Learn how to improve your IELTS Letter to band score 9. Also get learn some English language vocabulary and grammar tips. IELTS candidates taking the General Training test will be given a letter, not a chart, in Writing Task 1. Learn how to take a letter from band 6 to band 9. If you are taking the Academic test, you do not write a letter for Writing Task 1, but you can still use this lesson to improve your overall English.
On this page, you will find:
- Candidate Letter Estimated Band 6
- Feedback with language highlights
- Model Estimated Band 9 Letter
- Feedback with Highlights
IELTS Letter Task
Write a letter to a friend. You have borrowed something from your friend and it got damaged.
- Apologize for damaging the product
- Explain what happened
- Say how are you going to fix the issue
Candidate’s IELTS Letter: Estimate Band 6
Dear Nelly, Sorry, it’s taken me so long to write to you but at last, I decided to own up my mistake why I haven’t returned your new laptop till yet. I want to sorry as I damage your new laptop, which I had borrow for my office presentation. I am feeling bitterly disappointed about this, as I know you had bought a new laptop. Everything was going well. I was working on my presentation, but after sometime when I was having my cup of coffee, I accidentally poured coffee over it, and since laptop is not working. Though I had tried many times to restart the windows all went in the vain. I know it’s my blunder mistake. I had already sent the laptop to repair centre and they had promised me to get it to repair within a week. I didn’t want to cause you inconvenience and for this reason, I had arranged another laptop for you to attend your online classes. I hope you can forgive me! Best wishes Robert |
Feedback to above Letter
The comments below are organised based on the marking criteria for IELTS Writing Task 1. Each of the marking criterion are worth 25% of your task 1 marks.
- Task Response: The task has been completed and the prompts covered. This is important. However, the final prompt is slightly wrong. The prompts asks about what you will do, not what you’ve already done. Also some details is slightly unclear.
- Coherence and Cohesion: There are paragraphs, but they are not used properly. There is a lack of linking words and connectors.
- Grammar: Complex sentences are used but they are often faulty. There is also a problem with the way tenses are used, although there is a good range of tenses used.. There are also other grammar errors:
- own up my mistake = own up to my mistake
- since laptop is not working = since the laptop is not working
- all went in the vain = it was in vain
- restart the windows = restart Windows
- sent the laptop to repair centre = … to the repair centre
- to get it to repair = to repair it
- Vocabulary: There are some good examples of vocabulary, such as “cause you inconvenience” and “bitterly disappointed” (although the word “disappointed” is not the correct word to use in this context) and “arrange another laptop”. Unfortunately, there are also errors, for example:
- till yet = yet
- I want to sorry = I want to apologise
- accidentally poured coffee over it = accidentally spilled coffee over it
- blunder mistake = blunder OR mistake (not both together)
- arranged another laptop for you to attend your online class = arranged another laptop for you to use for your online class
Model Letter Estimated at Band Score 9
Dear Nelly,
Sorry, it’s taken me so long to write to you but at last I decided to own up to my mistake and explain why I haven’t returned your new laptop yet.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to return your laptop to you because it got damaged during my presentation last week. To be honest, I’ve delayed writing this letter to you because I’ve been feeling dreadfully guilty about it all knowing that it was a brand new laptop. I’m so very sorry.
Let me explain what happened, everything went well with the presentation until just near the end when I got completely flustered. At that point, I was concentrating so much on what I was saying that I accidentally knocked my cup of coffee which spilled all over your laptop. Since then, your laptop hasn’t worked properly even though I’ve restarted it a number of times.
As the laptop just won’t work properly, I’ve decided to send it to a specialist I know. Actually, I’ve already talked to him and he assures me that it’ll be as good as new by Wednesday next week which will be in time for your online class that you start on Thursday. Of course, I’ll cover all costs.
I can’t apologise enough for what’s happened, but please know that it will all get sorted. I hope you can forgive me.
Best wishes,
Robert
Feedback to Model Letter
Quite a lot has changed in the letter. Below I’ve highlighted a few things to focus on:
- The final prompt is now in the right tense. It is about what you plan to do to fix the problem.
- Paragraphing is now improved and follows the prompts. Each paragraph has a clear function with a central theme.
- A range of linking words and connectors:
- unfortunately, to be honest, at that point, since then, actually, of course
- There is a good range of tenses which are used accurately. Here is a few tenses highlighted: it’s taken me …. I decided …. I haven’t been able to …. I was concentrating …. I’ve been feeling …. he assures me … I’ll cover
- There is a good range of vocabulary:
- to own up to my mistake
- I’ve delayed writing this letter
- feeling dreadfully guilty
- a brand new laptop
- I got completely flustered
- to knock something over
- to spill something
- he assures me
- as good as new
- I’ll cover all costs
I hope you’ve found this lesson useful both to develop your English and understand about paragraphing as well as other IELTS requirements. to read Top Tips for GT Letters, click here: IELTS GT Letter Essential Tips
All the best
Liz
………………………..
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Good day Liz. I am very grateful to you for my success in Ielts exam. I prepared for the exam by watching your videos and attempting the tasks given. It was my first attempt at IELTS and you played a huge role in its positive outcome. Thank you and remain blessed Liz. From Chinwe, Nigeria.
Wonderful to hear. Well done with your results 🙂
Hi Liz,
I just want to thank you for the great teaching. I had just one week to prepare for academic IELTS. I followed your blog and you tube videos. You were my only coach 😊 and I was able to ged desired band score.
You are an awesome teacher. Learning with you is super interesting for me.
Thanks again!
Great to hear your good news! Well done 🙂
Hi Liz! Thanks for helping us with your tips for GT. I`ll do my exam in December 5, 2020 and really appreciate if you can check my task below. If possible, please give an idea about Score. My goal is 5.0. Tks!!!
Dear Susan,
How are you doing? Hope you`re well and Mike recovering from his surgery.
I`m wrinting this letter to tell you that the vaccum that you borrow me is not working anymore. I really don`t know what happened, but when my daughter was cleaning the living room it stopped. I`m so sorry about it.
I already contacted the technical assistance to recover it, but unfortunatelly they told me that it is out of warranty, so I would spend about USD 150,00 to fix it. To be honest, I prefer to buy a new one at American Store for USD 220,00 and replace it for you if you agree. Please, just let me now as soon as possible because they have only 2 in stock and I can make a reservation today and I know that you cleaner goes to your house every Friday morning and the lead is betwenn 2 and 3 days.
I apologize for this situation and hope you accept the new product .
Thank you and best regards.
Have a nice day!
Luisa Tomaz
Hi Liz, I have just purchased your Idea for IELTS essay topic e book. I have appeared IELTS GT CD on 19 June 2020 and Scored 7 overall whereas scored 6.0 in writing. Speaking 7.5, Reading 6.5 and Listening 7.0 consecutively. Again registered for the test date 9 Oct. Hope can score 8777 this time.
Thanks//Rezaul
Good luck!
Hi Liz,
Thank you very much for your great help. Your website is absolutely one of the most useful ielts preparation website. I would like to enquire whether you also provide some writing preparation courses online?
Thanks in advance
I have Advanced Writing Task 2 lessons and a couple of e-books. The Advanced Lessons focus on the techniques needed for a high score. See my store: https://elizabethferguson.podia.com/
Thank you Liz! I would like to ask whether we should indent in the beginning of each paragraph.
See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/should-i-indent-my-paragraphs-in-ielts-writing/.
Dear kamel
I hope you are doing well, I’m writting this lettre to ask you apologies for your laptop thas was damaged
I’m so sorry to tell you that the laptop that you borrowed me last month got damaged, I »m really echamed to tell you that but it »s fact
Last week when I worked on it at night for preparing my exam I went to the kichen to get something to drink while my pet push it down and it got damaged ; the screan is broken
I brin git to the costumer service and he said he can repair it witin week
Another time I’m so soory to let you waiting, and Iwould appreciate if you can accept my invitation to assist with me to the concert that will happened in the stadium at Friday night, there will be a bande come from the united states and we will have fun
Best wishes
Riad
Hi liz. Thank you for your lessons. I have a exam on tommarow. Please wish me luck
Lots of luck!!
Hi Liz, your efforts are really precious for all who want to fulfill their dreams in context to IELTS. God Blass You.
Glad my website is useful.
Dear Ram,
I apologize for not being able to return you, the ipod that I had borrowed
few days back. I was feeling guilty and finding it hard to tell that it got
damaged by me, unintentionally.
Let me explain what happened. I was travelling to work by train, while listening to music on your ipod.
As soon as I was about to take the exit from the train gate, some guy behind me pushed me in a hurry,
which made me lose my balance and in turn drop your ipod. By the time I regained my balance,
the guy had disappeared in the crowd and had left me guilty with your broken music player.
The player got switched off when it fell, and despite many tries, it did not switch on.
I want to assure you that I am ready to bear the repair charges and also got it checked by
the nearest service center. They say, they will have to replace a circuit board part, which
should cost around 20 USD. However, I told them to wait as I needed to take your permission and
inform you first before letting them to start fixing it. Therefore, please let me
know if I should get the music device fixed or in case you want to get it checked by any other
known service center, we can get that done as well, whenever you are free.
I apologize again and hope to hear from you soon.
Yours,
Vaibhav
Dear Sarah,
I hope you are doing well. I want to apologize for having spoilt the beautiful dress I had borrowed from you for my farewell.
I had planned to visit you this weekend to return the dress. Unfortunately, Shinzo, my dog, tore it the last night. As you know we brought Shinzo to our house just few days back, she is not very well – trained. I didn’t realize that Shinzo could jump onto the sofa and pull the dress. I will try to get it stitched from the tailor who sits next to my building, but in case it does not come out well, I will order an exact new piece for you by the next weekend.
I am aware of the importance this gift holds to you, hence I am really sorry for irresponsibly handling your dress. I promise to return an exact dress to you by the next weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Ru
It helps me a lot
Hi Liz,
Greetings from Lagos, Nigeria.
My test scores are: listening 8.5, reading 8.0, writing: 7.5, speaking: 8.0.
Overall band: 8. Your lessons and tips were very useful. Keep up the good work, thank you!
Brilliant to see your results!! Very well done 🙂
Dear Liz,
Please can you take a look at a sample I did ? I do not expect you to mark it but some feedback would be kindly appreciated.
Thank you.
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40minutes on this task.
Some schools have restricted the use of mobile phones. Is this a
positive development or a negative one?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples
from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
————————————————————————————
We are living in a very fast-paced technology-focused society that
requires almost all of us to own at least one electrical device.
Mobile phones have become so much the norm, that children from the age of about 11 carry one to school.
With this trend ever-increasing, it can leave the younger generation more exposed to the risk of compulsive use of such devices.
In my opinion, reducing phone usage is a positive way forward.
Arguably, parents are paying more attention to the safety aspect it gives them, as a means of tracking the whereabouts of their children. In some respects, this has forced society to follow in this direction, making it more popular for children to take a phone to school.
Setting limits on the use can help both teachers and pupils reach the same goal within a learning environment.
Distraction is the main concern, If, for example, a teacher is in the middle of an important lesson and a mobile phone rings this will disrupt the whole class. Equally, the pupil could be discreetly checking messages, chatting on social media, looking up non-related information online, and so forth. Either way, this type of behavior aids in underachieving.
Finally, an important point to note is that about 30/40% of pupil time is spent outside of the classroom and in a social area, for instance, break rooms, canteen, or similar. Recent UK government findings have found there is a need to increase more sports activities and open space in schools, as it gives better individual overall school performance.
In conclusion, the negative impact outweighs the positive. Setting boundaries in schools for phone users will have a far more positive effect on both education and the health of young children.
Thank you Ms Liz, best teacher ever!, and best website to prepare for my IELTS exam.
I wish if we could have more like those letters I am learning so much from it, and I learned more when I started searching for possibilities relating to the same topic, endless vocabularies.
I have reserved on the 12th of Sep 2020, Wish me luck!
and thanks again
I’m glad the lesson was useful 🙂
Many thanks and may God bless you always.
Good luck for your future endeavor.
the best teacher i ever seen
God bless you
Glad it’s useful.
Thank you for all you do.
You’re welcome 🙂
This is the best site ever i saw, thanks a lot for great help .
Glad it’s useful 🙂
Thank you so much Liz
It was really helpful. I learned many words, phrases. lingers and connectors.
You a great teacher
Thank you liz, this is really helpful.
Great.
Thank you so much for your lesson it’s assisting me to know how to write a letter
Great. I’m glad it’s helpful.
Thanks for this and happy new month of August our great teacher. The difference is clear and points noted.
I’m glad it’s clear and easy to learn from.
Hello Liz,
Thank you so much for your materials and resources.
However, I need your help with regards to answering “To What Extent do you agree or disagree Essay”
Do you recommend words like ‘strongly’, ‘moderately’ etc; if not, what do you recommend.
I have searched for a guide on your website but couldn’t find any.
I look forward to your response
Best
Ife
You don’t have to use those words at all. Just present your opinion – that’s all you need to do.
Thank you so much for your feedback
I love the way you teach and can proudly say, you are the best Liz.
Thanks
Do you sign above your name when it’s informal letter?
IELTS Letters don’t need a signature, just a name.
Thank you ma’am. This is indeed helpful as it give light to what is expected of me as regards IELTS letter.
I’m glad it’s useful 🙂
Hi Liz..
I need to ask a question.I realised lots of contractions had been used in the letter. Will my score band be reduced if I chose not to contract my words in an informal letter??
You don’t need to use contractions all the time. Just the normal amount.
thanks
thank you for your valuable IELT’s test example
You’re welcome 🙂
Hi Liz, I can see the word “Brand New” in your model letter, but doesn’t it spell with a dash “Brand-New”. I’m sorry if I’m wrong
No problem. It is spelled without a hyphen: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/brand-new
Dear ma’am Liz;
As usual always amaze us with an awesome tips, they really help & useful.
So thank you so much for your effort, and I wish abest of luck for all IELTS Candidates.
Yassin MASA from Sudan.
You’re welcome 🙂
Thank you for your work .
today i will be tested IELTS indicator on speaking and tomorrow the rest of the exam.
Good luck!