Letter

Band 8+: You recently started a new hobby, such as painting or gardening, and you have become quite enthusiastic about it. You want to encourage a friend who is feeling a bit down to try it as well. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: describe your new hobby and why you enjoy it; suggest how it might help your friend feel better; propose a time when you could do this activity together.

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Dear Thomas,

I hope this email finds you well.

Recently, I have started a new hobby and I would like to share it with you. Three months ago I decided to take electric guitar lessons, then I bought one at the music shop, and started my classes with a personal teacher.

As you know, I have always loved rock music. When I was listening to Metallica, ACDC, or Red Hot Chili Peppers, I have thought myself playing the instrument. Now I am able to do that and I am feeling a rock star.

By the way, you should try it too. I know you love rock n’ roll. We could take classes and play together. Maybe we could make a band and play our favorite songs with our friends. Michael could sing and Peter plays the drums. If I were you, I would learn how to play bass guitar.

Please let me know if you would like to learn how to play an instrument.

I look forward to your response.

Best wishes,

Daniel Moreira

Word Count: 174

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Overall Band Score

(+/- 0.5)

Vocabulary Complexity:
A1 - Beginner
Aim to use more advanced language.

Grammar Mistakes: N/A

Vocabulary Repetition:

would: 3

could: 3

Try using synonyms for the above words

Task Response

The letter effectively addresses all three bullet points: it describes the new hobby (electric guitar lessons), explains the reason (love for rock music and desire to play the instrument), and suggests the friend try it together (even proposing forming a band). The tone is friendly and appropriate for a friend. The language is generally fluent with minor errors (e.g., 'I have thought myself' should be 'I thought to myself' or 'I imagined myself'; 'Peter plays' should be 'Peter could play'). To improve, consider more precise phrasing and consistent tense usage. Overall, a strong response that meets the task requirements well.

Coherence & Cohesion

The letter is well-organized and easy to follow, with clear paragraphing for each point. The flow is natural, though a few transitions could be smoother. For example, 'By the way' is informal but acceptable; consider using 'Additionally' or 'Moreover' for a slightly more polished tone. Overall, cohesion is strong and the message is effortlessly understood.

Lexical Resource

A wide range of vocabulary is used appropriately, with natural expressions like 'I am feeling a rock star' and 'If I were you, I would...'. There is good use of topic-specific terms (electric guitar, bass guitar, rock music). To reach an even higher level, incorporate more varied and sophisticated vocabulary, such as 'passion for music' or 'musical journey', while maintaining the friendly tone. Boost vocabulary complexity to elevate the overall score.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The letter demonstrates a good range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. Sentences are well-formed, and punctuation is correct. Minor improvements could include using 'I have been thinking' instead of 'I have thought' for ongoing action, and 'Peter could play' for consistency in the suggestion. These are small adjustments; overall, grammar is excellent.

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