Letter

Band 5+: You are working for a company.You need to take some time off work and want to ask your manager about this. Write a letter to your manager. In your letter • explain why you want to take time off work • give details of the amount of time you need • suggest how your work could be covered while you are away

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Dear John,

I am writing to request some time-off. I have been recently stressed out with the fact my mom might require knee surgery, and I can’t focus on my work.

Recently, my mother was diagnosed with some serious right knee problem, and many doctors were advising to proceed to advanced knee surgery. I am stressed out by that, and afraid that I might make some mistakes at work, given that I deal with sensitive clients numbers and statistics.

Since the surgery in scheduled tomorrow afternoon, I would like to ask for unpaid leave for one week, starting tomorrow. By that, I should not be worried about making unintended work mistakes.

I know that this came up quickly with short notice, but I have informed and briefed Jack about the situation, and he acknowledged it. So, in case of any work related questions or emergencies , he will be responsible during my absence till my return.

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours Sincerely,

Robert

Word Count: 164

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Overall Band Score

5.5

(+/- 0.5)

Vocabulary Complexity:
B1 - Intermediate
Using more sophisticated words could be beneficial.

Grammar Mistakes: N/A

Vocabulary Repetition:

surgery: 3

Try using synonyms for the above words

Task Response

The letter adequately addresses the task by explaining the need for leave, providing details of the leave period, and suggesting how work can be handled. However, the explanation of why the leave is needed could be more detailed and emotionally convincing. The letter could also benefit from a more formal tone and stronger closing. To improve, focus on elaborating on the personal reasons for the leave and ensuring a professional tone throughout the letter.

Coherence & Cohesion

The letter is generally coherent, but the organization could be improved for better flow. Consider grouping related ideas together more explicitly. For example, you could dedicate a paragraph solely to explaining the impact of your mother's health on your work. Transition phrases could also be used to link ideas more smoothly.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but there's room to enhance it with more precise and varied word choices. For instance, instead of saying 'some serious right knee problem,' you could use a more specific term if you know it, or rephrase it to 'a significant issue with her right knee.' Similarly, 'unintended work mistakes' could be refined to 'errors in my work' or 'professional oversights.'

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The letter contains grammatical errors and phrasing issues that affect clarity. For example, 'I have been recently stressed out with the fact my mom might require knee surgery' could be improved to 'I have been stressed recently because my mother may require knee surgery.' Also, ensure correct tense usage and subject-verb agreement throughout the letter. Proofreading carefully before submission can help catch these errors.

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