GT letter: something was damaged at a friend's home
The question
You stayed at a friend's home while they were away, and your child accidentally damaged something. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter, explain what was damaged, how it happened, and how it could be repaired or replaced.
How to answer it
An apology letter to a friend, so the register is informal but the structure is strict: apologise in the opening line, then take the three bullets in order and give each its own short paragraph. The third bullet is where candidates lose marks — do not just offer vaguely to pay; name the fix, say you have already found a replacement or called someone, and offer a choice. Sound sorry without grovelling for a paragraph.
What moves the band
- Informal openings and closings: Dear Sam / Hi Sam … All the best, Anna. Never 'Dear Sir or Madam'.
- Contractions and phrasal verbs are correct here: I'm so sorry, it slipped out of her hands, I'll sort it out, make it up to you.
- Cover all three bullets — an unaddressed bullet caps Task Achievement no matter how good the English is.
These are candidate recalls. These are questions reported by test-takers after their exams, not official or leaked IELTS material. Wording varies by test version, location and memory. Use them for timed practice — never as a prediction of what you will be asked.
Practise these next
Know the number. Now move it.
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