Semi-Formal Apology Letter · Broken Item Borrowed From a Friend
A complete IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 question with a model answer of 265 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 20 minutes. Write at least 150 words.
A friend lent you something valuable and you accidentally broke it. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: - Apologise for what happened - Explain how the item got broken - Say what you intend to do to put things right Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Priya,
How to approach it
- 01Use 'Dear Priya' as given and a warm semi-formal sign-off like 'With love' or 'Yours sincerely'
- 02Lead with a clear, direct apology in the opening line — do not bury it under small talk
- 03Take responsibility honestly when you explain how the item was broken; avoid blaming objects or other people
- 04Make your offer of restitution concrete — propose a repair, replacement, or specific amount of money
- 05Acknowledge any sentimental value the item had, not only its monetary value
- 06Close with a forward-looking line (a coffee, a meeting) that signals you want to repair the friendship
Model answer
265 words in 7 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
Dear Priya,
I am so sorry to be writing to you with bad news. I'm afraid your beautiful glass camera lens — the 50mm one you so kindly lent me for the wedding last weekend — has been damaged, and I take full responsibility for what happened.
Let me explain. On Sunday afternoon I was packing my kit away in the garden after the ceremony, and as I was lowering the camera bag onto the table, the strap caught on the edge of a chair. The whole bag tipped sideways and the lens, which was sitting on top, slipped out and landed on the stone patio. The front element has cracked and the focusing ring no longer turns smoothly. I checked it as soon as it happened and I am genuinely heartbroken — I know how much that lens meant to you, both as a piece of kit and as a gift from your grandfather.
I want to make this right as quickly as I can. I have already taken the lens to a specialist repair shop in Brighton, who have quoted me 280 pounds for a full replacement of the front element and a service. Whether they can repair it or not, I will pay in full for either the repair or, if necessary, a brand-new replacement of exactly the same model. I will not let you be out of pocket because of my carelessness.
Could we meet for coffee on Saturday? I would much rather apologise face to face and bring the lens back to you in person.
Again, I am truly sorry.
With love, Matt
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 31 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
41 more than the median answer for this task type
3 words at the shortest, 35 at the longest
1 fewer than the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 17.7 words and vary by 11.1 words either side of that, running from 3 words to 35. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 5 of the 15 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
1 in total, spread across 1 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
because
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 73 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 60 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 3 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Achievement
Address all three bullets fully: a sincere apology, a clear explanation of how the item was broken, and a specific plan to put things right.
Coherence & Cohesion
Use a clear paragraph for each bullet point with appropriate semi-formal openers and a warm closing.
Lexical Resource
Use vocabulary appropriate to a sincere personal apology, including phrases for regret, responsibility, and reparation.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Use a range of past tenses to narrate the incident and modal verbs (will, would, could) to offer restitution and suggestions.
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