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Band 6.0 vs Band 7.0: General Training Task 1 — Apology Letter

The same prompts, answered at different band levels. From 6.0 to 7.5, the gap is rarely knowledge — it is the one criterion capping the score: progression, precision or control. These samples are static study material, free to read.

General Training Task 1 — Apology Letter

Last Saturday you held a party at your home and the music was very loud late at night. Write a letter to your neighbour. In your letter: apologise for the noise, explain why the party was held, and say what you will do to make sure it does not happen again.

Band 6.0

Dear Mrs Carter,

I am sorry for the loud music from my house last Saturday night. I know the music was too loud and it finished very late, at about 1 a.m. I am very sorry if you could not sleep.

The party was for my sister. She finished university and our family wanted to celebrate with her. Many friends came to my house and we played music and danced. I did not look at the time and the party went too long.

Next time I will finish the music at 10 p.m. and I will tell you before a party. Also I will close the windows. I hope you are not angry with me. You are a good neighbour and I do not want problems between us.

Sorry again, Tom Walker

Band 7.0

Dear Mrs Carter,

I am writing to apologise for the noise from my house last Saturday night. The music went on until nearly 1 a.m., and I completely understand if it kept you and your family awake — I am sorry.

The occasion was my sister's graduation, and the family had gathered to celebrate with her. As the evening went on, more friends arrived than I had expected, and I lost track of both the volume and the time. That is an explanation, not an excuse: I should have kept the music down and ended the evening much earlier.

It will not happen again. Any future gathering will finish by 10 p.m., the music will stay at a level you cannot hear through the wall, and I will let you know in advance. If noise from my house ever disturbs you again, please knock or call me straight away and I will deal with it immediately.

Thank you for your patience, and please pass my apologies to your husband as well.

With kind regards, Tom Walker

Where the band is won

Task Achievement: Both apologise, explain and promise change. The 7.0 letter makes the promises enforceable — a time (10 p.m.), a test (inaudible through the wall), advance notice, and an instant remedy — where 6.0 offers general intentions ('I will close the windows').

Coherence & Cohesion: The 7.0 apology follows the shape of a real apology: acknowledgement of the other person's experience, explanation explicitly separated from excuse, concrete remedy. 6.0 is a list of short statements in time order.

Lexical Resource: 6.0 repeats 'sorry' and 'party' and uses plain phrases ('good neighbour'). 7.0 varies the apology register ('I am writing to apologise', 'pass my apologies') and uses natural collocations ('lost track of', 'kept you awake').

Grammar: 6.0 grammar is mostly accurate, which is why it reaches 6.0 despite simple sentences. 7.0 adds conditionals ('If noise … ever disturbs you again'), future forms with will for commitments, and concessive structure without losing accuracy.

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