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IELTS Writing Samples

IELTS essay samples (writing task 2), report and letter samples (writing task 1) with Band Scores, marked by IELTS teachers, including comments and suggestions on how to increase your score

IELTS Letter, topic: Applying for an advertised position

You work a part-time job in a company, and the company posted an advert seeking a person for a full-time position. Write a letter to your manager requesting to apply for the advertised position. In your letter say

– Why do you want to apply?
– What are your future goals?
– Why would it be beneficial for the company?

Dear Mr. Collins,

My name is Lisa Prior and I have been working as a pharmacist assistant in Publix for over 11 months. I am writing to you with reference to the full-time position of principal pharmacist that I have recently seen advertised.

I would like to for this position since I finished my Bachelor of Pharmacy degree last month, and am able to work full time. Additionally, the vast experience I have gained by working with Dr. Loon makes me adequate for this position. Dr Loon is willing to provide you with all the necessary references regarding my performance at work.

Moreover, I am going to start a Master of Pharmacy degree next semester which will not affect my current working schedules at the pharmacy; however, having a better prepared staff member may increase the sales through my providing professional advice to patients on a daily basis. As I prefer this pharmacy over the rest, I would like to continue my professional growth here.

Thank you for your attention, and I hope to receive a positive response to my application.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Faithfully yours,

Lisa Prior

This letter covers all the requirements of the task; all the bullet points are addressed. The information is organised well and the writer progresses from one idea to the next smoothly. The vocabulary is adequate for the purpose of this letter, with just a few instances of inaccurate word choice. Overall this letter seems to be worthy of IELTS Band 8.

Click here to see more IELTS letters of band 8

‘apply’ is a better word choice here
‘closely’ is a more formal word choice

IELTS essay, topic: Should employers pay more attention to personal qualities rather than qualifications?

While recruiting a new employee, the employer should pay more attention to their personal qualities, rather than qualifications and experience. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion and include relevant examples.

Recent decades have witnessed a burgeoning growth of numerous industries; therefore, recruiting the right person for the position is crucial to the development of enterprises. But how do we determine if a person is the best fit? Advocates of conventional recruitment methods opine that this candidate must have sufficient experience and qualifications needed for that job. Nevertheless, some people argue that candidates’ personal qualities cannot be ignored. In my view, both components are of equal importance.

To begin with, the conventional approach of checking potential workers’ qualifications via their resumes, LinkedIn profiles, issued qualifications and certifications from authorised organisations is vital. Apparently, whenever we submit a job application, we are always required to attach a CV while a cover letter is optional. Without a decent qualification, even if that candidate’s personal characteristics are suitable, the enterprise will need to carry out lots of skill trainings eventually.

On the other hand, occasionally during an interview some HR officers ignore the significance of assessing how candidates’ individual qualities can fit in the company. Employers should assess not only candidates’ qualifications but also their enabling skills, ethics and value propositions. The more an employee’s personal qualities fit in a company’s culture and values, the more he or she is motivated to contribute to that company’s vision. KPMG is a great example of evaluating candidates’ personal qualifications and skills by utilising a game-based assessment process, followed by a video interview. This methodology enables a comprehensive assessment, and is embraced by many companies nowadays.

To summarise, employers should assess both personal characteristics and formal qualifications when recruiting people as each of these elements has its own vital contribution to make in talent-seeking enterprises.

This response covers the topic well. The writer’s position is clearly expressed and supported by an example, the use of paragraphing makes this essay organised and easy to follow. Linking words are used appropriately. The use of complex sentences and advanced vocabulary is impressive. Overall, this essay is likely to score Band 8 in IELTS.

Click here to see more IELTS essays of Band 8