This is an IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training letter from the real test/exam on the topic of writing a letter to the editor of a magazine.

You can find all the recent questions from the general training test here.

Here is a guide on writing letter as well.

And you can learn more about my Patreon resources here.

Good luck on your exam!

-Dave

Before you read my answer, you can listen to it first to practice your listenin – make sure you take some notes:

IELTS Writing Task 1 General Training Letter: Letter to an Editor (Real Past IELTS Tests/Exams)

Write a letter to the editor to give your opinion about a magazine that you purchased. Include

Why you bought it

What you liked and disliked about it

Suggestions for improvement

Reported IELTS Exam/Test on February 1st

Dear editor,

I recently purchased a copy of Gardening Monthly from my local newsstand and I’m writing to give you some background and feedback. I’m not a professional gardener but I have a keen interest in the field. I retired from my job as a production assistant 2 years ago and gardening has become my daily pursuit.

I really appreciate your in-depth step-by-step tutorials for everyday gardening techniques. The visuals on them, and throughout the magazine, are stunning and inspirational for home gardeners. There are just a couple of areas I would recommend fixes for: first, the magazine is too short. It only comes out once a month and a 20 page magazine is not long enough. Also, your writers make a lot of grammatical mistakes. Just looking at the first article from the last edition, I can spot 8 mistakes.

To round out your magazine I would recommend hiring a new editor or better supervising them to ensure they are thorough. As for the length of the magazine, have you considered a bi-monthly format? I hope that demand would justify this. I would surely read it!

Thanks for hearing me out,

Dave

Word count: 193

Analysis

1. Dear editor,

2. I recently purchased a copy of Gardening Monthly from my local newsstand and I’m writing to give you some background and feedback. 3. I’m not a professional gardener but I have a keen interest in the field. 4. I retired from my job as a production assistant 2 years ago and gardening has become my daily pursuit.

1. Write dear at the beginning of formal letters and sometimes for informal letters.
2. State your purpose for writing. Don’t waste any time getting to it.
3. Add more detail.
4. More detail – the more detail for each point, the higher your task achievement score. Aim for 3 details for each point.

1. I really appreciate your in-depth step-by-step tutorials for everyday gardening techniques. 2. The visuals on them, and throughout the magazine, are stunning and inspirational for home gardeners. 3. There are just a couple of areas I would recommend fixes for: first, the magazine is too short. 4. It only comes out once a month and a 20 page magazine is not long enough. 5. Also, your writers make a lot of grammatical mistakes. 6. Just looking at the first article from the last edition, I can spot 8 mistakes.

1. Begin to detail the second point – here it is what I like/don’t like about the magazine.
2. I develop the point before moving on to what I don’t like.
3. Move on to the areas that you don’t like.
4. I include two areas I don’t like but you could just include one and develop it more fully.
5. Be as specific as possible.
6. The more development – the better!

1. To round out your magazine I would recommend hiring a new editor or better supervising them to ensure they are thorough. 2. As for the length of the magazine, have you considered a bi-monthly format? 3. I hope that demand would justify this. 4. I would surely read it!

1. Address the last point – suggestions.
2. Make sure that you have at least 1 suggestion to fully answer that point.
3. Here I put in some strong vocabulary and finish developing my point.
4. Some informality towards the end in a letter to an editor is fine.

1. Thanks for hearing me out,

2. Dave

1. Conclude with ‘sincerely’ ‘regards’ or a short phrase like ‘thanks for hearing me out.’
2. Write your name – real or fake is ok!

Vocabulary

Try to figure out what the words in below mean based on the sentences:

Dear editor,

I recently purchased a copy of Gardening Monthly from my local newsstand and I’m writing to give you some background and feedback. I’m not a professional gardener but I have a keen interest in the field. I retired from my job as a production assistant 2 years ago and gardening has become my daily pursuit.

I really appreciate your in-depth step-by-step tutorials for everyday gardening techniques. The visuals on them, and throughout the magazine, are stunning and inspirational for home gardeners. There are just a couple of areas I would recommend fixes for: first, the magazine is too short. It only comes out once a month and a 20 page magazine is not long enough. Also, your writers make a lot of grammatical mistakes. Just looking at the first article from the last edition, I can spot 8 mistakes.

To round out your magazine I would recommend hiring a new editor or better supervising them to ensure they are thorough. As for the length of the magazine, have you considered a bi-monthly format? I hope that demand would justify this. I would surely read it!

Thanks for hearing me out,

Dave

Answers

local newsstand neighborhood shop

background reason for writing

feedback criticism

professional gardener seriously care about your garden

keen interest really into

field area/hobby

production assistant someone who helps on movies or other productions

daily pursuit everyday hobby

appreciate am thankful for

in-depth detailed

step-by-step tutorials guide

everyday gardening techniques useful gardening tips

visuals images

throughout everywhere

stunning beautiful

inspirational motivating

home gardeners hobbyists

fixes improvements

edition magazine issue

spot find/see

round out make complete

hiring get an employee

better supervising look over more closely

ensure make sure

thorough diligent

considered thought to be

bi-monthly format twice a month

demand desire for

justify reason for

surely definitely

hearing me out taking time to listen

Pronunciation

ˈləʊkəl ˈnjuːzstænd 
ˈbækgraʊnd 
ˈfiːdbæk
prəˈfɛʃənl ˈgɑːdnə 
kiːn ˈɪntrɪst 
fiːld
prəˈdʌkʃən əˈsɪstənt 
ˈdeɪli pəˈsjuːt
əˈpriːʃɪeɪt 
ɪn-dɛpθ 
stɛp-baɪ-stɛp tju(ː)ˈtɜːrɪəlz 
ˈɛvrɪdeɪ ˈgɑːdnɪŋ tɛkˈniːks
ˈvɪzjʊəlz 
θru(ː)ˈaʊt 
ˈstʌnɪŋ 
ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃən(ə)l 
həʊm ˈgɑːdnəz
ˈfɪksɪz 
ɪˈdɪʃən
spɒt 
raʊnd aʊt 
ˈhaɪərɪŋ 
ˈbɛtə ˈsjuːpəvaɪzɪŋ
ɪnˈʃʊə 
ˈθʌrə
kənˈsɪdəd 
baɪ-ˈmʌnθli ˈfɔːmæt
dɪˈmɑːnd 
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ
ˈʃʊəli 
ˈhɪərɪŋ miː aʊt

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Dear editor,

I recently purchased a copy of Gardening Monthly from my _____________ and I’m writing to give you some _____________ and _____________. I’m not a _____________ but I have a _____________ in the the _____________. I retired from my job as a _____________ 2 years ago and gardening has become my _____________.

I really _____________ your _____________ _____________ for _____________. The _____________ on them, and _____________ the magazine, are _____________ and _____________ for _____________. There are just a couple of areas I would recommend _____________ for: first, the magazine is too short. It only comes out once a month and a 20 page magazine is not long enough. Also, your writers make a lot of grammatical mistakes. Just looking at the first article from the last _____________, I can _____________ 8 mistakes.

To _____________ your magazine I would recommend _____________ a new editor or _____________ them to _____________ they are _____________. As for the length of the magazine, have you _____________ a _____________ _____________? I hope that _____________ would _____________ this. I would _____________ read it!

Thanks for _____________,

Dave

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Some of these magazines could be useful as examples on your IELTS exam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaZXUYcEGY4

Reading Practice

The Atlantic used to be my favourite magazine – but now it is just an online magazine that you can read here:

https://www.theatlantic.com/