Cambridge IELTS 17 General Writing Practice Test 4

IELTS Cambridge Book 17 General Training Writing Practice Test 4 with Sample Answers and Free PDF Download.

IELTS 17 General Training Writing Practice Test 4, Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have bought some clothing online and are not satisfied with your purchase.

Write a letter to the company from which you bought the clothing. In your email:

• Provide details of the purchase
• Describe the problem
• Explain why you need a replacement urgently

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Sample Writing Answer:

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 5.5 score.

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Sam, and I recently bought a suit for my sister’s wedding through your website. I was very happy when it arrived on time.

However, when I opened the box and tried on the suit, I discovered that the top part was too small and the pants were too big. This means I cannot wear the suit at all, and I will need to pack it up and send it back to you in exchange for the correct size.

I need a replacement as soon as possible because my sister’s wedding is in two weeks in Greece, and I am flying there next Tuesday. This leaves me less than a week to receive the correct size and ensure it fits before I leave.

I appreciate your understanding and prompt assistance, as this mistake has left me in a difficult situation with limited time to prepare for my sister’s wedding.

Kind regards,
Sam

Examiner’s Comments:

The response covers all three points in the question. The problem is clearly stated: the suit’s size is incorrect, and the candidate explains the urgency of getting a replacement for his sister’s wedding in two weeks. The tone is generally appropriate, and all task requirements are addressed.

Ideas are arranged in the order of the question, resulting in a clear overall progression. There is some effective use of cohesive devices (“unfortunately,” “also”) and referencing (“which means”). However, there are numerous errors that affect the score (“What mean / This means”).

The range of vocabulary is adequate, with some attempts at less common terms (“make sure,” “need to replace it”). However, errors in word choice (“packet / pack it,” “bake / back,” “fonts / ?,” “then / than”) and spelling (“broght throght your websit / bought through your website,” “mistak / mistake”) reduce the score. Similarly, errors in sentence structure lower the overall score.

There are no completely correct sentences in this response. Although it is mainly written in the present tense, the present-tense verb structures are sometimes incorrect (“open / opened,” “it to small / was too small”), and auxiliary verbs are faulty (“it’s fit me / it fitted me,” “its fits me / it fits me”). To achieve a higher score, the candidate needs to reduce the number of errors in vocabulary and sentence structure.

IELTS 17 General Training Writing Practice Test 4, Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Some people think it’s a good idea to socialize with work colleagues during evenings and weekends. Others believe it’s important to keep work life completely separate from social life.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample Writing Answer:

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.5 score.

Since our jobs take up the majority of our daytime (or nighttime, depending on the job), our colleagues are an important part of our social life. We see them every day and usually have to interact with them multiple times. Should these interactions stay strictly professional, or is it better to include colleagues in our private lives?

First, this depends on individual personalities. Some people are good at maintaining boundaries during work interactions, keeping conversations neutral, and clearly separating private and professional life. On the other hand, some people can’t control their friendliness and tend to get closer to colleagues they get along with while distancing themselves from those they feel uncomfortable around.

In fact, it’s important to feel good at work. A tense atmosphere caused by conflicts between coworkers can negatively affect our lives even outside of work. Socializing with work colleagues during free time can be a good opportunity to get to know them better, away from the stresses and pressures of work. We might discover different aspects of their personalities, hobbies, or personal problems, which can help us understand them better during challenging times at work.

However, when the line between private and professional life becomes blurred, issues can arise. For example, when two coworkers become romantically involved and continue working together, or when a close friendship between coworkers becomes a source of gossip.

Since we are all human and have our own sensitivities, it’s important to maintain a good atmosphere at work by addressing issues openly to release tension. Communication is key, and sharing good times with coworkers outside of work can be a nice way to understand each other better.

Examiner’s Comments:

This is a good response. Ideas are presented on both sides, and the candidate’s opinion is clear. The desire to socialize is linked to personality; some people prefer to keep their distance, while others are naturally friendly. The candidate discusses the benefits of improving the work atmosphere and understanding colleagues better, as well as the potential downsides of relationships that become too close.

The response is logically organized, with a range of linking devices (“First,” “In fact,” “Of course”) and effective referencing (“some people… their,” “them,” “they,” “each other”). However, there are errors in cohesive devices (“On a other side / On the other hand”) and paragraphing, which could be more logical (e.g., the third paragraph is very short and could be combined with the fourth).

Vocabulary demonstrates an appropriate writing style, with suitable collocations (“strictly professional,” “get along with,” “tensions between coworkers,” “release all the tensions”). There are some spelling errors, but they are consistent (“professional / professional” twice and “personnality / personality” three times). There are also some errors in word choice (“speaking out / talking about”), but they do not impede communication. A variety of complex structures are used, with frequent error-free sentences, but some errors remain in vocabulary and sentence structure.

To improve, the response could benefit from more logical paragraphing and fewer vocabulary and sentence structure errors.