IELTS Writing Task 1 – General Training – Letter Writing

11 Jul, 2011Archive, IELTS

IELTS Writing Task 1 – General Training – Letter Writing

Letter Sample #3

IELTS Letter, topic: Explanation of delayed first working day


You successfully passed a job interview. You are expected to start on November 15, But you will not be able on that date.

Task: Write a letter to your new boss, explaining your situation, expressing your concern and suggesting solutions.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to inform you that, I won’t be able to start work on November 15, as agreed during my recent interview with you.

The reason that I can’t start work was because my mother has fell from the stairs yesterday. As, I am the only daughter and there are no other relatives that are able to look after my mother, I have no choice but to go back to look after her. According to the doctors it will take about two weeks for her to be able to walk and care for herself again.

I apologize for all the inconvenience and I truly believed that you need me to be at work on that day for the project that is schedule to kick of three weeks later. I am able to work for home and completed the project as mention. I will also report to you through e-mail and if there is a problem, I will call and inform you along the way.

Once again, I’m very sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

S. Chua.

This is a good letter. It covers the task, has a good structure, the paragraphs are coherent. There are several grammatical errors (see comments underlined in blue) and a poorly structured sentence that needs improvement (it starts with “I apologize for all the inconvenience”). Overall, looks like a band 6.5 letter. some improvement to grammar could take it to Band 7.

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