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Exercise: /5

Model Letter

Read the IELTS Task One-style letter below. Then go to the next page to complete the exercises.

Dear Mr Hodgkins,

I have an interview for the Assistant Manager’s position scheduled for next Thursday, 25 March at 9.30am.

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the interview at this time, as I have to give a presentation at an important council meeting between 9:00am and 12:00pm. I am unable to change the time of the meeting.

I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

I am still eager to be interviewed for this position, and would be very grateful if the time of my interview could be changed. I am available any time on the afternoon of Thursday 25 March, or the following day, Friday 26 March. If an alternative time is available, I can be contacted by telephone on 02 9949 6739.

Once again, I apologise for any inconvenience, and hope it is still possible to reschedule the interview.

Yours sincerely,

Mirko Bendall

Reading for Purpose (1)

Click on the correct answer to each question below.

Click on the icon to see the model letter again.

The writer of a letter has a overarching purpose, which may be to express an apology, make a complaint, issue an invitation, request information, and so on . In some letters there may be other purposes. For example, after expressing an apology a writer may go on to suggest a solution to a problem. Making a suggestion is a further purpose for writing the letter.

The Question (1)

Read the IELTS Task One-style question below. Then drag the words from the list to match the quotes from the IELTS Task One-style question.

Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

You have a job interview next week. However, you cannot attend the interview at the arranged time.

Write a letter to your prospective employer. In your letter

introduce yourself
explain why you cannot attend the interview
apologise and propose an alternative interview time

Write at least 150 words.

You do NOT need to write your own address.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear …………………………,

1. The time you should allow to write the letter.

20 minutes

2. The type of arrangement you cannot attend.

A job interview

3. The recipient of the letter.

Your prospective employer

4. Something you must do after apologising.

Propose another interview time

A job interview

20 minutes

Propose another interview time

Your prospective employer

Exercise: /5

General Writing
General Writing > Task 1 > Job Interview
Discovering