Letter

Band 8+: You would like to invite your friend from abroad to a public event in your country. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: describe the public event; explain why you think he/she would like the event; write how you can help your friend with accommodation.

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Dear Tina,

I am writing to invite you to attend the Ogungun day celebration taking place in Abuja, Nigeria next month. It is a special day dedicated to embracing culture and diversity among Nigerians. I think this will be a perfect opportunity for you to explore your interest in African culture.

Basically, “Ogun Festival” as it’s popularly called, dates back to over 100 years ago. Then the Yoruba people of western Nigeria worshipped a deity “Ogun”, which translates to “god of thunder” in english. I think that for you, the most captivating part of this event would be the traditional costumes and make up which everyone attending will be adorned with. Let’s not even begin to discuss the local cuisine and music at the occasion.

I wish that during the event, you and I would climb to the top of the Shangu mountain. It’s known to have the most perfect view of the entire event. Also, lots of people go up the mountain to pray because they believe the earth is closest to the gods from the top of the Shangu mountain.

Please give it a thought and let me know what you think.

Best Wishes,

Tracy

Word Count: 197

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Overall Band Score

(+/- 0.5)

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

Grammar Mistakes: N/A

Vocabulary Repetition:

event: 3

Try using synonyms for the above words

Task Response

The letter effectively addresses all three task requirements: it describes the public event (Ogungun day celebration), explains why the friend would like it (interest in African culture, costumes, cuisine, music), and suggests other activities (climbing Shangu mountain). The tone is friendly and appropriate for a letter to a friend. Minor lapses include a slight inconsistency in the event name (Ogungun vs. Ogun Festival) and a minor factual inaccuracy (Ogun is typically the god of iron, not thunder), but these do not detract from the overall task achievement. To improve, ensure consistency in event naming and consider adding a clearer closing line to prompt a response.

Coherence & Cohesion

The letter is well-organized and easy to follow. The purpose is clear from the start, and each paragraph has a distinct focus: describing the event, explaining why the friend would like it, and suggesting activities. Transitions are smooth, and the closing is appropriate. Minor improvements could be made by using more explicit linking words (e.g., 'Additionally', 'Moreover') to enhance cohesion, but overall the flow is natural and effective.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary is varied and appropriate for the context, with good use of descriptive language (e.g., 'embracing culture and diversity', 'captivating part', 'adorned with'). There is a minor error: 'make up' should be 'makeup' (one word) when used as a noun. Also, 'in english' should be 'in English' (capitalized). The range of vocabulary is good, and the tone is friendly and inviting, which suits the task.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

The letter demonstrates a good range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and conditional forms. There are only minor errors, such as 'dates back to over 100 years ago' (redundant; should be 'dates back over 100 years' or 'dates back more than 100 years') and 'the earth is closest to the gods' (should be 'the gods' or 'the god' for consistency). Punctuation is generally correct. Overall, the grammar is accurate and does not impede understanding.

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Band 8+: You would like to invite your friend from abroad to a public event in your country. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: describe the public event; explain why you think he/she would like the event; write how you can help your friend with accommodation.

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Overall Band Score

Task Response

Coherence & Cohesion

Lexical Resource

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

Answers On The Same Topic:

You would like to invite your friend from abroad to a public event in your country. Write a letter to your friend. In your letter: describe the public event; explain why you think he/she would like the event; write how you can help your friend with accommodation.

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Write a letter to your local newspaper. In your letter: say why you enjoy walking and where; describe the litter you have seen on your walks; suggest what might be done about the problem. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,

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Coherence & Cohesion

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Grammatical Range & Accuracy

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