GT-T1-211 General Training · Task 1 · intermediate · 20 min · 150+ words Semi-formal Letter Education

Letter to Your Tutor About Missing Two Classes

The question

You attend an evening English class every Tuesday, but you have just been asked to work a fixed shift on those evenings for the next month. You will not be able to attend the next two sessions. Write a letter to your tutor. In your letter: • explain the change in your plans and why it has happened • ask whether you can catch up on the material you will miss • suggest how you can keep practising at home until you return Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear ______,

Instructions

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. • Use a polite, friendly tone: contractions are acceptable, but avoid slang. • Cover all the points in the bullets, in a clear and logical order. • Organise your letter into short paragraphs with a clear opening and closing. • Sign off with a suitable phrase such as 'Kind regards' or 'Best wishes'.

How to approach this semi-formal letter question

A semi-formal letter goes to someone you know a little, such as a neighbour or a teacher. Be polite but warmer than in a formal letter.

Use the person's name (Dear Mr Hall,) and a friendly but respectful opening.
Cover each bullet point in its own paragraph.
Some contractions are fine; keep the language clear and courteous.
Close with "Yours sincerely," and your name.

How to plan this answer

Structure

Opening: 'Dear' and your tutor's name, followed by a short line saying you need to share a change in your plans.
Paragraph 2: explain the change: a fixed work shift on Tuesday evenings for the next month, and the two sessions you will miss.
Paragraph 3: ask whether you can catch up on the material, such as handouts, recordings or homework.
Paragraph 4: describe how you will keep practising at home, with two specific activities.
Closing: thank the tutor for their support and sign off 'Kind regards' or 'Best wishes'.

Points to cover

Change: you have been given a fixed shift on Tuesday evenings, so the next two sessions on the 12th and 19th clash with it.
Catch-up: ask for the handouts, any homework and a recording of the lessons, if one is available.
Home practice: read a news article each day, and write a short paragraph for the tutor to check each week.
Speaking: practise with a friend or record yourself talking about a topic, then listen back for pronunciation.
Alternative: ask whether there is another class you could join temporarily, or an online session.

Useful vocabulary

I'm afraid I'll have to miss: I'm afraid I'll have to miss the next two sessions.
due to a change in my work schedule: I'm writing because of a change in my work schedule.
I was wondering if you might: I was wondering if you might be able to share the work I'll miss.
catch up on: Could I catch up on the material I'll be missing?
handouts: Would it be possible to get the handouts from those lessons?
keep practising: In the meantime, I'll keep practising at home every day.
in the meantime: In the meantime, I plan to read short articles and write a paragraph each week.
I'd be grateful for any guidance: I'd be grateful for any guidance you can offer on the work I've missed.
I hope to be back by: I hope to be back in class by the end of the month.

Common mistakes

Giving a vague reason such as 'my work changed', rather than explaining the fixed shift.
Asking to catch up without naming the specific material, such as handouts or homework.
Suggesting practice in general terms, such as 'I will study more', rather than specific activities.
Forgetting to name the two missed sessions, which the tutor needs to identify them.
Using an overly formal tone, such as 'I regret to inform you', in a semi-formal letter.

Examiner tip: Name the two missed sessions, ask one clear catch-up question and suggest two concrete practice tasks, so your tutor sees that you remain committed.

Model answers by band score

Written for this question to show what changes from one band to the next. Try the task yourself first, then compare.

Band 6 answer

Dear Mr Hughes, I am writing to tell you about some changes in my plan. My manager has ask me to work a fixed shift on Tuesday evenings for the next month. Because of this, I can not come to the next two classes. I am very sorry about it, because I really like your lessons, but I can not change my work time. I would like to ask you if it's possible to catch up the lessons I will miss. Can you give me the materials and the homework from these two classes? If you have time, maybe I can come and see you before a class or after it, and you could explain the new things to me. I will also practise English at home when I can't come. I think I can read English articles every day and I can do the exercises in my textbook. I can also listen to podcasts and watch some films in English too. I will send you some writing if you want. Thank you for your help. I hope to see you again very soon. Best wishes, Maria

Why this is band 6

Covers all three bullets and the tone is friendly and appropriately polite for a tutor.
Ideas are relevant but plain and repetitive ('I can not', 'I can ... I can').
Errors such as 'has ask' and 'catch up the lessons' appear, but meaning is always clear.
To reach Band 7, it would explain the situation more clearly and use a wider range of structures and linking.

Band 7 answer

Dear Mr Hughes, I am writing to let you know that I will not be able to attend the next two Tuesday classes. My employer has just asked me to work a fixed evening shift on Tuesdays for the next month, and unfortunately I cannot change it. I am very sorry about this, as I have really enjoyed the course so far. I was wondering whether it would be possible to catch up on the material I will miss. If you could let me know which topics you plan to cover, I would be happy to study them on my own and then ask you any questions when I return. Alternatively, I could collect any handouts or homework from you on a different day. In the meantime, I plan to keep practising at home. I intend to read an English article each day, do the exercises in the course book, and listen to a podcast on my way to work. If it would help, I could also send you a short piece of writing each week for you to check. Thank you very much for your understanding. Kind regards, Maria Santos

Why this is band 7

All three bullets are addressed clearly in separate paragraphs, with a polite, semi-formal tone.
Good range of language ('I was wondering whether', 'catch up on the material') and accurate control.
Practical, realistic suggestions (an article a day, a podcast, weekly writing) make the response convincing.
To reach Band 8, it would use more natural, precise phrasing and weave the explanation and request together more smoothly.

Band 8 answer

Dear Mr Hughes, I am afraid I will have to miss the next two Tuesday classes. My employer has just asked me to cover a fixed evening shift on Tuesdays for the coming month, and since I cannot afford to turn it down, I will be unable to attend until it finishes. I am very sorry, as I have been enjoying the course enormously. Would it be possible for me to catch up on the work I will miss? If you could let me know what you plan to cover, I would happily work through the material on my own and bring any questions to the following class. I would also be glad to collect any handouts or homework from you at a time that suits you. In the meantime, I intend to keep up my English as best I can. I will read a short article every day, complete the relevant exercises in the course book and listen to a podcast on my journey to work. I could also email you some writing each week. Thank you very much for your understanding. Kind regards, Maria Santos

Why this is band 8

The explanation is natural and convincing ('since I cannot afford to turn it down') and every bullet is fully developed.
Tone is exactly right for a tutor: courteous but warm ('I am afraid', 'at a time that suits you').
Precise, flexible language with rare errors and smooth cohesion between paragraphs.
To reach Band 9, it would handle the register and emphasis with even more subtlety, with no slightly formulaic phrases.

Band 9 answer

Dear Mr Hughes, I am afraid I will not be able to attend the next two Tuesday classes. My employer has asked me to work a fixed evening shift on Tuesdays for the next month, and as I cannot realistically decline, I will be away until it ends. I am genuinely sorry, because I have been enjoying the course a great deal. Would it be possible for me to catch up on what I miss? If you could let me know which topics you intend to cover, I would happily work through them on my own and bring any questions to the first class on my return. I would also be glad to pick up any handouts or homework at a time that is convenient for you. In the meantime, I am determined not to lose momentum. I plan to read one short article a day, work through the matching exercises in the course book and listen to a podcast on my way to work. I could also email you some writing each week. Thank you very much for being so understanding. I look forward to rejoining the class. Kind regards, Maria Santos

Why this is band 9

Natural, warm and fully appropriate semi-formal tone throughout, with a clear opening and sign-off.
Each bullet is fully developed with specific, realistic detail (a daily article, matching exercises, weekly writing).
Sophisticated, accurate language ('realistically decline', 'lose momentum') with essentially no errors.
Cohesion is seamless, with each paragraph leading naturally into the next.

Band levels are our estimate against the public IELTS criteria; they are not official scores.

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