Letter

Band 8+: The younger sister of one of your friends is thinking about spending a year studying abroad as part of her university course. You did this recently, and she has asked you about your experience. Write a letter to your friend's sister. In your letter • tell her where you studied during your year abroad • describe what you learnt about the country you studied in • explain why your year abroad was helpful for your studies

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Dear Jenny,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing to share my experience studying abroad at Kyung Hee University for a year.

First and foremost, if you are considering studying abroad, I highly recommend it. During my time there, I created valuable memories that I had never experienced before. I participated in a one-year program at Kyung Hee University, which is one of the most well-known universities in South Korea. I attended several classes almost every day, and on weekends, I would hang out with my Korean classmates. I also often visited the public library near my accommodation to study for exams.

Reflecting on my experiences while studying there, I believe I became more independent compared to before, as I had to prepare my own meals and take care of household chores. What I liked most was making friends from different countries, which helped me broaden my horizons. I found it significantly beneficial for my future career because I was able to improve my English skills and my ability to communicate with people from various backgrounds, which increased my confidence.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to me.

See you soon.

Word Count: 199

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Overall Band Score

8.5

(+/- 0.5)

Vocabulary Complexity:
B2 - Upper Intermediate
Opt for even more advanced words when appropriate.

Grammar Mistakes: N/A

Vocabulary Repetition:

studying: 3

which: 3

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Task Response

The letter addresses all three bullet points, but the development of the second bullet point is somewhat weak. The task asks you to 'describe what you learnt about the country you studied in,' but your response focuses more on your personal growth (independence and social skills) rather than specific knowledge or cultural insights regarding South Korea itself. To improve, you should include details about Korean culture, traditions, history, or social norms to directly satisfy that specific requirement. The rest of the letter is well-structured and maintains an appropriate tone.

Coherence & Cohesion

The letter is exceptionally well-organized. The progression of ideas is logical, moving smoothly from the introduction to the specific details of the experience, and finally to the benefits and a closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different aspects of the prompt, making the message effortless to follow.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary used is natural, appropriate for an informal letter to a friend's sister, and demonstrates a high level of control. Phrases such as 'broaden my horizons,' 'significantly beneficial,' and 'valuable memories' are used accurately and enhance the quality of the writing without appearing forced.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The grammatical structures are varied and used with full flexibility. The writer successfully employs a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences. There are no noticeable errors in punctuation or syntax, and the tense usage (switching between past experiences and present advice) is handled perfectly.

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Task Response

Coherence & Cohesion

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