Letter to a Magazine About an Influential Book

A magazine wants to include contributions from its readers for an article called ‘The book that influenced me most’. Write a letter to the editor of the magazine about the book that influenced you most. In your letter • describe what this book was about • explain how this book influenced you • say whether this book would be likely to influence other people You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,

Annotated response

3 correction notes

Dear Sir or Madam,

I recently came across your request for ‘The Book That Influenced Me Most’, and I would love to share my experience with a book that had a profound impact on my by Harper Lee.

This novel, set in the American South during the 1930s, follows the story of a young girl named Scout Finch as she navigates issues of racial injustice, morality, and compassion. Through the eyes of Scout, the reader witnesses her father, Atticus Finch, defend an innocent black man falsely accused of a crime. The book powerfully addresses themes of prejudice, empathy, and standing up for what is right.

Reading this book deeply influenced my perspective on social justice and the importance of treating others with kindness and fairness. It taught me that true courage is not about physical strength but about standing by one’s principles, even in the face of adversity. Since reading it, I have become more conscious of fairness and inclusivity in my daily life.

I strongly believe that To Kill a Mockingbird has the power to influence other readers . Its messages remain relevant in today’s world, encouraging people to challenge discrimination and develop empathy for others. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book that can change their outlook on life.

Thank you for considering my contribution. I look forward to reading the article.

Yours faithfully,

Edith Redford

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 8.0

The strongest aspect of this letter is its fluent, well-developed coverage of all three bullet points with precise vocabulary and consistently appropriate register. The main limitation is a somewhat formulaic, slightly formal structure that keeps the writing competent rather than fully natural or distinctive.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

8.0

The letter directly addresses all three bullets from the prompt, describing the book's content, explaining its influence on the writer's outlook on justice and courage, and clearly stating its likely impact on other readers, all in an appropriately respectful register with a suitable opening and closing.

Coherence and Cohesion

7.5

Ideas progress logically across well-formed paragraphs with effective cohesive devices, though the structure is somewhat predictable and paragraph transitions occasionally feel mechanical rather than fully flexible.

Lexical Resource

8.0

Vocabulary is flexible and precise, using natural collocations such as 'profound impact', 'navigates issues of racial injustice', and 'standing by one's principles', with only minimal imprecision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

8.0

A wide range of complex structures is used accurately, including relative clauses and conditional-style statements, with errors so rare and minor that they do not impede communication.

More responses with feedback

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