Inquiring About a Work-Related Seminar Abroad

  • Professional training
  • Events
  • Travel
  • Request

You would like to participate in a work-related seminar in another country. Write a letter to the person in charge of the seminar. In your letter: - ask for information about the seminar dates - ask for details of the programme - ask about accommodation - ask about the cost

Annotated response

4 correction notes

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to request some information regarding the conference that your organisation is going to conduct next month in , as advertised in the Daily Heralds. I am hoping that you will provide me with these details as soon as possible so that I can book my seat for the workshop. Firstly, I would like to know the exact schedule of the symposium . Is there any prerequisite to attend the conclave? If so, what are they? Secondly, the venue details with a navigational map would be highly appreciated as I will be travelling to Perth for the first time. Are the participants expected to bring their personal laptops and other stationery? Finally, who would be responsible for the accommodation - the participants themselves or your organisation? Can I book a hotel of my own? What will be the total cost for a participant from the UK, and if there is an early bird discount provided that booking is done well in advance? I am hoping to receive your reply before next Friday. Your help and time will be greatly appreciated. Yours faithfully,

Dev Odedra

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.5

The letter communicates a clear, polite request and develops the dates, accommodation and cost enquiries. It does not clearly ask what the programme will cover, and its main text is one continuous paragraph. Forced synonyms and the mixed question structure about the discount also reduce precision.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

6.0

The letter requests dates, accommodation and costs with relevant details. However, asking about entry requirements, equipment and the venue does not clearly request the content or activities of the programme, leaving that bullet point insufficiently addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion

5.5

The enquiry sequence is understandable, but almost the entire letter, including the salutation and closing, appears in one continuous paragraph. Only the name is separated. The requests need meaningful paragraph grouping rather than reliance on Firstly, Secondly and Finally.

Lexical Resource

7.0

The response demonstrates a good range of formal vocabulary and request phrases, but some word choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as 'sanction the leaves' and 'conclave'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

A variety of complex structures, including conditionals and relative clauses, is used with generally good control, with only minor non-impeding slips such as the awkward 'if there is an early bird discount provided'.

More responses with feedback

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