Formal Day Off School

Video Lesson
General Writing Task 1

GENERAL WRITING
TA S K 1
Formal letter
A day off school
(part 1)
IN THIS LESSON…
• TASK ACHIEVEMENT
• COHERENCE AND COHESION
• LEXICAL RESOURCE
• GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY
• STRATEGY
• QUIZ
LOOK AT THE TASK 1 GENERAL QUESTION
You would like your child to have a day off from school for a special
family celebration. Write a letter to the principal and in your letter:
• Describe the family celebration

• Say why it's important for your child to be there
• Explain how your child will catch up on the work missed
Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to include addresses.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear ………………..,
GET A HIGH IELTS GRADE

BAND 9 MODEL ANSWER
Dear Professor Jones,
I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school on the first
Monday of next month. I completely understand that the school has a strict policy regarding
absences; however, I hope that, given the circumstances, on this occasion permission could be
granted.
The reason for this special request is that her brother is getting married the day before and the
wedding is taking place quite a distance away from our home town.This means that we will be
travelling back home on the Monday and will not arrive until late in the evening. Obviously, her
brother would be devastated and heart-broken if she were unable to attend this special family
occasion.
As she will be missing a whole day of school, I envisage that there will be classwork to catch up on
and this will be done as soon as she returns to school. As you know, my daughter is an incredibly
conscientious and diligent student and will be keen to be up-to-date with her studies as soon as
possible. I can assure you that missing these classes will not have a detrimental effect on Sarah’s
academic progress.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss this further. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
IELTS BAND DESCRIPTORS GENERAL WRITING
TASK ACHIEVEMENT
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Fully satisfies all the requirements of the task
9 • Clearly presents a fully developed response
• Covers all requirements of the task sufficiently
8 • Presents, highlights and illustrates key features / bullet points clearly and
appropriately
• Covers the requirements of the task
7 • Presents a clear purpose, with the tone consistent and appropriate

• Clearly presents, highlights and illustrates key features / bullet points but could be
more fully extended
• Addresses the requirements of the task
6 • Presents a purpose that is generally clear; there may be inconsistencies in tone

• Presents and adequately highlights key features / bullet points but details may be
irrelevant, inappropriate or inaccurate
TASK ACHIEVEMENT
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Fully satisfies all the requirements of the task
9 • Clearly presents a fully developed response
• Covers all requirements of the task sufficiently
8 • Presents, highlights and illustrates key features / bullet points clearly and
appropriately
• Covers the requirements of the task
7 • Presents a clear purpose, with the tone consistent and appropriate

• Clearly presents, highlights and illustrates key features / bullet points but could be
more fully extended
• Addresses the requirements of the task
6 • Presents a purpose that is generally clear; there may be inconsistencies in tone

• Presents and adequately highlights key features / bullet points but details may be
irrelevant, inappropriate or inaccurate
LOOK AGAIN AT THE QUESTION.
WHAT SHOULD YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR ANSWER?

TASK ACHIEVEMENT: CONTENT
granted.
occasion.
academic progress.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
granted.
occasion.
academic progress.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
granted.
occasion.
academic progress.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
TASK ACHIEVEMENT: STYLE POLITENESS
granted.
occasion.
academic progress.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
TASK ACHIEVEMENT: STYLE SET PHRASE
granted.
occasion.
academic progress.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
COHERENCE AND COHESION
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention
9 • Skilfully manages paragraphing
• Sequences information and ideas logically
8 • Manages all aspects of cohesion well

• Uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately
• Logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout
7 • Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-
/ over-use
• Arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression
6 • Uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences
may be faulty or mechanical
• May not always use referencing clearly or appropriately
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention
9 • Skilfully manages paragraphing
• Sequences information and ideas logically
8 • Manages all aspects of cohesion well

• Uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately
• Logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout
7 • Uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-
/ over-use
• Arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression
6 • Uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences
may be faulty or mechanical
• May not always use referencing clearly or appropriately
Usually, as in this example, you
COHERENCE AND COHESION should start a formal letter with
your reason for writing.
Occasionally you cannot do this
because you need to explain
Dear Professor Jones, important information first
I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

on the first Monday of next month. I completely understand that the school has a
strict policy regarding absences; however, I hope that, given the circumstances, on this
occasion permission could be granted.
The reason for this special request is that her brother is getting married the day
before and the wedding is taking place quite a distance away from our home town.
This means that we will be travelling back home on the Monday and will not arrive
until late in the evening. Obviously, her brother would be devastated and heart-broken
if she were unable to attend this special family occasion.
However is used in a similar way
COHERENCE AND COHESION to but. It is formal and can follow

a full-stop or semi-colon.
Occasionally it can follow a
comma.

This phrase makes it clear to the
reader what information the
following paragraph will contain.
This is a well-organised
paragraph with one topic which
is explained in this phrase
COHERENCE AND COHESION This phrase shows the reader
that this sentence explains the
result of the previous sentence.
The sentences are linked
Dear Professor Jones, logically

COHERENCE AND COHESION This word tells the reader that the
information in this sentence is clear.
Everybody would agree with it. We
could also use clearly here

This word means because. It is
COHERENCE AND COHESION quite formal and can go at the
beginning of a sentence which
contains a cause and a result
As she will be missing a whole day of school, I envisage that there will be classwork to
catch up on and this will be done as soon as she returns to school. As you know, my
daughter is an incredibly conscientious and diligent student and will be keen to be up-
cause
to-date with her studies as soon result
as possible. I can assure you that missing these classes
will not have a detrimental effect on Sarah’s academic progress.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss this further. I look forward to hearing
from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
to-date with her studies as soon as possible. I can assure you that missing these classes
from you soon. We can use this to refer back to a
previous idea. Here, this = my daughter
Yours sincerely, catching up on her work. Every time we
connect two ideas or pieces of language
John Smith the writing becomes more cohesive
from you soon. This phrase tells the reader that the information in this
sentence is not new, and that the reader should agree with it.
Yours sincerely, Of course, in this letter, the writer is trying to persuade the
reader. With phrases like obviously and as you know the
John Smith writer tries to make the reader think that she/he already
believes things which support the writer’s argument
Copyright
Video Lesson
General Writing Task 1
GENERAL WRITING
TA S K 1
Formal letter
A day off school
(part 2)
IN THIS LESSON…
• TASK ACHIEVEMENT
• COHERENCE AND COHESION
• LEXICAL RESOURCE
• GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY
• STRATEGY
• QUIZ
LOOK AT THE TASK 1 GENERAL QUESTION

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to include addresses.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear ………………..,
GET A HIGH IELTS GRADE

BAND 9 MODEL ANSWER
granted.
occasion.
academic progress.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
LEXICAL RESOURCE
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of
9 lexical features
• Rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’
• Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings
8 • Skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in
word choice and collocation
• Produces rare errors in spelling and/ or word formation
• Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision
7 • Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation
• May produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/ or word formation
• Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task
6 • Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy

• Makes some errors in spelling and/ or word formation, but they do not impede
communication
LEXICAL RESOURCE
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of
9 lexical features
• Rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’
• Uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings
8 • Skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in
word choice and collocation
• Produces rare errors in spelling and/ or word formation
• Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision
7 • Uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation
• May produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/ or word formation
• Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task
6 • Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy

• Makes some errors in spelling and/ or word formation, but they do not impede
communication
LEXICAL RESOURCE = with strong rules
which usually have to be
followed

LEXICAL RESOURCE = related to; connected
to. We can also write
Dear Professor Jones, with regard to

LEXICAL RESOURCE = the situation I am
writing about; the
situation I have explained

To grant permission = to
LEXICAL RESOURCE give permission. This is a

useful collocation.
Collocations are groups
of words which native-
Dear Professor Jones, speakers often put
together
To take place can be
LEXICAL RESOURCE used when we want to

describe where or when
an event happens or
happened

LEXICAL RESOURCE
Impress the examiner! Just one
of these words can be used to
describe great sadness. However,
if you know two, your grade for
Dear Professor Jones, vocabulary will go up

LEXICAL RESOURCE
To envisage = to picture a
future event or situation; to
understand what will be
necessary in the future
from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
LEXICAL RESOURCE Try to avoid basic words
like very
from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
Impress the examiner!
LEXICAL RESOURCE Here you can use two

adjectives to describe a
person who works hard
from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
LEXICAL RESOURCE
from you soon. This is a useful
collocation. It means to
Yours sincerely, have a negative result,
outcome or consequence
John Smith
LEXICAL RESOURCE
from you soon.
Look for complex ways of expressing
Yours sincerely, basic ideas. Here, we can replace the
simple phrase how well she does at
John Smith school
GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy
9 • Rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’
• Uses a wide range of structures
8 • The majority of sentences are error-free

• Makes only occasional errors or inappropriacies
• Uses a variety of complex structures
7 • Produces frequent error-free sentences

• Has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors
• Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
6 • Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce
communication
BAND DESCRIPTOR
• Uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy
9 • Rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’
• Uses a wide range of structures
8 • The majority of sentences are error-free

• Makes only occasional errors or inappropriacies
• Uses a variety of complex structures
7 • Produces frequent error-free sentences

• Has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors
• Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms
6 • Makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce
communication
GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY We could write …you could
grant permission but in a
Dear Professor Jones, formal letter it is often better
to use passive forms
Here we use a present continuous form
to describe a planned future event. It
Dear Professor Jones, would not be good to use will here

GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY We could write will travel but using
the continuous future form is more
Dear Professor Jones, complex and shows the reader that
the action will continue all day
GRAMMATICAL RANGE AND ACCURACY A second conditional form is used here to
show that there is only a very small chance that
Dear Professor Jones, the daughter will not go to the wedding.
Conditional forms are complex
from you soon. We could use will here,
but the continuous tense
Yours sincerely, makes it clear that we
are writing about a
John Smith longer period of time (a
whole day)
from you soon. This is a future passive form. Writing
…she will do it indicates that the
Yours sincerely, daughter is fully responsible. Using a
passive, with no subject, shows that
John Smith the writer (her father) is also taking
responsibility
from you soon.
We can often put that
Yours sincerely, after a clause and then
add another clause. This
John Smith makes sentences more
complex
from you soon.
Quite often we can use
Yours sincerely, the –ing form of a verb
as a noun. We can start a
John Smith sentence or clause with
one of these words
STRATEGY: USING THAT
• I can assure you that missing these classes will not have a detrimental effect on
Sarah’s academic progress.
• I am sure that the teacher concerned did everything she could.
• I sincerely hope that the matter will be resolved speedily.
• I am aware that several customers have complained about this product.
• We believe that all students should have the right to good-quality education.
• I am convinced that the quality of food in the canteen has fallen.
• I understand that missing lessons is not ideal.
• I am pleased/delighted that the issue is being discussed.
• I am disappointed that the company has not offered a refund.
• I am slightly annoyed that I have had to spend so long dealing with this matter.
• It is obvious/clear/evident that my wishes have not been taken into consideration.
QUIZ: FIND 15 SPELLING ERRORS
I am writing to ask if it would be posible for my daugter to be absent from school on the first
Monday of next month. I completly understand that the school has a strict policy regarding
absences; however, I hope that, given the circumstanses, on this ocasion permision could be granted.
The reason for this special riquest is that her brother is getting married the day before and the
travelling back home on the Monday and will not arrive until late in the evening. Oviously, her
brother would be devastated and heart-broken if she were unable to atend this special family
occasion.
As she will be missing a whole day of school, I envisage that their will be classwork to catch up on
and this will be done as soon as she returns to school. As you know, my daughter is an incredibally
possible. I can assure you that missing these classes will not have a detremental affect on Sarah’s
academic progress.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss this farther. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerly,
John Smith
QUIZ: FIND 15 SPELLING ERRORS HELP
I am writing to ask if it would be posible for my daugter to be absent from school on the first
Monday of next month. I completly understand that the school has a strict policy regarding
absences; however, I hope that, given the circumstanses, on this ocasion permision could be granted.
The reason for this special riquest is that her brother is getting married the day before and the
travelling back home on the Monday and will not arrive until late in the evening. Oviously, her
brother would be devastated and heart-broken if she were unable to atend this special family
occasion.
As she will be missing a whole day of school, I envisage that their will be classwork to catch up on
and this will be done as soon as she returns to school. As you know, my daughter is an incredibally
possible. I can assure you that missing these classes will not have a detremental affect on Sarah’s
academic progress.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss this farther. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerly,
John Smith
QUIZ: CORRECT ANSWER
granted.
occasion.
academic progress.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
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Video Lesson

General Writing Task 1

• Describe the family celebration

Write at least 150 words.

GET A HIGH IELTS GRADE

9 • Clearly presents a fully developed response

• Covers all requirements of the task sufficiently

• Covers the requirements of the task

7 • Presents a clear purpose, with the tone consistent and appropriate

• Addresses the requirements of the task

6 • Presents a purpose that is generally clear; there may be inconsistencies in tone

9 • Clearly presents a fully developed response

• Covers all requirements of the task sufficiently

• Covers the requirements of the task

7 • Presents a clear purpose, with the tone consistent and appropriate

• Addresses the requirements of the task

6 • Presents a purpose that is generally clear; there may be inconsistencies in tone

• Describe the family celebration

9 • Skilfully manages paragraphing

• Sequences information and ideas logically

8 • Manages all aspects of cohesion well

• Logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout

9 • Skilfully manages paragraphing

• Sequences information and ideas logically

8 • Manages all aspects of cohesion well

• Logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

COHERENCE AND COHESION to but. It is formal and can follow

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

• Describe the family celebration

Write at least 150 words.

GET A HIGH IELTS GRADE

• Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task

6 • Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy

• Uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task

6 • Attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy

Dear Professor Jones,

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

Dear Professor Jones,

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

LEXICAL RESOURCE give permission. This is a

LEXICAL RESOURCE used when we want to

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

LEXICAL RESOURCE Here you can use two

9 • Rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

• Uses a wide range of structures

8 • The majority of sentences are error-free

• Uses a variety of complex structures

7 • Produces frequent error-free sentences

• Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms

9 • Rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

• Uses a wide range of structures

8 • The majority of sentences are error-free

• Uses a variety of complex structures

7 • Produces frequent error-free sentences

• Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms

I am writing to ask if it would be possible for my daughter to be absent from school

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