Book 18 IELTS General Writing Test 1
Answers
Model Answer
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer.
“Dear Mia
It’s great to hear from you; your project sounds really interesting. I’d be happy to tell you about Tet in Vietnam.
Tet is short for Tết Nguyên Đán and it’s our New Year according to the lunar calendar. It’s the first day of spring and it’s usually in January or February. It’s really important to us as it’s a chance for the family to come together and we visit the graves of our ancestors. It’s probably the biggest festival in Vietnam and it’s a public holiday. We say if good things happen on the first day of the new year, the whole year will be full of blessings.
I always loved it as a child because I would get a red envelope with money inside it from the older members of the family. Now I like visiting friends and the extended family on the week of Tet and enjoying the lovely candied fruits that we have on this occasion.
I hope that helps. Do ask if there’s anything else you’d like to know.
All the best”
Here are comments from another examiner:
This is a full response to the task. The candidate addresses the first two bullet points in the second paragraph, then covers the last bullet in the third, but could add more about how New Year is celebrated. They mention [the biggest festival … public holiday] but give no details about how it is celebrated.
However, the enthusiastic tone is just right for a letter to a friend, and progression in the response is clear. There are some effective linking expressions [according to because | Now], although in the second paragraph, most sentences start with [It’s], so a wider range would improve the response.
The range of vocabulary includes some less common items and some good collocation [come together | good things happen], but it could be wider. Similarly, there is a mix of grammatical structures, including conditionals [i], but generally, the range is limited with simple structures and short, compound sentences. Overall, this is an appropriate and engaging response. To improve it, the range of cohesive devices and grammatical structures could be widened.
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Model Answer
This model has been prepared by an examiner as an example of a very good answer.
“Job seekers often question whether it is better to work for a large or a small company. I would personally prefer to work for a larger company, but I’d like to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both. In general, larger companies can support their employees more effectively because they have access to more resources. These could include higher salaries, end-of-year bonuses, and other perks such as an excellent food service and even sports facilities. Large companies may also contribute more to your professional development, offering regular conferences and training courses.
The size of a large company is also an indication of their success, meaning that it can offer greater stability. There is also a better chance for promotion and career development in companies with many departments and a larger management structure. Of course, advancement may not come easily because it is hard to stand out when many employees are vying for the same role.
In small companies, you may feel less like a number and that your efforts actually make a difference. You will also need to wear different hats, which helps you develop a skill set that might not be possible in a larger company. The downside is a higher chance of strained relationships because working in close proximity with the same small group of people every day can be challenging. Small companies can also be unstable. If they lose a large account or consumer tastes change, your position could suddenly become precarious. Based on the above, I’d say that the kind of company you work for depends on personal preference, but your future career prospects may be better in a large company.”
Here are comments from another examiner.
This response covers both aspects of the task, including the pros and cons of each type of workplace, with some useful detail and good supporting ideas. Ideas are logically organised and cohesion is very well managed throughout.
There are a range of linkers [Of course | Based on the above] and other cohesive devices [both your ❘ their | which], which means it is easy to read. Paragraphing is generally good, with the introduction and conclusion sitting separately. However, the second and third paragraphs would be better combined, as they both address ‘large’ companies.
Vocabulary is strong and there are some natural and sophisticated examples [vying for | wear different hats | strained relationships]. Grammar is flexible and accurate, with a range of structures including modals [can | may | could] and conditionals [If] as part of complex, multi-clause sentences. Errors are rare.
This is a good example of a high-level response.