You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You are planning a vacation and would like to rent a house in a different country for a month.

Write a letter to the owner of the house. In your letter include:

  • Your plans for the vacation
  • Why you would like to rent that particular house
  • Questions you have about the house

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to inquire about the availability of your house for rent, as I am planning a month-long vacation in Scotland this summer. I am particularly interested in staying at your property from July 1st to July 31st.

The purpose of my vacation is to explore the culture and natural beauty of the region, while also taking time to relax and unwind. Your house seems ideal for my stay because its proximity to both the local attractions and the scenic countryside. I have seen several positive reviews from previous guests, and the house’s charming design and amenities seem perfect for a peaceful and comfortable retreat.

Before finalizing my plans, I have a few questions regarding the house. Firstly, could you please confirm if it has reliable Wi-Fi, as I may need to work remotely on some days? Secondly, I would like to know whether there are any nearby grocery stores or restaurants. Finally, could you inform me if the property includes laundry facilities?

I look forward to your prompt response and hope to finalize the booking soon.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Paul Gibson

191 words

 

Band Score:

  1. Task Achievement (9/9):

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points specified in the task:

  • Plans for the vacation are clearly outlined in the second paragraph, where the writer explains their intention to explore the region, relax, and stay for a month.
  • Why they would like to rent the house is thoroughly covered in the same paragraph, with references to the property’s location, design, and positive reviews.
  • Questions about the house are addressed in a clear and polite manner in the third paragraph, covering Wi-Fi, nearby amenities, and laundry facilities.

All content is relevant, detailed, and presented in an organized manner. The letter is appropriate for the task, with a formal tone, and exceeds 150 words, ensuring the response is well-developed.

  1. Cohesion & Coherence (9/9):

The letter is logically organized with a clear structure. Each paragraph flows naturally from the one before, and there is a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.

  • Cohesion: Linking phrases such as “I am writing to inquire about,” “The purpose of my vacation is,” and “Before finalizing my plans” help the reader follow the writer’s thought process.
  • Coherence: The content is logically sequenced, with each paragraph addressing one of the bullet points. There is no unnecessary repetition, and ideas are expressed clearly.

The use of cohesive devices is both natural and effective, and the letter remains focused on the task throughout.

  1. Grammatical Range & Accuracy (9/9):

The letter demonstrates an excellent command of grammar:

  • Range: There is a wide variety of sentence structures, including complex and compound sentences, such as: “Your house seems ideal for my stay because its proximity to both the local attractions and the scenic countryside.”
  • Accuracy: The letter is virtually free of grammatical errors. Tenses, articles, and prepositions are used accurately throughout the letter, e.g., “I am planning,” “I may need to work,” “whether there are any nearby grocery stores.”

The writer shows flexibility in using conditionals (“could you please confirm if”), relative clauses (“which seems perfect for”), and polite question forms, demonstrating a mastery of English grammar.

  1. Lexical Resource (9/9):

The vocabulary used is appropriate, precise, and varied. The writer avoids repetition and uses a wide range of language to convey their message effectively.

  • Formal register: Words and phrases such as “inquire,” “availability,” “confirm,” “finalizing,” and “proximity” reflect an appropriate level of formality for a letter to a property owner.
  • Collocations and expressions: Phrases like “reliable Wi-Fi,” “positive reviews,” “scenic countryside,” and “natural beauty of the region” show a strong command of natural, idiomatic English.
  • No awkward phrasing: All word choices fit well within the context, and there are no awkward or forced phrases.

The writer also uses polite, formal expressions (“Thank you in advance for your assistance”) that are suitable for a formal letter of inquiry.

Summary of Scores:

Criterion

Score

Task Achievement

9

Cohesion & Coherence

9

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

9

Lexical Resource

9

 

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