Letter

Band 9: A friend you met last year has invited you to visit him/her in his/her country. You have never been there before and need some information before you leave. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: request advise about a gift for his/her family ask about activities and clothing in his/her country find out about the food

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Dear Thomas,

How are you? I’m really excited because I’ll be visiting you in China soon! Since I have never been there before, I’d love to ask you a few things before I leave.

First, I’d like to bring a gift for your family. What do you think would be a good gift for them? I was thinking about bringing something from Indonesia, but I’m not sure what they would like.

I also want to know more about the activities I can do there/you may arrange before I arrive. Are there any interesting places that you recommend me to visit? Also, what kind of clothes should I bring? Is the weather cold or warm at this time of year in your country?

Lastly, I’m curious about the food in your country. What are some traditional dishes that I should try? Are there any foods that you think I definitely shouldn’t miss?

I’m looking forward to seeing you and exploring your country together. Please give me some advice when you have time!

Best wishes,

Rickon

Word Count: 174

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Overall Band Score

(+/- 0.5)

Vocabulary Complexity:
A2 - Upper Beginner
Consider using more varied and advanced words.

Grammar Mistakes: N/A

Vocabulary Repetition:

there: 3

before: 3

about: 3

Try using synonyms for the above words

Task Response

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points in the task: it asks for advice on a gift for the friend's family, inquires about activities and clothing, and asks about food. The tone is friendly and appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the structure is clear with a logical flow. There are no significant omissions or lapses, and the letter is well-written with natural language. To maintain this high standard, continue to ensure that all parts of the prompt are covered and that the tone remains consistent.

Coherence & Cohesion

The letter is well-organized and easy to follow. Each paragraph addresses a specific request (gift, activities/clothing, food), and the flow is natural. The opening and closing are appropriate and friendly. Cohesive devices are used effectively without being noticeable.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary is appropriate and varied, with natural phrasing such as 'I'd love to ask you a few things' and 'I'm curious about the food.' The tone is friendly and suitable for a letter to a friend. There is a good range of expressions, and the language is precise and idiomatic. Boost vocabulary complexity to elevate the overall score.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The letter demonstrates a wide range of grammatical structures used accurately. Sentences are varied in length and complexity, and punctuation is correct. There are no noticeable errors, and the grammar is controlled throughout.

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