Sample response & feedback

Advice to a Friend on a First Camping Holiday

Question

View question5 sample responses · Bands 7.0–8.0

A friend of yours is thinking of going on a camping holiday for the first time this summer. He/She has asked for your advice. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter explain why you think your friend would enjoy a camping holiday describe some possible disadvantages say whether you would like to go camping with your friend this summer You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear …………………… ,

Annotated response

11 correction notes

Dear Maggie,

you are doing well. I am writing to you regarding your planned camping trip this summer.

I think you’re going to love camping. Camping is the finest way to actually experience nature, and I know you love the great outdoors. Coorg, known as the “Scotland of India”, is a picturesque hill station renowned for its lush greenery, coffee plantations, and mist-covered hills, and I guarantee that you will enjoy yourself.

But holidays of this kind are not without their disadvantages. The first is that you have to make sure you and don’t forget anything important. Also, make sure to check the weather forecast before finalizing the dates or it might affect your plans and camping experience.

I really wish I could join you. As you know, my cousin is getting married and I am the maid of honor. So, it is impossible for me to without making her angry.

Enjoy your camping trip and let me know if you have any more plans.

,

Nisita

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points and communicates enthusiasm for camping, practical cautions and a reason for declining the invitation. The Coorg description and wedding commitment provide relevant detail. The tone is mostly friendly, although the opening sounds more formal. The disadvantages need clearer explanation, and a few imprecise expressions weaken otherwise clear advice.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

TA Task Achievement

7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points and uses the required opening. Its tone is mostly friendly, although the businesslike introduction is less suited to a friend, and the disadvantages could be explained more fully.

CC Coherence and Cohesion

7.0

The letter progresses logically from benefits to drawbacks and availability, with clear paragraphing. The shift to Coorg needs a clearer link to the recommendation, and the reference in “or it might affect your plans” is imprecise.

LR Lexical Resource

7.0

Vocabulary is varied and often precise, including “picturesque hill station” and “mist-covered hills”. There is some awkward collocation, particularly “have a lot of preparation”, and the opening could use more natural language for a friendly letter.

GRA Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

A good range of sentence structures is used with generally accurate control, including relative clauses and subordinate clauses. The long Coorg sentence is grammatical but would be easier to follow if the description and personal reassurance were separated.

More responses with feedback

View all 5 responses (7.0–8.0)