General Training Writing

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in response to the council's plan to close Hillcrest Library and turn the building into a car park, a decision which I believe would be a serious mistake.

I have used the library at least twice a week for the past six years. As a parent of two young children, I take them to the Saturday story sessions, which have given them a real love of reading. I also use the computers there, as I do not have a printer at home, and the library was where I prepared the applications that led to my current job.

Closing the library would harm many people who, like me, depend on it. It is one of the few places in the area where people can study, use the internet or simply meet others without paying. For elderly residents who live alone, it is an important source of company. A car park, on the other hand, would only bring more traffic to an already busy street.

If the council needs to save money, it could reduce the library's opening hours or rent part of the building to local groups for events. Either option would be far better than losing the library altogether.

Yours faithfully,

Amira Hassan

Commentary

• TA: All three bullet points are covered and developed with relevant personal detail. The purpose of the letter is clear from the first sentence, and the tone is formal and persuasive, which suits a letter intended for publication in a newspaper.
• CC: Each bullet point has its own paragraph, and the letter moves logically from the writer's own experience to the wider community and then to solutions. "On the other hand" and "Either option" link ideas clearly.
• LR: The vocabulary is appropriate and precise ("a serious mistake", "an important source of company", "rent part of the building"). The writer avoids repeating "library" too often by using referencing ("it", "there").
• GRA: The letter uses a range of structures accurately, including relative clauses ("which have given them a real love of reading"), present perfect ("I have used") and conditionals ("If the council needs to save money…").
• Note: A letter to a newspaper editor is formal. Because you do not know the editor's name, begin "Dear Sir or Madam" and end "Yours faithfully".

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

A growing number of companies are experimenting with a four-day working week, in which staff work one day less but receive the same salary. In my opinion, although this arrangement does not suit every type of business, its advantages generally outweigh its disadvantages.

The most obvious benefit is for employees' wellbeing. An extra day off each week gives people more time to rest, exercise and spend time with their families, which can reduce stress and prevent burnout. Healthier and happier staff are also likely to be more productive. Several companies that have tried a four-day week have reported that their employees achieved as much in four days as they previously did in five, partly because they wasted less time and took fewer days off sick. In addition, firms that offer this arrangement may find it easier to attract and keep skilled workers, which reduces the cost of recruiting and training new staff.

On the other hand, there are clear drawbacks. Some businesses, such as hospitals, shops and restaurants, need to provide services every day, so they cannot simply close for an extra day. For them, a four-day week would mean employing more staff, which would raise costs significantly. There is also a risk that some employees would try to fit five days' work into four, leading to longer, more stressful working days that cancel out the benefits.

Nevertheless, I believe these problems can be managed. Companies that must stay open could arrange shifts so that different employees take different days off, and managers can monitor workloads to make sure that staff are not simply working longer hours.

In conclusion, while a four-day week may be difficult to introduce in some industries, I believe that for most companies the gains in wellbeing, productivity and staff loyalty make it worthwhile.

Commentary

• TR: The question is answered directly: the writer states that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and keeps this position throughout. Both sides are developed, and the fourth paragraph explains how the main disadvantages could be reduced, which strengthens the argument.
• CC: The essay is logically organised, with advantages, disadvantages, a response to the disadvantages and a conclusion. Linking expressions ("The most obvious benefit", "In addition", "On the other hand", "Nevertheless") are used accurately.
• LR: There is a good range of topic vocabulary, for example "wellbeing", "prevent burnout", "attract and keep skilled workers", "monitor workloads", "staff loyalty".
• GRA: A wide range of complex sentences is used accurately, including relative clauses ("in which staff work one day less"), participle clauses ("leading to longer, more stressful working days") and modal verbs for possibility.
• Possible improvements: The evidence from companies is described in general terms, and a more specific example would make the argument more convincing.