Semi-Formal Letter · Recommending a Plumber to a Neighbour
A complete IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 question with a model answer of 240 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 new neighbour has recently moved into the house next door. They have mentioned that they urgently need a good plumber to fix some problems in their kitchen, and have asked you whether you can recommend anyone. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: - Recommend a plumber you have used and explain why you trust them - Describe what kind of work the plumber did for you - Give your neighbour advice on how to contact and book the plumber Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Mark,
How to approach it
- 01Use 'Dear Mark' and close with 'Best wishes' — semi-formal for a neighbour you know
- 02Cover all three bullet points clearly — recommendation, type of work, how to contact
- 03Use a friendly, conversational tone but avoid slang or text-style abbreviations
- 04Give concrete details — names, jobs, prices, phone numbers — to make the letter feel real
- 05Vary your sentence openings rather than starting every paragraph with 'I'
- 06End with a warm closing line rather than stopping abruptly after the last bullet
Model answer
240 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 Mark,
Thanks again for popping round on Sunday — it was good to finally meet a proper neighbour. As promised, I am writing with the plumber's details, because I think you will be in safe hands.
The man I would strongly recommend is Tom Reilly, who runs a small one-man business called Reilly Plumbing & Heating, based just a few streets away. I have used him twice now and have been impressed both times. He is honest, punctual, and explains exactly what the problem is before he starts work, so there are never any nasty surprises on the invoice.
The first job he did for us was replacing a corroded copper pipe under the kitchen sink that had started leaking onto the floor. He fixed it within a couple of hours and only charged the call-out fee plus the cost of parts. More recently, he installed a new combi boiler in our airing cupboard. The whole job took just over a day and the bill came in well below the quote.
The easiest way to reach him is by mobile on 07811 240 366, ideally between eight and six. If he does not answer, leave a voicemail and he will always call back the same evening. Mention that Helen at number 24 sent you — he should be able to fit you in this week.
Best of luck with the kitchen, and let me know how you get on.
Best wishes, Helen
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.
16 more than the median answer for this task type
3 words at the shortest, 25 at the longest
the same as the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 17.1 words and vary by 5.6 words either side of that, running from 3 words to 25. 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 14 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
2 in total, spread across 2 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
finally
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 87 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 81 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 2 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 bullet points fully with appropriate detail
Coherence & Cohesion
Logical flow with clear paragraphing
Lexical Resource
Semi-formal vocabulary appropriate to a neighbour
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Variety of structures with consistent accuracy
You have read one model answer. Now get one marked.
Paste your own attempt at this question and get a band for each criterion, with the exact sentences costing you marks.
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