This is an IELTS writing task 1 letter from the real general training exam on the topic of writing a letter to a friend after moving to a new job and city.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: New Job/City
Write a letter to a friend who worked at your previous company. You have moved to a new job in a new city.
- describe your city
- describe your job
- describe the arrangements for him to visit you
Hey Kim,
I just finished the big move and I wanted to let you know how it all went. So far San Fran has been an upgrade on L.A.. Might be just the honeymoon period but the public transport and layout of the streets here make a big difference. Beyond that, SF is everything you’ve heard – nice community feel, very gentrified, lots of hills, haha.
My new work hasn’t been as great off the jump. I started at my new design company this last week and I’m having trouble with my new boss. The other co-workers are cool but my immediate manager won’t give me the time of day. Maybe because I’m new or I did something to get on her bad side. I hope it’ll pass because my first assignments have been boring and basic – not what I was looking for when I applied here.
Anyway, really looking forward to seeing you on the weekend! Give me a ring when your flight gets in and I can either pick you up at the airport or I’ll leave a spare key with my neighbor (Apartment 7.05) and tell him to be on the lookout for you. There’s a guest bedroom so you can sleep there.
See you soon!
Regards,
Dave
Analysis
1. Hi Kim,
2. I just finished the big move and I wanted to let you know how it all went. 3. So far San Fran has been an upgrade on L.A.. 4. Might be just the honeymoon period but the public transport and layout of the streets here make a big difference. 5. Beyond that, SF is everything you’ve heard – nice community feel, very gentrified, lots of hills, haha.
- Address the letter to someone.
- Include your purpose for writing.
- Add in some more detail if you want.
- Keep adding detail for a higher task achievement score.
- The more the better!
1. My new work hasn’t been as great off the jump. 2. I started at my new design company this last week and I’m having trouble with my new boss. 3. The other co-workers are cool but my immediate manager won’t give me the time of day. 4. Maybe because I’m new or I did something to get on her bad side. 5. I hope it’ll pass because my first assignments have been boring and basic – not what I was looking for when I applied here.
- Begin to develop the second point.
- Add more detail to it.
- Keep developing it.
- Remember that the letter should be informal.
- And the more detail, the higher your task achievement score.
1. Anyway, really looking forward to seeing you on the weekend! 2. Give me a ring when your flight gets in and I can either pick you up at the airport or I’ll leave a spare key with my neighbor (Apartment 7.05) and tell him to be on the lookout for you. 3. There’s a guest bedroom so you can sleep there.
4. See you soon!
5. Regards,
6. Dave
- Develop the last point.
- Keep developing it.
- Finish developing it.
- Write a goodbye statement.
- Use a phrase like regards or sincerely.
- Write your name at the end.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Hey Kim,
I just finished the big move and I wanted to let you know how it all went. So far San Fran has been an upgrade on L.A.. Might be just the honeymoon period but the public transport and layout of the streets here make a big difference. Beyond that, SF is everything you’ve heard – nice community feel, very gentrified, lots of hills, haha.
My new work hasn’t been as great off the jump. I started at my new design company this last week and I’m having trouble with my new boss. The other co-workers are cool but my immediate manager won’t give me the time of day. Maybe because I’m new or I did something to get on her bad side. I hope it’ll pass because my first assignments have been boring and basic – not what I was looking for when I applied here.
Anyway, really looking forward to seeing you on the weekend! Give me a ring when your flight gets in and I can either pick you up at the airport or I’ll leave a spare key with my neighbor (Apartment 7.05) and tell him to be on the lookout for you. There’s a guest bedroom so you can sleep there.
Answers
finished ended
big move making a change
let you know inform you
how it all went the result
so far at this point
San Fran San Francisco
upgrade improve
L.A. Los Angeles
honeymoon period nice time at the beginning of a new change/relationship
public transport subways, buses, etc.
layout city plan, streets, etc.
make a big difference help a lot
beyond that in addition
everything you’ve heard what has been said
community feel friendly atmosphere
gentrified taken over by rich people
hills not flat
off the jump from the very beginning
this last week the last 7 days
trouble difficulty
immediate manager boss right about you
won’t give me the time of day ignores me
get on her bad side dislikes me for some reason
pass get over it
not what I was looking for not what I was interested in
applied related to
really looking forward to seeing you can’t wait to see you
give me a ring call
flight gets in airplane arrives
either pick you up at the airport one option is to get you after you arrive
leave a spare key leave an extra key
neighbor person living next door
lookout keep an eye out for
guest bedroom extra room for guests to sleep
Pronunciation
ˈfɪnɪʃt
bɪg muːv
lɛt juː nəʊ
haʊ ɪt ɔːl wɛnt
səʊ fɑː
sæn frɑːn
ʌpˈgreɪd
ɛl.eɪ..
ˈhʌnɪmuːn ˈpɪərɪəd
ˈpʌblɪk ˈtrænspɔːt
ˈleɪaʊt
meɪk ə bɪg ˈdɪfrəns
bɪˈjɒnd ðæt
ˈɛvrɪθɪŋ juːv hɜːd
kəˈmjuːnɪti fiːl
ˈʤɛntrɪfaɪd
hɪlz
ɒf ðə ʤʌmp
ðɪs lɑːst wiːk
ˈtrʌbl
ɪˈmiːdiət ˈmænɪʤə
wəʊnt gɪv miː ðə taɪm ɒv deɪ
gɛt ɒn hɜː bæd saɪd
pɑːs
nɒt wɒt aɪ wɒz ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔː
əˈplaɪd
ˈrɪəli ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈfɔːwəd tuː ˈsiːɪŋ juː
gɪv miː ə rɪŋ
flaɪt gɛts ɪn
ˈaɪðə pɪk juː ʌp æt ði ˈeəpɔːt
liːv ə speə kiː
ˈneɪbə
ˈlʊkˈaʊt
gɛst ˈbɛdru(ː)m
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Hey Kim,
I just f___________d the b__________e and I wanted to l_____________w h______________t. S________r S_________n has been an u__________e on L____.. Might be just the h__________________d but the p___________________t and l__________t of the streets here m__________________________e. B_____________t, SF is e_________________________d – nice c________________l, very g____________d, lots of h______s, haha.
My new work hasn’t been as great o_____________p. I started at my new design company t_______________k and I’m having t__________e with my new boss. The other co-workers are cool but my i____________________r w_____________________________y. Maybe because I’m new or I did something to g___________________e. I hope it’ll p_____s because my first assignments have been boring and basic – n___________________________r when I a___________d here.
Anyway, r_________________________________u on the weekend! G_________________g when your f_______________n and I can e___________________________t or I’ll l_____________________y with my n____________r (Apartment 7.05) and tell him to be on the l___________t for you. There’s a g_________________m so you can sleep there.
See you soon!
Regards,
Dave
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Where you Live
- Did you like the house you grew up in?
- What was your favourite area of the house you grew up in?
- Where do you want to live in the future?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Your friend is going to stay in your apartment while you are away. Write a letter to your friend and include:
Where the key is
Instructions to look after the apartment
What should he/ she do on the day of your return
hey buddy,
I missed you and other friends since I moved here, I mean Zahedan. I’m writing to tell you about the city, my job, and have an invitation. this is a small city with all the facilities within walking distance and luckily there isn’t any competitor, but the weather is scorching hot. you can see more air conditioners than people.
I am the head of marketing in the company. it’s a tough one and I’m so busy with meetings. sometimes I work all day without any refreshments but the salary is great.
Next month I’ll move to my next flat. you told me you will have some time off. I’ll book your ticket to come here. don’t worry my driver will be at the airport waiting for you. just pick up some pieces of cloth and come. I can’t wait to meet you up again.
take the best care of yourself