Band 7 letter sample: explaining a change of course.
Read the Band 7 letter explaining a change of course, then a note on each criterion and one change that would make it stronger.
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- Band 7 from our checker
- 168 words
- Informal letter tone
What the informal letter task asks.
You recently decided to change your university course to a different subject.
Write a letter to a friend. In your letter:
- explain what you were studying before
- give the reasons for your decision to change
- describe what you plan to do next
A Band 7 letter.
Dear Jake,
Sorry I haven't written for so long, but I've got some big news. I've decided to leave my engineering course and switch to graphic design!
As you know, I've started civil engineering two years ago because my parents thought it was a safe career. To be honest, I never enjoyed it, even though everyone in my class were really nice.
The big change came last spring, when I took a short online design course just for fun. I loved every minute of it. That's when I realize I was studying the wrong thing. It wasn't an easy desicion, especially telling my parents, but they was more supportive than I expected.
As for my plans, the new course starts in September, so untill then I just want to relax and earn some money.
Anyway, enough about me. How about you? Are you still working at the bookshop, and did you finally passed your driving test? Write back soon and tell me how you're doing!
Take care,
Sam
Band 7 letter, criterion by criterion.
Each band is the one our checker gave. Underlined in the letter: the words each note quotes.
- Task AchievementBand 7
- Every part of the task is covered: the old course, the reasons for changing and the plans for the future. The online course makes the reason feel real, but the details stay short, and the plans are only one sentence.
- Coherence and CohesionBand 8
- The letter tells the story in a natural order, from the old course to the online course to the next steps. Phrases like "As you know" and "As for my plans" guide the reader.
- Lexical ResourceBand 6
- The tone is friendly and relaxed, with contractions and phrases like "To be honest" and "big news". There are spelling slips, such as "desicion" and "untill".
- Grammatical Range and AccuracyBand 7
- The letter mixes short and long sentences, with clauses using when, because and even though. Tense and agreement errors appear, for example "everyone in my class were", "they was" and "did you finally passed".
One change that makes this letter stronger.
As for my plans, the new course starts in September, so untill then I just want to relax and earn some money.
As for my plans, the new course starts in September, so until then I'm working part-time in a print shop to get some experience and save a bit of money.
The plans now have a real detail, and the spelling is right.
How this letter was made.
Written with our improved AI to show writing at Band 7, on an informal letter task from our own practice library. It is not a real student's letter.
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