IELTS General Training Writing Practice Test 8

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 stayed at your hotel from 3 to 6 October, in room 214, while I was attending a conference in the city. I am writing because I believe I left something valuable behind when I checked out.

The item is a silver watch with a brown leather strap. It is not especially expensive, but it belonged to my grandfather, so it is extremely important to me. On my last morning, I took it off before having a shower and put it on the shelf above the washbasin in the bathroom. I was in a hurry to catch my train, and I am almost certain that I forgot to pick it up. It is also possible that it fell behind the shelf.

If your staff are able to find the watch, I would really appreciate it if you could send it to me by recorded delivery, so that it can be tracked. I am, of course, happy to pay the postage and packing costs, and you could add them to the card I used to pay for my stay. Alternatively, I could ask a colleague who lives nearby to collect it.

Thank you in advance for your help, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Marta Kowalczyk

Commentary

• TA: All three bullet points are covered with relevant detail: the dates, room number and reason for the stay; a clear description of the watch and where it was left; and a specific request for how it should be returned, with an alternative. The purpose is clear from the first paragraph, and the formal tone suits a letter to a hotel manager.
• CC: Each paragraph deals with one bullet point, and ideas are linked clearly ("so it is extremely important to me", "Alternatively"). The opening and closing are appropriate for a formal letter.
• LR: The vocabulary is accurate and natural ("checked out", "recorded delivery", "postage and packing costs"), and the writer uses polite formal expressions ("I would really appreciate it if you could").
• GRA: A range of tenses is used accurately, including the past continuous ("while I was attending a conference"), together with conditional and purpose clauses ("If your staff are able to find...", "so that it can be tracked").

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 countries, children do not begin learning a foreign language until they are eleven or twelve. Some people argue that they should start much earlier, at primary school. In my opinion, although there are some practical difficulties, the advantages of an early start are greater.

The main advantage is that young children seem to learn languages more naturally. They are usually less embarrassed about making mistakes, and they are often better at copying new sounds, so they may develop a more natural accent. An early start also gives children many more years of study before they leave school, which makes it more likely that they will reach a useful level. In addition, learning another language at a young age can make children more curious about other cultures, and it may help them to understand how their own language works.

There are, however, some disadvantages. Primary teachers are not always trained to teach languages, and if the teaching is poor, children may learn mistakes that are difficult to correct later. There is also a limited amount of time in the school day, so time spent on a foreign language might be taken away from important subjects such as reading and mathematics. Finally, some children already find school difficult, and a new language could add to the pressure on them.

Even so, I believe that most of these problems can be solved. Governments could provide extra training for primary teachers, and lessons for young children do not need to be long: a short lesson every day, based on songs, games and stories, can be very effective without taking much time from other subjects. Lessons of this kind are also enjoyable rather than stressful.

In conclusion, starting a foreign language at primary school can give children a better accent, more years of learning and a more open attitude to other cultures. As long as teachers are well trained and lessons are suitable for young learners, I believe the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

Commentary

• TR: The question is answered directly: the writer states in the introduction that the advantages are greater and keeps this position throughout. Advantages and disadvantages are both developed, and the fourth paragraph explains why the disadvantages are less important, which supports the writer's conclusion.
• CC: The essay is clearly organised (advantages, disadvantages, response to the disadvantages, conclusion), and each paragraph has a clear topic sentence. Linking words are varied and accurate ("In addition", "however", "Finally", "Even so").
• LR: The vocabulary is precise and suitable ("a natural accent", "a useful level", "add to the pressure", "taken away from"), with very little repetition.
• GRA: A good range of complex structures is used accurately, including conditionals ("if the teaching is poor, children may learn mistakes"), relative clauses and modal verbs to express possibility.