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User-written IELTS example

Writing General Training Task 1 Band 4.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

217 words General TrainingTask 1Letter
Task 1 Letter

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

  • Explain why the festival matters: describe its importance as both a celebration and a cultural tradition.
  • Show how people celebrate through concrete customs, such as preparing traditional food, sharing it with family and visiting relatives.
  • Add a personal detail about what you enjoy most, such as the atmosphere, time with family or a particular traditional dish.

Suggested structure

  1. Greet your friend and respond to their request.
  2. Introduce the country and state the importance of the festival.
  3. Describe preparations and key celebration customs in a logical order.
  4. Explain what you personally like and why.
  5. Close by offering further help with the project.
Useful vocabulary & examples
auspicious time
A time regarded as especially favourable for an event or action.

At an auspicious time, families light the hearth and prepare kiribath.

traditional dish
A food associated with the customs and culture of a place or community.

Kiribath is a traditional dish that many families prepare for New Year.

festive atmosphere
A cheerful mood associated with a celebration.

I enjoy the festive atmosphere when relatives and neighbours celebrate together.

bring people together
To encourage people to meet, share time or feel connected.

Traditional games bring people together during the New Year celebrations.

Task Prompt

your English-speaking friend has asked for your help with a college project he or she is doing about celebrating Nes Year in different countries. write a letter to your friend. in your letter write a letter to your friend.in your letter : 1 say how important new year is to people in your country . 2describe now new year is celebrated in your country . 3 explain what you like about New Year celebrations in your country.

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 4.0

Dear Bob, I’m glad to hear from you and wish you success with your project. In my country people celebrate the beginning of spring and call it Norouz. New year always means a fresh start for my people and they reflect on the past year achievements and set new goals for the new year. The main preparations begin several days before Norouz. Families clean their homes, buy new clothes and prepare a table with seven symbolic items, which is called Haft-Seen. At the exact moment of the new year, relatives gather around the table, wish each other well and often exchange small gifts. During the following days, people visit older relatives and friends, and children enjoy receiving presents and sweets. We also eat special dishes together, so it is a busy and cheerful time.

What I like most is the feeling of hope and togetherness. Even people who have been busy can make time to see their family, and the spring weather makes the celebrations feel fresh. I especially enjoy visiting my relatives and seeing the decorated table. I think these traditions make Norouz meaningful, rather than simply a holiday.

I hope this information is useful for your project. Let me know if you need anything else, and I’d be happy to help.

Best wishes, Your friend

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Proofread the opening for possessives and articles; in particular, change “the past year achievements” to “the past year’s achievements.”
2
Break up the long opening sequence so the importance of Norouz and the customs are easier to follow.
3
Add one short explanation linking a custom, such as visiting older relatives, to the values of family connection or respect.

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