WHAT IS IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular high-
stakes English language proficiency test for study, work and migration with more than two
million tests taken in the past year.
IELTS results are recognised by more than 9,000 organisations, including educational
institutions, employers, professional associations and governments in 135 countries around the
world.
IELTS test content is developed by an international team of experts and undergoes extensive
research to ensure the test remains fair and unbiased for any candidate regardless of nationality,
background, gender, lifestyle or location.
You can take IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training, depending on the organisation you
are applying to and your plans for the future.

WHAT IS IELTS TEST FORMAT?

IELTS is a test of all four language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You will
take the Listening, Reading and Writing tests all on the same day one after the other, with no
breaks in between. Depending on your test centre, your Speaking test may be on the same day as
the other three tests, or up to seven days before or after that. The total test time is under three
hours.

WHY IS THE IELTS FORMAT FAIRER FOR YOU?

You deserve a fair chance to do your best. That’s why, unlike other tests, IELTS gives you a
separate room for an individual Speaking test with no distractions or interruptions.
IELTS also recognises that people have different approaches for answering questions. For
example, with IELTS you can answer questions within the Reading test or within the Writing test
in the order that suits you. You can also make changes to your Reading answers during the hour
of the Reading test and adjust your Writing responses during the hour of the Writing test.

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 LISTENING TIPS
READING TIPS
WRITING TASK-1

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 LISTENING TIPS

This module enables you:

• Helps you in understanding variety of questions.

• How to avoid traps.
• To focus on the important words or phrases.
• To assume the answers.

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 IELTS LISTENING

GENERAL TRICKS

 The recording will be played once only. You will not hear it a second time.
 You must practice completing a full listening test by listening only once before
your test. You should do this a number of times.
 When you are developing skills and vocabulary, you might want to practice
listening more than once. This is fine when you are in training.
 You will need to multitask. This means you must be able to read the questions, listen for
the answer and write down words all at the same time. You should practice doing this.
 Check the number of words you can have,for your answer. Each time the question type
changes, the number of words for the answer might change too. Here is an example for
instructions: “No more than two words and/or a number”.
 Check the instructions to see if you can have a number (which means only one) or
numbers (plural which means more than one number).
 How words and numbers are calculated:
 A date “1950” is considered one number.
 A large number “1,000,500” is considered one word.
 A hyphenated word “part-time” is considered one word.
 A compound noun which is not hyphenated “tennis shoe” is considered two
words.
 “At hospital” or “hospital”. Should you write the article or preposition? Your answer will
depend on the type of question you have. If you are completing the sentence, for
example:
 The best place to meet is ……..= the answer must be grammatically correct so
you need “at the hospital”.
 If the question is note or form completion type, such as 1.) Place: ….., the answer
can be just one word (with or without the article) “hospital” or “the hospital” (if
two words are possible)
 SPELLING!!! If your answer is spelt wrong, the answer is marked wrong. You must have
the correct spelling to get a point and have the answer marked correct.

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  Don’t worry about spelling while you are listening because you don’t have time to
concentrate on spelling. You need to concentrate on listening to the recording and
follow the questions.
 Check your spellings when you transfer the answers to the answer sheet. That is
the time to check and make sure everything is correct.
 Writing letters or words. If you get a multiple choice question, it will ask you to write
down a letter as your answer. For example:
 (a) spring
 (b)summer
 (c )winter
 If the answer is (b), you must write “(b)” on your answer sheet not “summer”.
The word “summer” would be marked wrong because the instructions ask you to
write a letter, not a word.
 Don’t try to understand everything. IELTS will add lots of extra information but you only
need to listen for answers. Keep yourself focused on listening to the questions.
 Answers may come quickly. You might get three answers in a very short time. Get ready
to write your answers down quickly. Answers may come slowly there may be a gap
between answers. Don’t panic. This is common in section 4.
 Look out for answers which are plural. IELTS know that students have difficulty hearing
the plural “s”. So, these answers will certainly be given to test your listening ability.
 COMMON TRAPS
 Giving the answer and then changing it. Here is an example:“Is it ok to meet at 7
pm?” /Yes, “7pm works fine for me” / “Oh I’ve just remembered I have a late
meeting, could we make it half past instead?” The answer was 7pm but then the
speaker to change the answer to 7.30 pm. Always keep listening and be ready for
the speaker to change the answer.
 Similar words might not be the right answer.
 If you miss an answer, just move on the next question. Don’t waste time. Don’t lose your
pace in the recording.
 CONCENTRATE!!! 30mins is a long time to actively listen for answers. If you lose
focus, you will miss answers. Don’t let that happen to you. Practice full tests at home to
build up your ability to concentrate.
 You should write your answers on the answer sheet using pencil not a pen. This is the
same as the IELTS reading test.
 Scores are calculated by the number of points you got correct. You don’t lose marks if
your answer is wrong. Your score will not change due to a incorrect answer.
 If you don’t know an answer, guess. Always write something in the box on your answer
sheet. Who knows, maybe you guess right!!
 You can write your answer using Capital or Lower case letter. You are not marked on the
grammatical accuracy of your capital letters.

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  IELTS prefer this system for dates day/month/ year. For example, my date of birth, the
twenty- sixth of July nineteen seventy-four, is written 26july1974 or 24/07/74.

With years, we say eighteen forty. We write 1840.

Nineteen ninety- five= 1995

Seventeenth of August = 17th August

Two thousand and twelve or twenty twelve= 2012

PHONE AND CARD NUMBERS

A phone number is written like this: 996 4202. Usually, numbers in the listening test have seven
digits.
The number 9964202 is said,‘double nine six (pause) four two zero two.’

Spend a few minutes reading the tables below.

Numeral Cardinal Ordinal Anything else?
st
1 One 1 =first In IELTS Writing, sometimes candidates write; first
able instead of first of all.
This is the first time I have taken the exam.’
2 Two 2nd
=second
3 Three 3RD =third Third not therd
4 Four 4th =fourth Fourth not forth
5. Five 5th = fifth The/0/ending of fifth is hard to say for some
candidates.
th
6. Six 6 =sixth Hard to say for some candidates
7. Seven 7th = Hard to say for some candidates
seventh
8. Eight 8th= eighth Don’t spell this eighth.
9. Nine 9th = ninth Don’t spell this nineth.
10. Ten 10th = Some speakers confuse tenth and tense.
tenth
11. Eleven 11th e-leven has second – syllable stress.
th
12. Twelve 12 Twelfth not twelvth
13-19 Thirteen- th
13 -19 th
Thirteenth……nineteenth’
nineteen Remember the stress patterns: thir - teen and thir -
teenth.
But thir –ty and thir –ti-eth.
th
20. Twenty 20 Twentieth
The y becomes an i.
21. Twenty-one 21 st
Notice the hyphen(-) in twenty –one
22. Twenty-two 22nd 22nd not 22th
23. Twenty-three 23rd 23rd and 23th
th
24. Twenty- four 24 Classes start on the twenty fourth of January, or
classes start on January twenty- fourth.

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40. Forty 40th Forty not fourty
Remember th in fortieth.
100. Hundred More than a / one hundred schools took part in the
competition.’
1000 Thousand Pronunciation of / 0/ is hard for some candidates.
More than a/ one thousand people ran the marathon’.
10,000 Ten thousand My car cost ten thousand dollars.’ Not ten thousands
dollars’-it’s a singular adjective.
Lakh is common in Indian English, but no one else
speaking English understands it.
1,00,000 Hundred The flood caused over a / one hundred thousand
thousand people to flee their homes.
1,000000 Million My city reached a /one million people when I was a
teenager. Itis now about one point three million.’
1bn Billion Africa now has more than a / one billion people.’
½ Half Pronunciation:/ha:f/
The verb is halve. The bird population has halved
since cats
were introduced. ’pron:/ha:vd/
1/3 Third About a third of TV viewer said they often watched
documentaries.
¼ Quarter About a quarter of teenage girls smoke.
Don’t write quarter it’s quarter to nine.’ It’s quarter to
nine.’
¾ Three- quarters Three-quarters receive money from their parents
This is plural. while studying at theuniversity.
11/2 One and a half I think one and half days are not long enough for my
This is plural. weekend.’
1.66 One points six This is said: one point six six, not one point sixty-six
six note a point, not a comma, is used in written English.
Wages rose 1.6$ in 2010 while house prices rose
8.2%
0.375 Zero point This is said:’ zero point three seven five.’ You may
three seven occasionally hear this in the listening test, nut it's
five unlikely you have to write it. You may have to
choose it in an MCQ.
0 ZERO Although there are several ways to say 0 in English,
IELTS uses zero.

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 READING TIPS

This module enables you:

 To answer all the questions in the given time frame.

 To apply tricks, to different type of questions.
 To understand, the basics of IELTS reading section.
 To help you locate the answers with the help of keywords.

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 IELTS READING

GENERAL TRICKS
 Learn the skills of skimming and scanning – these are methods of speed reading and you
should practice both. Skimming is when you run your eyes over the whole text from
beginning to the end to get an idea of what it is about, whereas scanning is when you find
one specific piece of information in a text.
 Read the instructions carefully – It is important to read the instructions carefully before
opting for any type of questions. It always contains vital information which may help the
candidate to save time. Instructions always tell how to write the answers accurately on
your answer sheet.
 Highlight key words in the text – you will need to go back to the reading passage and
scan it to find the information to answer a question. So when you read the text, highlight
such things as proper nouns (e.g. names of people, places and things). This is why it can
be a good idea to look at the questions before you do the full reading – you will then have
an idea of what kinds of things you may need to look for and therefore what is a good
idea to highlight.
 Move on if you don't know the answer – don't spend too much time on one question. If
you just can't work out the answer, then make a calculated guess and move onto the next
question. You may not get enough time to do the following questions that you may know
the answer to, if you waste time on other questions. You can always return to that
question later if you have sufficient time left at the end.
 Understand main ideas – each paragraph always has a main idea or topic. You should
practice identifying the main idea of a paragraph as this will help you find the answers to
questions, and in match the headings to paragraphs type questions, you will have to
identify the main idea in order to pick the right heading. The main idea is often in the
topic sentence; however, sometimes you may have to read the whole paragraph to be sure
of the main idea.

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  Move down the text as you answer the questions – the questions in each type of question
set will always follow the order of the text. So you know that when you have answered
one question, the next answer will be below that in the passage. However, remember that
this doesn't apply to certain types of question, such as paragraph to heading matching in
which the order is mixed up.
 Read some parts of the text in detail – you won't have enough time to read the whole text
in detail, but at times you will need to do this. When you are answering questions and
you identify where the answer is look out for the title, headings and any special features
such as capital letters, underlining, italics, figures, graphs and tables.
 Spend 20 minutes on each reading – in the actual test, you have 60 minutes to do three
readings and, unlike the listening test, you don't have 10 minutes to transfer your answers
at the end. So, spend only 20 minutes on each one and transfer your answers to the
answer sheet simultaneously. Make sure when you do practice tests you transfer your
answers to a sheet of paper too so that this extra time is always taken into account.
 Pay attention to timing; do not spend too long on one passage or question.
 Do not try and read every word; remember, you are reading for a purpose.
 The word(s) you use must be taken from the Reading text; you must not change the form
of the word(s) in the text.
 Be careful to use singular and plural correctly.
 If the question asks you to complete the note ‘in the…’ and the correct answer is
‘evening’, just use ‘evening’ as your answer; note that ‘in the evening’ would be
incorrect.
 Pay attention to the word limit; for example, if you are asked to complete a sentence
using no more than two words if the correct answer is ‘silk shirt’, the answer ‘shirt made
of silk’ would be incorrect
 Attempt all questions; there are no penalties or negative marking for incorrect answers, so
you have nothing to lose
 Take care with spelling and grammar – you will lose marks if your spelling or grammar is
wrong, so make sure you check these carefully. There is no point for making a spelling
error if you are just taking the word from the reading text.

METHODS TO READ TEXT

Two important methods are involved in reading.

1. Scanning – Scanning is to read the collocation of words slowly and infuse its meaning in
your mind.

2. Skimming - Skimming is to go through the lines at the fast pace. You may or may not
understand. It helps you to recognize the words or to find the blinkers/ keywords.

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 - While scanning underline the words which are important.

QUESTION-SOLVING TECHNIQUE

Most of the candidates do not know the tricks to solve the questions. It may be the reason of their
failure that they are even unable to score 6 bands.

There are 6 basic types of IELTS reading Questions:

 Yes/No / Not Given

 Suitable Heading
 Fill-ups
 No more than 3 words
 MCQ
 Table, chart of Diagram

How to solve yes / No / Not Given?

There always remains confusion among the candidates to take a decision between No / Not
Given. Therefore, it is a cup of tea for the candidate to make it correct. However, the formula
mentioned below will assist you to take a suitable decision. Follow the step by step instruction.

The formula:

1. Divide the statement into three parts:-

(a) Subject Part (b) Verbal Part (c) Remaining part

Example - (Electricity / was firstly generated / by nuclear reactor)

Subject part verbal part Remaining part

2. Match these three parts with the passage of the line where you have already located
thekeywords.

3. (a) If the sense of all three parts matches to sense of passage part, then answer ‘Yes’.

(b) If any two parts are similar to other two parts in passage answer then answer is ‘NO’

(c) If only one part makes sense with the passage line, then answer is ‘NG’.

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HOW TO SOLVE ‘TITLE / HEADING’
Heading always highlights what type of information is given in the passage. According to the
writer, a good reading passage is always divided into three parts:

(a). Introduction

(b). Central Idea / Description

(c). Conclusion

It is fact, a good writer always introduces the Title first, thereafter description and at last, he
again tries to end the topic in the title form.

Example - If Title is ‘NUCLEAR POWER’ definitely, the writer is helpless to introduce the Title
in the introduction.

Similarly, to give Title to any paragraph, follow the steps:

1. Divide the concerned paragraph, follow the steps:

(a) Introduction – means first 2-3 Lines called Topic Sentence
(b) Description – middle part
(c) Concluding part – means last 2-3 line
2. Scan first 2-3 lines (Topic Sentence) and last 2-3 lines, try to find the sense what the
writer wants to say, obviously, it matches to anyone Given Headings.

HOW TO SOLVE ‘FILL-UPS’

Fill ups are usually a summary of the passage. It tells you what is mentioned in the passage.
There are two types of fill-ups in the IELTS test.

Type 1 – in which words or phrases are given in the box and one has to choose from that to fill
the gaps.

Type 2 – in which you have to find a relevant word or words from the reading passage.

STEPS TO FOLLOW:
1. It is true, any complete given line is made of three parts
Subject + Verb + Object
2. See – the gap is in the first part of the line, in the middle or after the verbal phrase.

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 3. If the gap is in the first phase, it means the subject is missing hence, find out subject
means Noun.
4. Check properly – is there any helping verb before the gap like has been, is, has, was, etc?
If YES, apply only required verb.
5. Before the gap, if it is only ‘TO’, it means to find out only 1st form of the verb.
6. The gap at the end of the line may have an adjective or an adverb.

-To find out the keywords in the passage for Fill- Ups, observe the words that come
both before and after the gap.

HOW TO SOLVE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS / NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS

Steps to follow:

1. Do not read the option first.

2. Then same rule as discussed earlier.
(a) Divide the question first.
(b) Find out the keywords by keeping in view those three parts.
(c) After finding keywords, read the options and scan the passage thereafter.

- The same process is for ‘Not More than 3 words’.

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 GENERAL WRITING TASK-1

This module enables you to

 Understand how your writing task 1 is marked.
 Write formal, semi-formal and informal letters, using adequate opening and
closing lines.

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LETTER WRITING

Four steps strategy for letter writing:

TOTAL TIME : 20 minutes
WORD LIMIT : Minimum of 150 words

In Steps Suggested Details

Step 1; 2 Minutes 1. Understand the topic
Read and understand the 2. Understand the question
task 3. Understand the requirements
Step 2: 3 Minutes 1. Plan the letter
Plan what you are going to 2. Greet
write 3. State the purpose
4 Give/request information
5 Request-action
6 Close and sign off
Step 3: 12 Minutes 1. Write a greeting
Write your answer on the 2. State your purpose
answer sheet 3. Give/request information
4. Request action
5. Close
6. Sign off
Step 4: 3 Minutes 1. Check the content
Check your writing 2. Check the language, grammar, spelling.
3. Check the presentation.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES

Letter writing is an art that can be learned. The first thing to understand is that there are two
types of the letter: formal and informal. As the questions are hypothetical, your creativity matters
in writing a good response. When writing an official letter, you are expected to use only formal
English.
It is easy to write a letter in the IELTS exam, as it needs only 150 words and topics are generally
from daily life. You will be asked to give some kind of information or to explain some kind of
situation. You will be given some points to develop. To write an impressive letter, you should
observe the following:
1. Read the question three times to understand the topic well.
2. Plan your letter. Manage your time.
3. Develop the topic by using your creativity.
4. Use related vocabulary in the letter to make it convincing and effective.
5. Request the reader to revert or to take action.
6. Leave a single blank line after the INITIAL LINE (DEAR…………………)
7. Divide your piece of writing into paragraphs.

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 8. The sign-offline (yours sincerely/yours faithfully, etc.) is usually written on the left side
of the page, as is your name below it. Left alignment for all the lines is better.
9. The final paragraph (the one before the sign off line)is generally shorter than the other
paragraphs.
You should confine your writing to the bullet points in the question given. For example, if the
topic says that you are a salesman, do not say that you are an engineer. If the question says that
you have been expecting a response for 2 months, do not change it to 3 weeks.
If the word count is less than 150 words, you will be penalized. As you have to write task 2 in
not less than 250 words, you may not be left with enough time to complete it. Try to restrict your
time as close to 20 minutes as possible.
Time management is of great importance in global exams like IELTS.
Your style of writing should be suitable for the type of letter. An ideal letter is written in simple,
straightforward language for the reader to understand well. Also, your language should be polite
and courteous. You may express your requirements in precise terms. Similarly, you may be
assertive with your opinion or complaint, if any.

TIPS FOR IELTS LETTERS

 Use simple and short sentences
 Be creative and innovative in your expression
 Try to convince and be polite
 Draft your letter with great care and patience
 Avoid spelling as well as grammatical mistakes
 Express your idea very clearly and forcefully

OPENING LINES FOR LETTERS

A. FORMAL LETTERS
I am writing regarding
I am writing in regard to
I am writing concerning
I am writing to complain about
I am writing in connection with
I am writing with reference to
I am writing to apply for
I am writing to express my opinion about
I am writing to express my concern about
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction
I am writing to draw your attention
I am writing to bring to your attention/notice

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B. INFORMAL LETTERS

Hi, how is it going with you?

I hope everything is fine.
I hope things are fine with you
I hope life is treating you well
I hope you are in the pink of health
I hope this letter finds you in the pink of health
I hope this letter finds you well
It was nice to hear from you
It is good to hear from you
I was so pleased to hear from you
It is been pretty long since we wrote to each other
It is been ages since we have seen each other
It feels so nice to receive your letter after a long time
I am glad to receive your letter after so long

CLOSING LINES FOR FORMAL LETTERS

A. FOR REQUEST
Thank you for your attention on this matter
Thank you for your help and support in this matter
Thank you for your assistance
I look forward to your prompt response
I look forward to your positive reply
I look forward to hearing from you

B. FOR APOLOGY
Once again I am sorry for any inconvenience
Please accept my apologies once more

C. FOR COMPLAINT
I expect to hear from you soon
Please give this matter your immediate attention
I look forward to your immediate attention in this matter

SOME GENERAL LINES

I would deeply appreciate if you could give me a prompt reply

Thanking you and hoping for your kind co-operation
Your earliest reply would be appreciated
I would be highly obliged if you look into this matter at the earliest
Please feel free to contact me if you need any further assistance
Please let me know if I could be of any further help

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CLOSING LINES FOR INFORMAL LETTERS
I hope that you reply me soon
I look forward to your reply
I look forward to hearing from you soon
I am eagerly waiting for your reply.

USEFUL SIGN-OFF PHRASES

FORMAL – SEMI-FORMAL
Yours faithfully, (For business letters)
Regards, (Regards is less formal, but commonly used in business letters.)
Yours affectionately, (For relatives)
Yours sincerely, (Business letters, relatives, in general)

Note: never add an apostrophe on “yours”.

INFORMAL
Yours sincerely, (For friends)
Yours truly, (For personals letters to friends in business)
With best wishes, (For personal letters to friends)
Sincerely, (For business, friends and in general)

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SAMPLE IELTS INFORMAL LETTER

No address or name is required for IELTS letter

No date is required
Dear………………,

Hope this letter finds you and your family hale and hearty. Here, my husband, kids and I are
doing fine.

It has been long since we communicated with each other. In fact, we have had few exchanges
since leaving the college. How fast does time pass! We have been carried off in the ebb and flow
of our busy lives.

My husband has recently expressed his desire to visit Kerala. He has heard much about the cue
natural beauty of Kerala and has always wanted to visit it. He will be able to avail himself of his
annual leave in September and proposes to spend the holidays in Kerala. He knows just how
breathtaking, in looks and feels, would Kerala be during Onam. I suggested to him that it would
be a great occasion to spend a few weeks there. All of us could visit interesting places under
your guidance and, oh! Our kids would simply love it.

Would you please advise me on the hotel rates and exotic destinations?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Name

No signature is required

NOTE: In IELTS General Letter Writing, it is not necessary for you to give –

 Your name or address.

 The date.
 The name of the addressee.
 Your name or signature.

What matters is the format and the content. It is for the content that you are assessed for.

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SAMPLE LETTERS

1. You wish to get enrolled in a course at an Australian college. You have already
written a letter to the college asking for information but you haven’t received the
reply yet. Write a letter to the college explaining your concern because the course
will start in less than two months. You need to know if you can still get enrolled, and
also request for more information about the course, including the course.

Dear……………..,
I shall be [Type a quote from the document or the summary of an interesting point. You can position
the text box anywhere in the document. Use the Text Box Tools tab to change the formatting of the pull
quote text box.]
I shall be grateful, if you could furnish me with the information about the college’s CAD course. I
grateful
understandif that
you the
could furnish
course me with
commences the two
within information
months. Iabout
wrotethe college’s
to you CADback
four weeks course.
and II
understand that theany
have not received course commences
reply yet. I presume within
thattwo
youmonths.
might notI wrote
have to you four
received myweeks
letter.back and I
have not received any reply yet. I presume that you might not have received my letter.
Would you please let me know if it is too late for me to enroll for the course? Please advise me if
Would youseats
there are please
left.letI strongly
me knowfeelif itthat
is too late
I can forget
still meenrolled.
to enrollHowever,
in the course? Please
I would like advise me if
to complete
there are any about
information seats available.
the courseIbefore
strongly feel that
I make up my I can still get enrolled. However, I would like to
mind.
have complete information about the course before I make up my mind.
Would you please inform me about the fees for the course, its date of commencement and duration?
Will the certificate you offer be a sufficient qualification for me to apply to one of the CAD colleges
in your city? It would be appreciated if you send your reply by express mail to save time.

Yours faithfully,

Name

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 2. You are taking a holiday at a place recommended by your local travel agent, and you
have had a wonderful time. You have promised to write to him and let him know what you
think of his suggestion. Write a letter to your travel agent as promised, and let him know
what you have been doing and what you are going to do before the end of the journey.

Dear…………..,

You would remember that I had promised to write to you about what I think of the tourist destination you
had recommended. The weather is pleasant. I swim everyday and I am getting tanned. My needs are met
here. I must state that the local people are friendly and the food is excellent. Kerala cuisine is simply
beyond compare. People are reasonably good at English. Kerala is known for its ‘Unity in Diversity,’ as it
is a mixture of different cultures.

I am joining a dance school ‘Vijnana Kalavedi’, run by a French lady who has been here for the last 30
years. The festivals and art forms of Kerala like ‘Kathakali’ are unique and I enjoy them thoroughly.

Let me reiterate that your choice of my holiday destination was excellent. I will meet you with umpteen
photographs to share my experiences of the natural beauty and culture of Kerala.

Yours sincerely,

Name

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3. The local council has decided on constructing a block of flats on the park opposite to the
place where you live. Write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper protesting against
this move. Make suggestions as to how people can stop this development.

Sir,

I am writing this to express my growing concern about the proposal of the local council for the
construction of a seven-storey apartment in a park opposite to where I live. This proposal has come
under sharp criticism, as it would disturb the tranquility of this area. This area already has a lot of flats
and there is no dire need now for more of them.

What the locals need now is a place to relax and a place for their children to play. The whole town has
only one park and therefore, a spacious park is preferable to a block of flats. In this age of stress and
tension, a park will be an ideal place for relaxing for both young and old.

A proactive step on the reader’s part will be to write a petition urging the council to abandon the
project. May I request the readers to write to me so that I can arrange a meeting of like-minded people
to discuss the future steps to ensure that the greenery of this area is retained. If we do not take any
action now, we will have to repent later. Please post your responses today itself.

Yours faithfully,

Name

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4. You have recently moved to a new flat. Unfortunately, you have lost some money the
other day and cannot pay the next month’s rent when it is due. Write a letter to the
landlord explaining the situation and assuring him that you will pay as soon as your
parents send you the money. Also, mention that there are some problems with the flat.

Dear………,

I am sorry to inform you that I will not be able to pay the next month’s rent which is due on
Tuesday, for the following reason.

The other day I was pickpocketed while travelling on a bus. I lost my ATM card along with my
wallet. As there was no other way I wrote to my parents and they are sending me some money
urgently. I will arrange to send the money to you as soon as I receive it.

May I take this opportunity to inform you that two of the electric fans in my flat are not working
properly. In the bathroom, the pipe is leaking. The bedroom door lock is faulty. I shall be grateful if
you would see to it that they are repaired at the earliest.

I am really sorry that I can’t pay the rent on time but I will send it across to you as soon as I get
money from my parents. Please bear with me for the inconvenience caused.

Yours sincerely,

Name

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5. You are an account holder of a bank. Recently you have received a letter from the bank
stating that your account is $240 overdrawn and that you will be charged $70 which will be
debited from your account. You know that this information is incorrect. Write a letter to
the bank. Explain what has happened and say what you would like to do about it.

Dear………………,

I am writing this letter in reply to your intimation regarding on overdraft of $240. In your letter, you
have mentioned that you would be charging me $70 and it would be debited from my account.

It was because of a mistake made by your bank that my account is overdrawn by $240. I have been
paying $500 a month, being the monthly installments of my educational loan, which I had taken in
2001. You have been debiting the monthly payments directly from my account. I have written a letter
to you to stop paying the monthly education loan installment since it was paid back in full. You
acknowledged the receipt of my letter but no action was taken by your staff. You have debited the last
month’s installment of $500 also and that is the reason why I am overdrawn now.

I request you to contact the bank which gave me the loan and rectify the mistake.

Awaiting early action,

Yours faithfully

Name.

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6. You borrowed some books from your school or college library. Unfortunately, you have
to go away to visit an ailing relative of yours and cannot return the books on time. Write a
letter to the library, explaining the situation and telling them what you want to do about it.

Dear………………..,

Sub: Delay in returning books.

Ref: My library Reg. No. 1234

Please be advised that I took three books from the library on a five-day loan scheme, on the 15th of
March. They are now overdue.

I regret to inform you that I am not able to return these books before the due date. I received an
urgent call from my home on 16th March and I was told that my mother was hospitalized. Since
there was nobody to take care of her, I had to leave urgently. The doctor advised her to take two
weeks rest. I have no other way but to stay with her.

I know that these books are much sought after by the students. I assure you that as soon as I return
to the college, I will return the books. It would be appreciated if you would waive any fines that
might have accumulated.

Yours faithfully,

Name.

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7. You have a friend who lives in a city abroad. You have decided that you would like to
apply to do a course at one of the colleges in this city. Write to your friend explaining what
course you would like to apply for and at which colleges. Tell him/her what type of work or
studies you have been doing for the past few years and ask for assistance in contacting an
appropriate institution.

Dear…………..,

I am sorry I have not written to you for quite some time. I have been so busy over the last year and
I never seem to have a minute to myself. I hope you would be glad to know that I am interested in
pursuing my masters in Computer Science from the next year and I hope you can give me some
advice. I would prefer Ireland because I met a few people during my last visit there.

This year I am doing Mathematics and Physics at school and I hope I’ll score good marks in my
exams. However, I really don’t know which university should I apply. So could you please send me
some information about the different colleges? Also, can you just find out about the qualifications I
need? For instance, as a foreign student, do I need to take an English test like IELTS or TOEFL?

I would be obliged if you kindly obtain information and pass it on to me by return post.

Yours sincerely,

Name

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8. You were on a pleasant trip and had rented a flat there from your friend who was on a
holiday. Write a letter to your friend how you felt about the trip and how you took care of
his house in his absence.

Dear………………,

First of all, may I express my heartfelt thanks for letting me stay in your flat. I hope you have enjoyed
your official tour in Egypt as much as I enjoyed my stay in Kerala.

Now you must be wondering what has happened to your goldfish. (I’m sorry, I meant to leave a note
about this, but I forgot.) You have noticed that they were a bit smaller. This may have come as a bit
of surprise to you, but I expect you have guessed what has come about. It is a bad news, I’m afraid.
The fish you are now in possessing are a pair that I bought to replace yours which were both lifeless
when I arrived in your flat on 10th August.

I hope, I have left everything at the right place. I’m looking forward to seeing you so I do hope you
can make it to the party. If not, see you in Kerala during the Onam festival.

Yours faithfully,

Name

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9. You bought electronic equipment and within two days it started to go wrong. Write a
letter to the shopkeeper about your dissatisfaction with the product and service. Ask him to
find proper solutions for the problem.

Dear………………,

I am writing this to complain about a stereo set, which I bought from your shop in January. Just after
two days, things started to go wrong. The first problem was with the CD drive, which opened and
closed too quickly. I nearly got my fingers trapped in it. The next day, I recorded a CD onto a
cassette. Everything worked well, but the sound quality was very poor. On the following day, the
CD pause button stopped working.

Naturally, I returned the stereo to you for repair. Your assistant said that I would have to wait only
for a week. After two weeks, the necessary spare parts had not yet arrived. Eventually, nine weeks,
later, I collected the stereo. The CD player worked properly, but there was no improvement in the
recording quality.

I am neither satisfied with the equipment nor with the service I received. I am, therefore, writing to
ask for a full refund. I will return the stereo to your shop on Monday I expect to receive a cheque for
$250.

Yours faithfully,

Name

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10. You share your room with another student in the college hostel. You find it very
difficult to study there because he or she always has parties and friends visiting. Write a
letter to the hostel warden complaining about your displeasure with the roommate.

Dear…………………………..,

I am sharing my room with another student. I am writing this to express my displeasure with my
roommate. If I stay there any longer I will not be able to study.

She always has friends visiting and has parties in the room. They make a lot of noise and turn on the
radio at full blast. This environment is not suitable for my studies. I need a quiet room. She even
uses my things without asking for my permission; it is very impolite.

I have asked her not to throw parties in the room but to no avail, I really cannot stay in the same
room with her any longer. I request you, to give me another room next term. I would be grateful if
you could shift me to a single room.

Yours faithfully,

Name

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11. You are studying a short course in another country. Your accommodation was
arranged by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation.
Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter:

 Say what the problem is.

 Describe the accommodation you thought you were getting.
 Ask the provider to solve the problem.

Dear Ashar,

My name is Andrew, and I am taking an eight-week intensive English course at Oxford House
College. My company is paying for my tuition, and I am using my summer vacation to study. It is
expected I will pass an English Proficiency Test as a result, and be transferred abroad. Therefore, it
is rather important to me that I am able to study in the best environment.

I am staying in Phoenix Hostel on campus. While my room is pleasant and the facilities are very
good, the hostel is extremely noisy. When I organized my accommodation, I was assured I would
be staying only with post-graduate or intensivecourse students. However, most of the people in this
hostel are doing summer-school courses due to academic failure, and they are all under 22. It seems
to me they are enjoying one long party: certainly, no one observes lights out or turns down the
music despite being asked to.

I wonder if I may move to a hostel which is more conducive to serious study, or I may use the
remainder of my accommodation fees towards payment for a hostel.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,
Priya

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12. You have seen an advertisement in an English newspaper for a job working in the City
Museum shop during the holidays.
You decide to apply for the job. Write a letter to the director of the Museum. In your
letter:
 introduce yourself
 explain what experience and special skills you have
 explain why you are interested in the job

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’m writing to apply for the holiday job which you advertised recently in the newspaper. I am a
twenty-one yearold student and I speak English quite well. At present, I am in my second year
studying History at Lincoln College and I am very keen to have a holiday job this summer. I am
extremely good at calculations, so I think I would be an asset to your shop.

My term finishes on 5th July and I am free until 20th September. Last year I worked in a restaurant
serving tourists from all over the world and I enjoyed it very much. I would like to have the
opportunity to meet people and practice my English again.

I enjoy going to museums and am particularly keen in history. Last year I went to an exhibition of
Ancient Greek objects which was held in London. I have often been in your museum and I am
familiar with the artifacts you have. I do hope you will be interested in my application.
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours faithfully,
Mania

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13. You have a full-time job and are also doing a part time evening course. You now find
that you cannot continue the course
Write a letter to your tutor. In your letter
 describe the situation
 explain why you cannot continue at this time
 say what action you would like to take

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Abeer. I am doing a part-time evening course. I am having a hard time keeping up with
this course. I am afraid I cannot continue the course. My problem is, I have a full-time job, from 9am
– 5pm. Sometimes, I am asked to stay extra hours, to finish up the rest of the work. That is because
the holidays are coming up soon. Also, I have to do some work preparations for the next day.

At night when I get home, I am too tired to even prepare a dinner for myself. Also, I have no time to
study for this course.
I would like to drop this course for this quarter. Then take it up again in the next quarter. So, please
understand my situation.

Thank you for your cooperation

Sincerely,

Abeer

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14. Your neighbours have recently written to you to complain about the noise from your
house flat. Write a letter to your neighbors. In your letter
 explain the reasons for the noise
 apologise
 describe what action you will take

Dear Varcas,

I was very shocked to get your letter saying that the noise from my flat has been spoiling your
evenings and causing you some distress. I am really, really sorry about that. I had no idea that you
would be suffering so much, so I hope you will accept my apologies.

As you may have guessed, I am trying to refit my kitchen in the evenings when I get home from
work. Unfortunately, it is all taking longer than expected and I have been having problems with
getting things to fit properly. This has meant to a lot of banging and hammering.

As the kitchen is still not finished, I have decided to call in a professional builder who will finish the
work in the next day or two. He’ll work only during daytime hours, so you won’t be disturbed in the
evenings again, I promise.

Sorry to have caused these problems.

Yours sincerely,
Name

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15. Your car is hired from a company and while you are driving on holiday, you have a
small accident. You will have to write a report to the company to explain it.
In your letter:
 when and where you hired it
 describe how the accident happened
 what kind of action did you take after the accident

Dear Sir,

I am a recent customer of your rental company having rented a car from your downtown outlet in
Detroit. The car hired was an economy model vehicle which I rented from March 21st to the present. I
would like to compliment your company on their professionalism and the services offered, and as
such, I am sure you will handle my incident with these qualities.

Unfortunately, I had an unavoidable accident involving the aforementioned vehicle and another party.
The accident was caused by the other car failing to stop at the red light at the intersection I was
passing through, and as such, the second party collided into the driver's side of my automobile. The
police were informed in situ, whereupon they recorded information regarding the accident and the
other driver’s insurance details.

The police established the other driver's responsibility for the accident, and the second party's
insurance company has been informed. I would like to request that a replacement vehicle shouldbe
offered while my current vehicle is incapacitated. Once again, I would like to commend your
company's professional attitude.

Yours sincerely,
Aahana

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16. You have just spent a weekend at a friend’s house. When you returned home, you
discovered you have left a coat containing some belongings in his house.

Write a letter to your friend telling him that you left the coat. Tell him what the coat looks
like, where you think you left it and what was inside it. Make some suggestions about how
to get it back.

Dear Dinesh,

I‛m back at home now after that great weekend at your house. Thanks very much for putting me
up. I hope you‛ll be able to come and stay with me sometime soon as well.

Unfortunately, I left my new coat at your house. Do you remember the dark brown one that I wore
when we went walking on Saturday afternoon? It is a ‘New Look’ coat that goes down to mid-thigh
level. It has a black collar, dark brown buttons and large pockets on both sides. I think I left it on
the hooks behind your front door. Do you remember we hung up our coats there when we got back
from our walk? It is quite important for me as I have my wallet in the inside breast pocket and my
diary in the right outside pocket. I have a friend who is driving through your town on Thursday and
he will be quite near your office. Could he please collect it from there? I have given him your
office phone number and he will call you on Thursday morning. Give me a call if this is not
possible.

Anyway, thanks again for a great weekend and I hope to see you soon.

Regards,
Ansh

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 17. You live in a room in college which you share with another student. You find it very
difficult to work there because he or she always has friends visiting. They have parties in
the room and sometimes borrow your things without asking you.

Write a letter to the Accommodation Officer at the college and ask for a new room next
term. You would prefer a single room. Explain your reasons.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing you to express my dissatisfaction with my roommate and request for another
accommodation next term.

My main problem is that I cannot study in my room because my roommate always has friends
visiting. He also has parties which usually end early in the morning, several times a week.
Furthermore, he often borrows my things without asking me.

I cannot accept this situation any longer. Especially because I have very important exams next term
and I really must study hard. This is why I would be very grateful if I could have another room next
term. It would be most convenient for me not having to share my room with someone else.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Your faithfully,

Manya

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18. One of your friends wants to apply for a job involving working with foreign teenagers.

Write a letter of recommendation for him/her.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have learned from your newspaper advertisement that your center is organizing an international
summer camp for overseas teenagers, and you are looking for a bilingual assistant tutor to work
with the children. I am writing to you to recommend one of my best friends, Helen Wang, for this
post.

Helen used to be my classmate at Beijing Normal University, where she was already a very active
organizer and participant in extracurricular activities. With her outstanding leadership skills and
cheerful personality, she was elected chairperson of the Student Union several times.

Busy as she was, she passed the College English Test Band Six and completed her major – teenage
psychology – with an excellent school record. Aftergraduation, she was assigned to be a teacher in
an international high school in Beijing, where she has been teaching bilingual lessons for five years.
What’s more, she loves her job and enjoys working with children. This has won her great popularity
among her students.

Therefore, I do not hesitate to recommend her as an ideal candidate for the post you advertised. I am
sure you will make a wise decision in hiring her.

Yours faithfully,

Nitika

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 19. You have a friend who is about to enter university, and he wants you to advise him on
which subject to specialize in history, in which he is very interested, or computer science,
which offers better job prospects.

DearDeepanshu,

You have asked me for my advice concerning whether you should study history or computer science at
university, I will try to make some useful suggestions.

You must keep in mind that, above all, your university training is a preparation for your future career.
Therefore, your first consideration should be to study a subject which will best equip you to earn a
living. There is no doubt that the field of computers offers far wider job opportunities than history.

Besides, we are now in the age of the high-technology revolution. In the foreseeable future, not only will
it be necessary for everyone to be computer-literate, it will also be necessary for them to be equipped
with computer skills merely to earn a living! History, I’m afraid, however fascinating it may be, offers
few career prospects.

Of course, you don’t have to devote all your time at university studying computers and nothing else. On
the contrary, I would recommend that you keep your reading of history in your spare time. That way,
you will find that your leisure hours are enriched while you prepare yourself for a worthwhile career in
computers.

Yours sincerely,

Rohit

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20. After being involved in an accident, you were looked after by another person. Write a
special letter to express your thanks.

Dear Amit,

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude. I am referring to that unfortunate accident the other day
when I was knocked off my bike by a taxi. If it had not been for your timely assistance in giving me first
aid and taking me to a nearby hospital, I fear that the consequences might have been much serious.

The doctor says that my broken leg is healing well, and the bruises and cuts I suffered will soon be
completely better. In addition, the taxi company has agreed to pay my hospital bills. Everyone agrees that
it was your quick-witted response in that emergency which has led to this satisfactory outcome.

Although nowadays many people talk about the need to be unselfish and to help others, we see very few
people practicing what they preach. But you showed by your selfless action that you are an exception. If
there were more people like you, this world would be a much better place.

Yours sincerely,

Abhishek

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21. You find that your study load is too heavy. Write a letter to your college teacher
explaining why you need to withdraw from two courses. Ask if it is possible to obtain a
refund.

Dear Prof. Himanshu,

I am writing to formally request to withdraw from two courses: Introduction to Elementary

Education (EDU602) and Teaching Methods (EDU 619).

The main reason for reducing my course load is that I am finding it extremely difficult to manage
six courses. In the beginning of the term, I was perhaps overly optimistic about juggling in both
my full-time studies and my part-time job (20 hours/week). As I really must work part-time, I have
no other choice, but to decrease my course load. I am planning on taking the two courses during
the summer semester if they are available so that I will be able to complete all the courses for the
degree program by the following year.

I would also like to request a tuition refund and hope I am not too late to receive the full
reimbursement. I am sorry for any inconvenience I have caused by this change in plans. This
decision was not taken lightly and I do appreciate the kind consideration you have shown to me.

Thank you for your attention to these requests. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact me at 277-9144. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Gaurav

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22. As part of a student social survey project, you are organising a group to visit a
historical exhibition in a small town. Write a letter asking for information regarding such
things as the contents of the exhibition, and the dates of its opening and closing, and if there
are any discounts available.

Dear Sir,

I am organising a group of students to pay a visit to the historical exhibition in your town. This
visit will be part of our school’s activities to encourage the students to take part in social surveys.
Therefore, I would be grateful if you could supply me with the following information.

First of all, what are the dates during which the exhibition will be held, and what are the daily
opening hours? Secondly, what is the size of the exhibition, what is its theme and what objects
are on display? Thirdly, are there any other activities being held in connection with the
exhibition?

I must point out that I hope to bring students to the exhibition. So, I would like to inquire if there
is any discount available on entrance tickets for students. If so, how much is the discount and
what is the minimum number of students necessary to qualify for it?
I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

PinkiGohri

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23. You have received a letter from your bank, asking you to acknowledge receipt of a new
bank card. However, the card was missing from the envelope.
Write a letter to the bank's head office.
In your letter
 explain why you are writing
 express concern about the missing card
 ask them what they intend to do

Dear Sir,

I am writing to inform you that I received a letter from my bank today, which was supposed to
contain my new bank card. Unfortunately, there was no bank card enclosed in the envelope when I
opened it.

I telephoned the bank to explain the problem, but I could not get through to the right department,
even though I waited on the line for over half an hour, which was extremely annoying.

In the letter, you asked me to acknowledge the receipt of the card, but obviously, I cannot do this as
I have not received it. I am now very worried because there it is a possibility that my card has gone
to another customer or got lost. What will happen if somebody has already used the card and spent
my money? Will the bank repay me?

Is it possible for the bank to cancel this card, so that nobody else can use it? Could you also send me
a new card by secure means?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Name

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24. You have recently been to stay with an old friend for a few days. You had not seen each
other for a long time.
 say how you felt about the visit
 refer to something enjoyable that you did while staying with him/her
 invite your friend to visit you

Dear Sahiba,

I'm writing to thank you for a really enjoyable visit. It was good to see you after so long and to be
able to spend some time with you, talking about old school friends and teachers.

Now that I'm back home, I keep thinking about how good it was to be somewhere quiet and
peaceful. I particularly enjoyed our trip to the wildlife sanctuary and appreciated the opportunity to
see so many rare birds and animals. It made me think that I should try and do more to protect them,
so I'm having a look on the internet to see what sort of organizations are there.

Perhaps next time we get together, you could come and visit me. There are plenty of places we can
go to and my brother would really like to meet you. Let me know when you might be free to come
here and we can fix something up. Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
Name

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25. Write a letter to the club secretary.
In your letter
 State what type of membership you have and how you have paid for this
 Give details of how you have benefited from the club
 Explain why you want to leave

Dear Sir,

In September 2003, I joined your Sports and theSocial club as a full-time student member. Since
then I have paid the monthly membership fees by direct debit from my bank: Nationwide in
Sanderson Avenue, Kinghill.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my club membership as it has provided me with useful opportunities to
meet up with other young people and to participate in a number of social activities. I have also been
fortunate enough to play in some of the inter-club tennis tournaments and have taken advantage of
the various classes available such as Yoga and T'ai chi.

However, my studies are now coming to an end and as I will shortly be returning to my home
country, possibly for good, I regret that I no longer wish to continue my membership.

I would be grateful, therefore, if you could confirm in writing that the monthly fees will no longer
be deducted from my bank account.

Yours sincerely,
Name

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26. You have recently heard that a friend of yours has had some problems as a result of
some unusual weather. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter
 express concern (i.e. say you are sorry to hear what has happened)
 tell them about a similar experience that you once had
 give some advice or offer help

Dear Anna and Leo,

We were shocked to hear from Lara about the storm that hit your city recently and the damage
done to your house. How awful to come home from your holiday to find the roof blown off the
house!

I understand how you must feel, as we had a similar experience a few years ago when there was a
sudden electrical storm here in Sydney. I came home from work to find that a tree had fallen on
top of the house and all the windows were broken. Fortunately, the insurance covered the cost of
all the repairs, but it was still very upsetting.

I suppose you have to think positively in situations like this and look at the opportunity you have
to improve your house - give it a new look. If we can do anything for you in the holidays, we
would be happy to help. Drop us a line and let us know.

Yours sincerely,
Name

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27. A friend has asked you to babysit on Saturday and wants to know how much you
charge per hour for this. Unfortunately, you already have a commitment this weekend and
cannot help. However, you are free the following weekend.
Write a letter to your friend explaining that you are not able to help this time, but could
help later. Explain also what your fee for the service is.

Dear Bhumika,

Thank you for asking me to babysit for you. As you know I enjoy looking after Anthony and
would be happy to help you out. However, this weekend I have a commitment which I cannot
break.
My parents are coming to visit and I am going to take them down to the coast as I have always
promised to do. They are getting older, so I like to spend as much time with them as possible.
Also, it is my father's birthday and I want to celebrate with them. I am really sorry that I am not
able to help this time, but I am free next weekend and I would be glad to babysit for you then if
you should choose to go out for the evening.

My charge is fifteen dollars per hour until midnight and twenty dollars per hour after that. You
would need to give me any special instructions you might have and, of course, leave a phone
number in case of any emergency.

Yours sincerely,
Name

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PRACTICE –LETTERS

1. Letter to Friend

You have spent a week with afriend on holiday. When you got home, you realized you left
your wallet there.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

 Thank your friend for the holiday

 Explain that you left your wallet in their house
 Give them instructions on how to send it back to you

2. Asking for a letter of reference

Write a letter to a former teacher. In your letter:

 Give details of the job

 Explain why it is important to you
 Suggest what information your teacher could put in the reference

3. Letter of advice

A friend has written to you asking for advice about theproblem at work. You have had asimilar
problem in the past.

Write a reply to your friend. In your letter:

 Tell your friend to understand the problem
 Explain what happened to you in the past
 Suggest possible solutions to the problem

4. Letter of complaint

Work is being done on the street where you live. The noise is disturbing you.
Write a letter of complaint to your local council. In your letter.

 Introduce yourself
 Explain what the problem is
 Suggest solution to the problem

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5. Letter of application

You saw an advert in the newspaper asking for volunteers to help run a charity event.

Write a letter of application to the organisers. In your letter:

 Explain why you are interested in helping

 Give details of suitable past experience
 Suggest ways you might help with the event

6. Letter of request

You need to take leave from your work of over one month for personals reasons.

Write a letter to your boss in your letter.

 Explain the reason for the leave and duration of the leave.

7. Letter of resignation

You have to resign from your work in order to try a new field

Write a letter of resignation to your boss. In your letter:

 Tell your boss of your decision and explain why you are leaving
 Explain what you have learnt from your current job and how you feel about leaving.
 Ask for a letter of reference.

8. Letter of arrangement

You have organised to go on holiday with your friend. However, you must change your
plans.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter:

 Tell them how much you are looking forward to the holiday
 Explain why you must have to change your plans
 Suggest alternative arrangements

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9. Letter of complaint

Yourecently order something online. When the delivery came it was not complete

Write a letter to the company. In your letter:

 Explain what you ordered and what was missing in your delivery.
 Explain the importance of the delivery
 Ask for a replaced item to be sent

10. Letter of acceptance

A friend has offered you some work in his company. You are currently employed and will
not able to start for three months.

Write a reply to your friend. In your letter:

 Give details of what you know about his company

 Explain your current situation
 Give your answer to the offer and explain why you cannot join.

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