IELTS General Training Writing Practice Test 14

Write your own response before opening this example. This is a sample from the book, not a score or assessment of your writing.

Dear Mr Patel,

I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to let me keep a pet in the flat at 14 Hillside Court, which I have rented from you for the past two years.

Since I started working from home last autumn, I have been spending most of the day on my own, and I would really enjoy having some company. I also think that looking after an animal would encourage me to take more exercise and to spend less time in front of a screen.

I would like to adopt a cat from the local animal shelter. The one I have in mind is a quiet, four-year-old female who has lived in a flat before and is used to staying indoors. She has been vaccinated and neutered, and the shelter says she is very calm.

I would make sure she did not cause any damage or disturbance. I would buy a scratching post to protect the carpets and furniture, and I would have the flat professionally cleaned at the end of my tenancy. I would also be happy to pay a slightly higher deposit if you felt it was necessary.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Hannah Clarke

Commentary

• TA: All three bullet points are covered in full, and the purpose is clear in the first sentence. The offer of a higher deposit is a sensible extra detail that makes the request more persuasive.
• CC: One paragraph for each bullet point, with a short closing line. Ideas are linked smoothly ("also", "She has been...", "I would also be happy to...").
• LR: A polite, semi-formal tone that suits a letter to a landlord the writer knows by name ("I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to", "The one I have in mind"). Precise words such as "vaccinated", "neutered", "tenancy" and "deposit".
• GRA: Accurate use of hypothetical "would" throughout, with present perfect continuous ("I have been spending") and a conditional ("if you felt it was necessary").

Write your own response before opening this example. This is a sample from the book, not a score or assessment of your writing.

In many societies, the cost of weddings, milestone birthdays and similar celebrations has risen sharply. In my opinion, this trend has some understandable causes, but on balance it is a negative development.

One reason for the change is social media. When people see photographs of friends' or celebrities' lavish parties online, they feel under pressure to organise something equally impressive, and the event itself is often planned with photographs in mind. Another reason is that many people simply have more money to spend than previous generations did. In addition, a whole industry of planners, venues and photographers now exists to persuade customers that a special day deserves special spending.

There are some positive aspects to this. Celebrations bring families and friends together, and an event can create memories that last a lifetime. The money spent also supports many small businesses, from caterers to musicians.

However, I believe the disadvantages are more significant. Many young couples start married life in debt, or spend money on a single day that could have been used as a deposit on a home. In some cultures, families feel obliged to spend far more than they can afford in order to avoid embarrassment, which puts a heavy burden on parents. Furthermore, an expensive party does not necessarily make an occasion more meaningful. My own cousin held a small wedding with forty guests in her parents' garden, and many people said it was the most enjoyable wedding they had ever been to.

In conclusion, the growing amount spent on celebrations is driven by social media, higher incomes and a powerful events industry. Although such events can bring people together and support local businesses, the financial strain they often cause means that, overall, the trend is a negative one. A celebration should be judged by the happiness it brings, not by its cost.

Commentary

• TR: Both questions are answered: three clear reasons and a balanced evaluation that leads to a firm conclusion (negative). The personal example supports the argument well.
• CC: Paragraphs are clearly organised (causes, positives, negatives), and the writer's position is stated in the introduction and repeated in the conclusion. Linking is varied but not mechanical.
• LR: Good range and collocation ("lavish parties", "feel under pressure", "start married life in debt", "a heavy burden", "financial strain").
• GRA: Accurate complex sentences, including relative clauses, a passive ("is often planned"), a comparative structure ("more money... than previous generations did") and a modal perfect ("could have been used").