some quite preciseexpressions. There are no errors in word form, but some very basic spelling errors occur. In terms of grammar, the range is rather limited with many very short sentences and few complex structures. Grammar is generally well-controlled, however, with onlyafew minor errors and occasional inappropriate punctuation.