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

I am reaching out to share with you the profound impact a book has had on my life: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. This captivating narrative follows Santiago, a shepherd boy, on his journey to uncover his personal legend and realize his dreams.

“The Alchemist” has been a guiding light, teaching me invaluable lessons about pursuing my dreams, embracing uncertainty, and trusting in life’s journey. Santiago’s adventures have instilled in me the importance of persistence and . This book has motivated me to take risks, pursue my passions, and never settle for a life lacking joy and fulfilment.

I am convinced that “The Alchemist” has the power to motivate countless people to chase their dreams with determination. Its timeless wisdom and deep messages can touch anyone, no matter where they come from. It’s a source of inspiration that can lift the spirits of many readers and guide them on their own journeys.

Best regards, Elizabeth Shines

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.5

The strongest aspect is the fluent, natural language, which presents ideas clearly in a suitably polite register. The main limitation is that the content remains generic and lightly developed, particularly the description of what the book is about, which is confined to a single brief sentence.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points with a clear purpose and appropriate tone, but the treatment is somewhat generalized, with only a one-sentence plot description and influence claims supported by little concrete personal detail.

Coherence and Cohesion

7.5

Ideas are organized into logical paragraphs that map onto the bullet points, with cohesive devices used naturally and progression remaining clear throughout.

Lexical Resource

7.0

Vocabulary is flexible and largely precise, with natural collocations such as 'guiding light' and 'timeless wisdom', though reliance on somewhat formulaic, inspirational phrasing limits precision at times.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.5

A good range of sentence structures, including complex forms and participial phrasing, is used with consistent accuracy and only occasional minor lapses.

More responses with feedback

View all 7 responses (7.0–8.0)